POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

Transcription

1 POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION Programme Title: Awarding Body: Teaching Institution: Final Awards: Intermediate Awards: Masters of Islamic and Accounting Staffordshire University Staffordshire University MSc Islamic and Accounting Postgraduate Certificate in Accounting and Postgraduate Diploma in Islamic and Accounting Mode of Study: UCAS Codes: Full-time/Part-time N/A QAA Subject Benchmarks: Business and Management Masters (2007) Professional/Statutory Body: N/A Date of Production: May 2013 If you require this document in a larger text or a different media please contact us 1

2 EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME The MSc Islamic and Accounting has been developed to bridge a gap in post graduate qualifications and to satisfy an increasing demand for qualified graduates in this niche area. Therefore, while it follows the general principles and guidelines for postgraduate business and management awards, it is a specialist award and it draws on our research and developments of a variety of existing professionally oriented awards in this area. The generic aims and outcomes apply for the full range of postgraduate business and management awards. They have been developed and mapped against the National Benchmark Standards for Postgraduate Business and Management awards which, in turn were developed taking into consideration guidelines and position papers at the master's level produced by EQUAL (the European QUAlity link). The MSc Islamic and Accounting award is referred to by QAA as Type 1. Detailed learning outcomes for all modules are given in the module descriptors. The following overall programme aims will enhance the employability of graduates and provide an opportunity for career development for those already in work and those on a break from their career. The Programme aims to:- Provide a unique course of study into Islamic and Accounting within a rapidly changing financial environment, as such, the master s award will explore contemporary approaches and theories in the areas of accounting and Islamic finance both academically and professionally. To develop your capacity and capability to apply your knowledge and skills within a contemporary accounting environment and within the contexts of Islamic Financial Institutions. Develop your understanding and ability to apply a range of learning methods, research methodologies and strategies which are appropriate to the fields of Islamic finance and accounting. Develop your critical skills to assess and evaluate the academic literature and other forms of research output that inform current debates within the fields of Islamic and Accounting. Develop your capacity for independent, critical and creative thinking. Develop your ability to analyse and synthesise differing approaches to the field of Islamic and Accounting and to evaluate critically these approaches within an academic and professional contexts. Prepare graduates for employment or continued employment by equipping them with a diverse range of accounting and finance skills. What is distinctive about this programme? Staffordshire University MSc Islamic and Accounting award has the following distinctive features: 2

3 A diverse team of lecturing staff with research based qualifications such as PhDs, Professional qualifications spanning the accounting and finance profession (including Islamic ) and a wide range of international experiences covering commercial, industrial and service sectors both private and public. Employability, enterprise and entrepreneurial aspects as well as career development form key elements in the infrastructure of the programme. Practical professional development skills that will foster and improve skills of self-discipline, reflection, analysis, communication, team building and leadership. Technology at the cutting edge including an online simulation module on portfolio investing in order to develop the necessary practical skills to translate finance theory into application. Curriculum that is global in its orientation, addressing the challenges faced by the conventional financial system and introducing an alternative financial system that co-exists with and influences the old one. An internationalised curriculum of Islamic which enhances your ability to think strategically and understand the requirements of a strongly emerging financial system that challenges the practices of the conventional financial system in a global financial markets environment. Advanced Islamic finance and accounting techniques enabling you to develop the ability to undertake independent financial analysis and to apply solutions to complex financing and investing situations. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE, MODULES AND CREDITS Programme Structure for MSc Islamic and Accounting Block 1 Financial Reporting and Analysis Management Control and Internal Audit Advanced Corporate Business Management Research Block 2 Islamic Investment & Financing International Islamic Commercial Law/ Shari'ah Option Block 3 Dissertation (Islamic ) (45 Credits) Investment Game 3

