This course provides an opportunity for students to work on an applied project in finance.  Students will work on one of a range of possible topics, each of which are motivated by recent innovations in financial markets.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of the requirements for this course, students will be able to:

• LO1:  Write an academically rigorous research report
• LO2:  Communicate arguments, principles and findings using the language and conventions of the finance discipline
• LO3:  Apply course work to produce a practitioner-oriented report.

Research-Led Teaching

In this course you will become aware of academic research and its importance; develop your ability to ask questions and answer them in a rigorous way; and engage in your own research project. Students will be provided with some of the basic tools necessary to undertake research in both university- and industry-based settings.

Required Resources

All necessary readings and materials will be provided on Wattle.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• verbal and written commends about your project and assignments.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Research Introduction and Group Formation
2	Pitching Research
3	Developing a literature review
4	Data and Methods
5	Research Methods II
6	Project Report Overview
7	Group Meetings
8	Group Meetings
9	Group Meetings
10	Group Meetings
11	Group Meetings
12	Group Meetings

Tutorial Registration

No tutorial for this class.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Research Brief	15 %	15/03/2019	22/03/2019	1,2
Literature, Data and Methodology Review	20 %	29/03/2019	26/04/2019	1,2
Project Presentations (Group)	15 %	17/05/2019	24/05/2019	1,2
Project Report (Group)	50 %	31/05/2019	04/07/2019	1,2,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

You are expected to participate and contribute actively in your group work. Failure to participate, with written statement from all of your other group members, could result in your individual mark being adjusted compared to the marks for the other group members in your group work component. Further information will be provided on Wattle. You are expected to participate in the group presentation even when your group is not presenting. This is a courtesy to other fellow students.

Assessment Task 1

Research Brief

This assessment is designed to ensure that students have a viable research project that can be completed in the required time. Although groups collectively choose a research topic, project briefs must be written individually. Each student needs to use their own words to clearly outline the research question to be investigated and the importance of the contribution. The brief should draw on two or three main research articles and clearly outline the work plan for this semester (including proposed completion dates).

Assessment Task 2

Literature, Data and Methodology Review

The purpose of this assessment is to ensure that students (i) have positioned their research question in the existing literature; (ii) are aware of the data required to complete the project; and (iii) are familiar with the estimation method(s) required in the course of the project.

Assessment Task 3

Project Presentations (Group)

This assessment will ensure that each student is fully aware of the elements of the group research project. Each group will present their research in a maximum of 15 minutes in class. Presentations will be recorded by Echo360. Details of group formation will be provided on Wattle.

Assessment Task 4

Project Report (Group)

The purpose of this assessment is to produce an original, relevant and rigorous piece of research. Groups will submit their report with a clear outline of the research question, literature, method and data, results and conclusions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) as submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

OR

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students