22908 Current Issues in Corporate Governance and Assurance

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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business: Accounting
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

The subject introduces students to the notion of scientific and applied research in auditing and corporate governance. Building on these paradigms, students are taught how to identify research questions, develop theoretical frameworks and test empirically their theories.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1.	appreciate the economic foundations of corporate governance
2.	analyse underlying reasons for board structures, executive compensation and the interaction between the different corporate governance mechanisms
3.	analyse the different determinants of audit fees and their economic consequences

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject provides an in-depth study of the empirical economics of auditing and corporate governance research at an advanced level, which is one of the core streams in the study of accounting. It therefore provides an essential set of ideas, concepts, skills and techniques for students to address business issues at honours level study in accounting.

This subject also contributes specifically to develop the following Program Learning Objectives:

Communicate research and its potential impacts effectively to a range of audiences (2.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

Students attend a three-hour seminar which is a mix of formal presentations by the instructor, presentations by students on allocated papers and discussion of a selected research problem or key questions distributed in advance on the topic.

Formal presentations by students on papers in the reading lists are used to gauge student understanding of the research ideas and the research process used in the studies, and the implications of the research for practice and further research. Discussion among the student group is used to gauge the ability of the students to defend their interpretation of the readings and to challenge alternative views. Key questions are set for each topic and the students use the questions to guide their reading.

Content (topics)

Overview of the early development of the economics of auditing and corporate governance research
Examine the main research findings of the current economics of auditing and corporate governance research
Explore the disciplinary and theoretical bases of auditing and corporate governance research
Examine the major and alternative research methods used in auditing and corporate governance research
Consider possible future developments in the economics of auditing and corporate governance research
Examine possible relations between research in auditing and corporate governance, practice and regulation
Develop skills in undertaking and evaluating audit and corporate governance research
Consider the relations between auditor and governance attributes, and broader financial accounting issues

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Class Presentations and Submissions (Individual)*

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3
Weight:	40%
Length:	3-page paper summary and workshop paper presentation
Criteria:	application of economics of auditing and corporate governance literature and theories to a research student standard knowledge of research design issues and research study results interpretation ability to develop research proposal on an auditing or corporate governance topic to a high standard *Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero.

Assessment task 2: Final Exam (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3
Weight:	60%
Length:	3-day take home exam with 2 questions
Criteria:	This assessment will be graded on the following criteria: correct application of financial and management accounting techniques and theories accuracy of answers level of detail and the clarity of your answers

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.