4 Part-time route (Duration 2 years) By studying two out of the four modules scheduled for delivery in Teaching Block One and Teaching Block Two and then returning in the following academic year to complete the remaining modules, concluding with the Investment Game and Dissertation modules in Teaching Block Three, you are able to extend the duration of your study to two years. Indicative pattern of part-time study:- Teaching Block One Sept to Dec Teaching Block Two Jan to May Teaching Block Three June - Aug Financial Reporting and Analysis Year 1 Islamic Investment & Financing Year 1 Management Control and Internal Audit Year 1 International Year 1 demonstrate the following learning outcomes. Advanced Corporate Islamic Commercial Law/ Shari'ah Dissertation (International Accounting and Financial Management) (45 Credits) Business Management Research Option (15 Credits) Investment Game Award Outcome s PG Certificat e in Accounti ng and (exit award) 60 Credits On completion of the PG Certificate in Accountin g and participant s will be able to 1. Demonstrate a systematic awareness, understanding and knowledge of contemporary international accounting and finance theory, research and professional practice within a local and global context (Knowledge and Understanding) 2. Demonstrate intellectual and entrepreneurial skills in the application of accounting and finance knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of accounting and finance are used in analysis, performance evaluation and decision making at a strategic level (Application) 3. Demonstrate the capacity to learn independently and critically, and to take responsibility for continuing professional development. Contextualise, analyse and learn from experience or simulated environments taking a global perspective upon contemporary developments and research in the field of accounting and finance. (Learning) Award Outcomes PG Diploma in Islamic and Accounting (exit award) 120 Credits 4

5 On completion of the PG Diploma in Islamic and Accounting participants will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. The PG Certificate in Accounting and Award Outcomes plus: 4. Generate innovative and enterprising finance solutions and applications of knowledge which inform decision making, develop ideas and propose accounting and Islamic finance solutions taking into account the needs of stakeholders in a competitive and challenging global environment. (Problem Solving) 5. Articulate complex information based on critical awareness and knowledge, adapting to different audiences and circumstances using a variety of communication tools and methods. (Communication) 6. Demonstrate the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of initiatives and personal responsibility, self-direction and originality in tackling and solving finance problems and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level. (Reflection) Award Outcomes MSc Islamic and Accounting On completion of the MSc Islamic and Accounting, participants will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. 1. Demonstrate a systematic awareness, understanding and knowledge of contemporary corporate and Islamic finance theory, research and professional practice within a global context (Knowledge and Understanding) 2. Demonstrate intellectual and entrepreneurial skills in the application of corporate accounting and Islamic finance knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of Islamic financing are used to achieve sustainable economic growth (Application) 3. Generate innovative and enterprising solutions and applications of knowledge in a specialist finance area which inform judgements, develop ideas and propose finance solutions taking into account the needs of stakeholders in a competitive and challenging global financial environment. (Problem Solving) 4. Demonstrate the ability to learn independently and to take responsibility for continuing professional development. Contextualise, analyse and learn from experience or simulated environments taking a global perspective upon contemporary developments and research in the field of finance and investment. (Learning) 5. Devise and apply valid research and investigative methods to access existing data and information, and also where necessary generate new data. Demonstrate understanding of the environment of chosen methodologies within major business and finance research paradigms. (Enquiry) 6. Demonstrate a conceptual understanding and critical awareness of current Islamic finance research and advanced scholarship. Evaluating the rigour and validity of research and its relevance to contemporary finance situations. (Analysis) 7. Articulate complex information based on critical awareness and knowledge, adapting to different audiences and circumstances using a variety of communication tools and methods. (Communication) 5

6 8. Demonstrate the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of initiatives and personal responsibility, self-direction and originality in tackling and solving finance problems and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level. (Reflection) 9. Demonstrate personal effectiveness through own critical self-awareness, personal reflection and self management and a keen desire to learn through reflection on practice and experience. (Reflection) 6

7 Teaching and Learning HOW WILL I BE TAUGHT AND ASSESSED? Teaching and learning strategies used to deliver this curriculum are designed to provide a critical view of best practice set into the context of the latest theories, models and frameworks, as well as in an international and vocational context. They are designed to develop the critical and innovatory abilities of the participants. The methods of teaching and learning used will vary according to the nature of the subject matter but will have a wide diversity from lectures to student centred activities including seminars, case studies, management games, group work, learning sets, simulations, learning support material, empirical and desk based research. We recognise that different people learn in different ways and utilise a range of different teaching methods and situations, for example, lectures, guest lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, case studies, project work, role-plays and virtual learning environments to supplement the modules. In all classes, emphasis will be placed on active, experiential learning, including lectures which encourage active participation from students. The key tactic used on the MSc programmes is Learning Teams. These are introduced at the induction stage and progressed throughout the programme, culminating in teams working effectively together on a practice based simulation module in fund management. Therefore, the Learning Teams become Fund Managers. Each team will manage an on-line 100 million portfolio of investments as part of the Investment Game module. This module will develop your transferable skills whilst bonding together as learners. Many students are used to a higher powerdistance relationship between students and staff in their previous study, so this link hastens educational-cultural adjustment. Significant emphasis will be placed on the personal and skills development experience through presentations, role-play and personal reflective exercises. Portfolio investing teams will be organised in order to practice decision making for investing purposes over the course of the study of the simulation of portfolio investing module. These teams are organised to represent diverse cultural and gender backgrounds to encourage you to be independent learners within a team framework. This prepares you for the fully independent learning phase when you undertake personal research, guided by your dissertation supervisor. Directed study supports and builds upon the knowledge and skills learnt in class to provide a fuller understanding of the subject. Personal and module tutors are on hand to provide support to you to discuss any queries, for advice on plans, etc. The curriculum is structured so that skills and knowledge developed in core modules can be transferred, re-applied and further developed. The Personal tutorial system and the continuous emphasis on PDP ensure that you are constantly reflecting upon, adapting and enhancing your learning. The VLE plays a key role in ensuring communication is maintained and direction is provided to ensure a depth and breadth of learning which complements and enhances the direct contact experiences. All modules have VLE presence, and many are adapted to provide groups of students with a series of online learning and assessment packages, including videos, formative tests, questionnaires and direction to potential websites for individual learning. 7

