Module detail

SHE level	11
SCQF credit points	15
ECTS credit points	7.5
Module code	MMN430220
Module Leader	Wendy Mazzucco
School	Glasgow School for Business and Society
Subject	Finance and Accounting
Trimester	A (September start), B (January start), C (May start), A (September start)

Summary of content

The module is intended to set out a broad groundwork for the coverage of ethics, sustainability and governance issues in relation to business. Students will be supported to critically explore private, public and social enterprise sectors, covering topics such as corporate social responsibility, sustainability, ethical and responsible leadership and key issues in corporate governance and the extent to which present arrangements secure corporate accountability. In so doing, students will gain insight into the internal and external accountability structures aimed at producing an ethical organisation.

The aim of this module is to equip students with a set of analytical tools and concepts to drive responsible decision-making whilst highlighting the difference between compliance and ethically driven behaviours. The module will therefore incorporate both a theoretical and practical understanding of real world issues, from a UK and global perspective. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors, the UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and GCU’s Common Good attributes as well as Sustainable Development Goals will be the foundation upon which this module is built.

Specifically, SDG 5 Gender equality, 8 decent work and economic growth, 9 industrial innovation and infrastructure, 11 sustainable cities and communities, 12 Responsible consumption and production, 16 peace, justice, and strong institutions. These goals will be embedded in the context of this module delivery.

The teaching of this module is based on a dialectic approach to learning, that of debate, conversation and informed opinions. For all topics studied, students will require to demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving skills, whilst exhibiting two-way communication and personal effectiveness skills.

Module details

This school-wide module is geared towards the development of business skills that encourage global ethical and responsible leaders that are not just economically astute but also socially and environmentally aware of the impact of their business activities.
In line with ESG factors, the objective of the module is to produce graduates who can enter the work place with an understanding of PRME principles and the GCU’s Common Good ethos embedded in to their thinking. The module is based on real-world learning from a global perspective, considering business’ impact from an environmental, social and governance perspective. Students will gain the necessary critical and reflective skills that will allow them to think through real-world problems. The aim is to highlight to students that they must be respectful of different cultures, whilst understanding the need to be ethical in their thinking. The curriculum is based on theoretical versus practical aspects, for example, of corporate accountability, good governance, building an ethical organisation, responsible leadership and ethical global citizenship and the challenges of ethical diversity and finding moral common ground. The learning and teaching strategy privileges thought processes that encourage and stimulate imagination to allow students to rethink their entire world-views. Learning and teaching is based on cultivating moral imagination in order for students to become morally aware, to be intellectually entrepreneurial in exploring the world without undue inhibitions. Students will experience the business world through different and varied lenses so that ideas and actions of business people in the workplace can be critically explored and consequences understood.
The aim is to engage students in analysis, research and discussion of contemporary, real life issues, both from a UK and International perspective. The teaching and learning strategy aims to embed these attributes by way of a dialectic approach to learning. Lectures will be used to

Module structure

Activity	Total hours
Lectures	0
Tutorials	4
Practicals	0
Seminars	0
Independent Learning	106
Assessment	40
Placement	0

Assessment methods

Component	Duration	Weighting	Threshold	Description
Course Work001		70	45	2,500 word essay
Course Work002		30	45	Participation in online discussion boards/padlet walls

Academic essentials

Ethics, Sustainability and Governance

Summary of content

Module details

Module structure

Assessment methods