AF3005 - Contemporary Issues in Accounting, Finance and Economics

You will learn though lectures, structured seminars and independent learning. The lectures will give you the key insights into the issues that are facing the world of Accounting, Finance and Economics, while the seminars will enable you to explore the issues in more depth using case studies and examples from a range of sources. The seminars will give you the opportunity to debate and discuss the issues and the impact that they have in the macro environment. Learning in this way will enable you to acquire the requisite skills and knowledge to conduct the research and insights required to deliver a successful CPD briefing paper and presentation.

You will be supported in a number of ways. The most direct from of support will be through the seminars, where you will engage and interact in debates and discussions around a given topic. In addition, there will be a number of drop-in sessions to support you though the CPD event planning process. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions about your topic and ways to approach the presentation and briefing paper. There will be ongoing support from your module tutor via email and informal discussions. Lectures will be recorded using Panopto and made available on Blackboard. In addition, a range of material will be made available from professional bodies and sources which will support your study of the contemporary issues.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:


Acquire knowledge of contemporary practice in Accounting, Finance and Economics (MLO1).






Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:


Critically assess your Continuous Professional Development by means of a group-delivered professional training event supported by an appropriate briefing paper (MLO2).






Develop and critically assess your research and presentation skills through delivery to a peer audience (MLO3).






Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):


Develop and critique your research skills by investigating particular Accounting, Finance and Economics issues and synthesising the material into an evaluative briefing paper (MLO4).

Formative assessment:


This will be provided to you through a range of seminar activities which will enable you to prepare for summative assessment during, and at end of the module. You will be given the opportunity to develop presentation skills through examples. Formative assessment will be provided by tutors during sessions, and through guidance notes to seminar activities.





Summative Assessment:





Continuous Professional Development event - You will be expected to submit a 1500 words group briefing paper (worth 50%) and deliver a 30min group presentation (worth 50%). Feedback will be provided in written format for both elements (briefing paper construction and presentation) (MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO4).

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This module examines the contemporary issues and controversies in the fields of Accounting, Finance and Economics. As such, it enables you to get a broad understanding the current debates and challenges the three fields are facing, moreover, how this impacts business. You will gain an understanding of these issues from academics and professionals. You will be expected produce a briefing paper and a presentation on a contemporary issue, to a group of experts and your peers. This will require you to undertake research in order to produce a quality briefing paper that is comparable to the standard of a Continuous Professional Development event, and a presentation that enables your audience to gain insights into the given topic. The module will prepare you, in terms of both knowledge and skills, to study Accounting, Finance or Economics to a more advanced level.