8 Assessment This is led by professional-based assessment guidelines and QAA benchmark standards list Skills for all Masters programmes. In essence, these are a demonstrable range of appropriate cognitive, critical and intellectual skills, research skills, and relevant personal and interpersonal skills. They are designed to prepare participants for professional practise, so graduates should be able to demonstrate these professional competences. Assessment types A wide variety of both formative and summative assessment vehicles facilitates testing of the Learning Outcomes. Methods include presentations, individual and team projects, individual reports, debates and examinations. Assessment methods vary between modules but the overall strategy is to have a balanced set of assessments across a variety of methods that will include examinations, assignments, group and/or individual presentation, open analysis cases, portfolios, projects and dissertations. The above provides an overview of the types of teaching, learning and assessment which will be utilised to enable you to achieve your full potential and demonstrate the outcomes of the programmes. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Entry Requirements Candidates for admission will normally be expected to have: A 2:2 or above Honours degree (or equivalent) in accounting, A 2:1 or above Honours degree in business with evidence of successful attainment of accounting modules. Professionally qualified/part qualified (ACCA/CIMA or similar) and evidence of satisfactory English language skills is required for international candidates where English is not their first language, such as: o IELTS overall score 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening); or o TOEFL overall score 87 (minimum of: 23 Speaking, 21 Listening, 22 Reading and 21 Writing); or o Pearson s overall score 51 (minimum of: 51 Speaking; Listening, reading and Writing). o A booster Pre-course English Language is available. An overall assessment of an applicants' educational background, experience and potential to benefit from the scheme will be made when considering the suitability of a candidate for our Masters programmes. For non-standard applications - Candidates may be admitted to the award with advance standing on the basis of exemptions from previous studies, including full or part completion of professional accountancy qualifications or have acquired 8

9 postgraduate credits from similar awards whether at Staffordshire University or from other Higher Education institutions. Further details can be accessed at the following link: Disability Statement Staffordshire University operates a policy of inclusive teaching and learning to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: AWARD SPECIFIC INFORMATION The Postgraduate Assessment Regulations The MSc Islamic and Accounting assessment regulations will conform to the University postgraduate regulations but in addition will include the following award specific regulations: 1. It is required that no part of the assessment within the module falls below 40% Any individual element that falls below 40% will automatically be required to be re-sat and the maximum mark that can be achieved for this element will then be 50%. 2. The Examination Board has the discretion to compensate and award credits for a module in which a fail at 47-49% has been recorded. The final decision lies within the Examination Board. A 15 credit Level 7 may be awarded a compensated pass when the candidate has passed 45 credits after studying 60 credits. No compensation may be applied until at least 45 credits have been passed (that is, 50% is achieved). 3. No compensation is permitted for the Masters Dissertation or Business Management Research. Further information about the award can be found in the relevant Student Handbook and on the University Website. This includes information about optional modules, student support, and academic regulations. ==================================== 9

10 MSc Islamic & Accounting No. Module Title Award Learning Outcomes Financial Reporting and Analysis Management Control and Internal Audit 3 Advanced Corporate Business Management 4 Research 5 Islamic Banking and Takaful: Products and Services Islamic Capital Markets and Instruments Islamic Commercial Law/ Shari'ah Accounting for Islamic Financial Institutions 9 Investment Games Dissertation Note: 1. Modules 1 & 2 Plus any other two modules will cover the learning outcomes for the PG Certificate Accounting and 2. Any 8 modules are required to cover the learning outcomes of the PG Diploma Accounting and 10