Higher Diploma Programme in Financial Services Syllabus English Reading and Writing This module gives students integrated instruction on reading and writing with emphasis on critical reading skills, text analysis and process-writing practice. This module begins with introducing essential reading skills such as skimming, scanning, meaning guessing, followed by critical analyses of texts. Students will learn the essential English writing skills such as topic sentence, cohesion, cohesive markers, effective opening and closing etc. before they produce the drafts of their own essay/articles. The writing process allows students to become critical readers and transfer the reading skills and writing strategies in their writings. English Listening and Speaking This module provides a systematic study of English in the aspect of listening and speaking. The coverage of the module is wide in scope, including the following themes: General knowledge and skills; Fluency and accuracy in pronunciation; Global and gist listening; Situational listening and speaking; Strategies in listening; Critical skills in listening and speaking; Public speaking This module emphasises the understanding of listening and speaking knowledge and techniques. Students are encouraged to apply the knowledge and skills into practice. Assessments include assignments, group projects and other forms of formative as well as summative assessments. Business Communication This module aims to improve students ability to communicate effectively, both written and oral, in
a business related environment. The theory and principles of effective communication will be introduced to help students develop strategies and skills for better communication and for formal research. Upon completion of the module, students are able to explain the theory and principles of written and oral communication, apply the communication skills; to develop their own communication strategies based on their own needs and personalities. The topics include: Framework of Business Communication; Written Communication Strategies; Oral Communication Strategies 中 文 閱 讀 與 寫 作 本 單 元 旨 在 讓 同 學 掌 握 各 種 基 本 的 閱 讀 與 寫 作 能 力, 並 具 備 搜 集 與 組 織 相 關 學 科 資 料 的 方 法, 從 而 為 文 化 研 究 與 中 文 傳 意 的 學 習 打 下 穩 固 基 礎 單 元 分 閱 讀 " 與 寫 作 " 兩 部 分 閱 讀 部 分 : 閱 讀 材 料 的 蒐 集 選 擇 與 屬 性 判 斷 ; 基 本 閱 讀 方 法 : 字 詞 句 段 篇 章 閱 讀 ; 組 織 性 閱 讀 方 法 : 概 述 內 容 發 掘 問 題 建 立 提 綱 比 較 異 同 章 法 閱 讀 寫 作 部 分 : 基 本 寫 作 能 力 : 撮 寫 擴 寫 改 寫 及 其 應 用 範 圍 ; 特 殊 寫 作 能 力 : 簡 介 評 論 與 提 要 Creative and Critical Thinking Credit : 2 The topics include: Introduction to creative and critical thinking; Identifying problems; Brainstorming; Planning; Evaluating alternatives; Implementing ideas; Exploring challenges; Drawing conclusions; Root cause analysis; Process of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Management Information Systems The topics include: Introduction to Information Systems; Information Systems in the Enterprise;
Information Systems, Enterprise Application and Business Strategy; Building and Managing Systems; IT Infrastructure; Database, Decision Support and Artificial Intelligence (AI); Systems Security and Control; Telecommunications and Computer Networks; Electronic Business and Electronic Commerce Financial Accounting The topics include: Accounting and Business Environment; Recording Business Transactions; Business Structure and Accounting Concepts; Preparing Financial Statements; Merchandise Inventory; Managing Cash and Receivables; Accounting for Fixed Assets and Depreciation; Current and Long-Term Liabilities; Calculation and Analysis of Accounting Ratios Cost and Management Accounting The topics include: The Nature and Purpose of Cost and Management Accounting; Cost Classification and Accumulation; Cost Accounting Methods; Budgeting and Standard Costing; Analytical Techniques for Decision Making Quantitative Analysis for Business The topics include: Introduction to Statistics; Graphical Presentation and Frequency Distribution; Probability; Sampling Methods and Central Limit Theorem; Confidence Interval Estimation and Hypothesis Testing; Simple Linear Regression and Correlation; Business and Financial Mathematics
Business Economics The topics include: Introduction to Basic Concepts; Theory of Market; Theory of Production; Market Structures and Profit Maximization Strategies; National Income; Determination of Income and Output; Money and Banking; Inflation and Unemployment; International Trade and Finance Principles of Management The topics include: Introduction; Understanding Internal and External Environment of an Organisation; Social Responsibility and Business Ethics; Foundations of Planning and Decision Making; Fundamentals of Organising; Managing Human Resource and Change; Managing Groups and Teams; Motivating Employees; Leadership; Controlling the Organization Principles of Marketing The topics include: Understanding Marketing and the Marketing Process; Developing Marketing Opportunities and Strategies; Developing the Marketing Mix; Managing Marketing Module: Commercial Law Credit: 3 The topics include: Sources of English and Hong Kong Law; Hong Kong SAR Legal Machinery; Elements of a Binding Legal Contract; Terms of a Contract; Types of Clauses in Contracts; Discharge of Contract; Remedies; Law of Tort; Law of Agency; Sale of Goods Ordinance; Fundamentals of Banking Law; Duties of Bankers and Banking Contract; Sole Trader and Partnership
Business Finance The topics include: An Overview of Managerial Finance; Review of Accounting; Financial Analysis: Evaluating a Firm s Financial Performance; Financial Forecasting, Planning and Budgeting; Valuation of Financial Assets; Current Asset and Working Capital Management; Planning for Financial Mix: Sources of Short-term Financing; Planning for Financial Mix: Sources of Long-term Financing; Dividend Policy; Cost of Capital; Capital Budgeting Project The Project development consists of four distinct phases: Project conception, project proposal, execution, and report writing. The topics include: Project Conception; Project Proposal; Project Execution; Project Report Writing Banking and Financial Services The topics include: Development and Trends of Banking and Financial Services, The Banking System in Hong Kong and the Regulatory Framework, Banking Services, Bank Credit Management, General Bank and Branch Management Investment Management The topics include: Overview of Investment and Securities Markets, Equity Investment, Fixed-income Investment, Derivative Instruments, Securities Analysis
Foundation of Financial Planning The topics include: Basic Background and Framework of Financial Planning, Managing Your Liquidity, Personal Financing, Personal Investing, Protecting Your Wealth, Introduction to Law and Regulation of Hong Kong Financial Markets Regulatory Framework for Banking and Financial Services The topics include: Recent Trends and Development of the Regulatory Environment, Hong Kong Financial Industry and Regulatory Bodies, Regulatory Framework and Key Principles, Business Conduct, Operations and Relationship, Market Misconduct, Improper Trading Practice and Compliance, Business and Professional Ethics Basic Insurance The topics include: Principles and Practice of Insurance, General Insurance, Long Term Insurance, Investment-linked Long Term Insurance Risk Management The topics include: Risks Management Fundamentals, Risks Management Process, Risk Measures, Risk and Fraud
Tax and Estate Planning The topics include: Hong Kong Tax System, Profits Tax, Salaries Tax, Property Tax, Personal Assessment, Tax Planning and Anti-avoidance Rules, Estate Planning Retirement Planning The topics include: Retirement Planning and Protection, Insurance and Retirement, Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF), MPF Trustees, MPF Intermediaries