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Module Descriptors

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Session: 2022/23

Last modified: 06/04/2022 13:27:29

Title of Module: Accountancy Today

Code: ACCT07003 SCQF Level: 7
(Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework)		 Credit Points: 20 ECTS: 10
(European Credit Transfer Scheme)
School:School of Business & Creative Industries
Module Co-ordinator:Angela  Dunlop

Summary of Module

The world of accountancy is a complex, multi-disciplinary environment that is often not understood by a student when starting his or her studies in accountancy. This module is designed to introduce you, as that student, to the many roles that accountants perform in today’s business environment. You will also be introduced to the role that professionalism and ethics play upon the business life of the accountant. To help prepare you for this future role, the module provides you with the non technical skills and personal qualities required to enable the accountant to function effectively in an organizational and a learning environment.

The module explores the history, nature, principles and scope of accounting, and the part played by accountants within the main business financial functions; it introduces the impact that ethics and professionalism have on accountants (organizational and professional loyalty, corporate social responsibility; whistleblowing) as well providing an introduction to the code of ethics for accountants (IFAC). It provides an opportunity for developing non accounting specific skills (prioritising, negotiating, decision making), study skills (learning styles, note taking, simple research, essay writing and referencing); personal development and career planning (reflective thinking, personal evaluation, SWOT, time management, goal setting, action planning).

You will benefit from the industry experience and professional background that the teaching team bring to this module.


Module Delivery Method
Face-To-FaceBlendedFully OnlineHybridCHybridOWork-based Learning
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Face-To-Face
Term used to describe the traditional classroom environment where the students and the lecturer meet synchronously in the same room for the whole provision.

Blended
A mode of delivery of a module or a programme that involves online and face-to-face delivery of learning, teaching and assessment activities, student support and feedback. A programme may be considered “blended” if it includes a combination of face-to-face, online and blended modules. If an online programme has any compulsory face-to-face and campus elements it must be described as blended with clearly articulated delivery information to manage student expectations

Fully Online
Instruction that is solely delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. This term is used to describe the previously used terms distance learning and e learning.

HybridC
Online with mandatory face-to-face learning on Campus

HybridO
Online with optional face-to-face learning on Campus

Work-based Learning
Learning activities where the main location for the learning experience is in the workplace.


Campus(es) for Module Delivery
The module will normally be offered on the following campuses / or by Distance/Online Learning: (Provided viable student numbers permit)
Paisley:Ayr:Dumfries:Lanarkshire:London:Distance/Online Learning:Other:
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Term(s) for Module Delivery
(Provided viable student numbers permit).
Term 1check markTerm 2

 

Term 3

 

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Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. Describe the history and role of accounting in business;

L2. Explain the role of professionalism and ethics within accountancy;

L3. Demonstrate an ability to perform a range of non technical skills required within the accounting context;

L4. Demonstrate the skills required for personal development and career planning;

L5. Communicate effectively using a range of formats, including appropriate ICT skills

Employability Skills and Personal Development Planning (PDP) Skills
SCQF Headings During completion of this module, there will be an opportunity to achieve core skills in:
Knowledge and Understanding (K and U) SCQF Level 7.

Developing a broad knowledge of the roles plays by accountants in different organizations, a limited knowledge of learning styles an outline knowledge of the framework of financial reporting.

Practice: Applied Knowledge and Understanding SCQF Level 7.

Applying a range of techniques - SWOT analysis, time management, learning styles selection (VALK), goal setting, to the development of a personal development and career plan

Generic Cognitive skills SCQF Level 7.

Developing and presenting arguments concerning the role of ethics and professionalism within accounting; using a range of approaches in developing a personal development and career plan.

Pre-requisites: Before undertaking this module the student should have undertaken the following:
Module Code:
Module Title:
Other:
Co-requisitesModule Code:
Module Title:

* Indicates that module descriptor is not published.

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Learning and Teaching
This module uses both lectures and tutorials to provide learners with information on the history and role of Accounting in business, explain the role of professionalism and ethics within Accountancy, and demonstrates the skills required for personal development and career planning. The module also prepares students to communicate effectively via a peer presentation and the use of ICT.

Two separate written courseworks are used to assess knowledge and understanding but also to ensure that students are able to analyse issues relating to personal, social and professional development. The first submission is in the form of an essay which covers the historical, professional and ethical background of accountancy today. The second is a report produced with the use of ICT which covers learning styles, personal project planning, time management and further professional and ethical considerations

Support for this is provided by the provision of a dedicated website (within the University’s Virtual Learning Environment), portfolio software programme, both Powerpoint presentations, copies of Powerpoint slides, class notes and a printed text which is available from a range of Professional publishing houses (often in a slightly different format).
Learning Activities
During completion of this module, the learning activities undertaken to achieve the module learning outcomes are stated below: 		Student Learning Hours
(Normally totalling 200 hours):
(Note: Learning hours include both contact hours and hours spent on other learning activities)
Lecture/Core Content Delivery24
Tutorial/Synchronous Support Activity10
Personal Development Plan60
Independent Study106
200 Hours Total

**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet access)

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

ACCA Study Text: Paper F1 Accountant In Business (current edition) London Kaplan Publishers Foulks Lynch


BPP (current ed) Learning to Learn Accountancy London BPP Learning Media Ltd

Lee-Davis L (current ed) Developing Work and Study Skills Thomson



Mele, D. (current ed) Business Ethics in Action, First Edition, Palgrave Macmillan

http://societyforbusinessethics.org


www.icas.org.uk
www.accaglobal.com


(**N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications, students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk*) to wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date material)

Engagement Requirements

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

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Supplemental Information

Programme BoardAccounting, Finance and Law
Assessment Results (Pass/Fail) No
Subject PanelAccounting, Finance & Law
ModeratorCaroline Hay
External ExaminerN Sutcliffe
Accreditation DetailsThis module contributes to the exemptions from various professional examinations attributable to the Bachelor of Accounting programme. Contact School for current details.
Version Number

1.10

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Assessment: (also refer to Assessment Outcomes Grids below)
Essay (contributing 50% of the final mark) - note that the pass mark for this element is 40% but where the overall module mark is 40% or more a mark of 35% or over will be counted as a pass.
Report (contributing 50% of the final mark) Essay (contributing 50% of the final mark) - note that the pass mark for this element is 40% but where the overall module mark is 40% or more a mark of 35% or over will be counted as a pass.
(N.B. (i) Assessment Outcomes Grids for the module (one for each component) can be found below which clearly demonstrate how the learning outcomes of the module will be assessed.
(ii) An indicative schedule listing approximate times within the academic calendar when assessment is likely to feature will be provided within the Student Handbook.)

Assessment Outcome Grids (Footnote A.)

Component 1
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Learning Outcome (4) Learning Outcome (5) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Essaycheck markcheck markcheck mark  5017

Component 2
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Learning Outcome (4) Learning Outcome (5) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Portfolio of written work  check markcheck markcheck mark5017
Combined Total For All Components100% 34 hours

Footnotes
A. Referred to within Assessment Section above
B. Identified in the Learning Outcome Section above

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Note(s):
  1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
  2. Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
    This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.

Equality and Diversity
In order for the student to complete this module, access to appropriate ICT facilities will be required to enable the student to engage with VLE (Moodle) for lecture notes, tutorial questions, additional study materials, as well as complete a typed essay (approx 1500 words) and a report (including a personal development plan).
UWS Equality and Diversity Policy
(N.B. Every effort will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues brought to the attention of the School)

2014 University of the West of Scotland

University of the West of Scotland is a Registered Scottish Charity.

Charity number SC002520.

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