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:

1. Write an academically rigorous research report in the finance discipline;
2. Communicate arguments, principles and findings using the language and conventions of the finance discipline;
3. Apply prior learning in finance to produce a practitioner-oriented report; and
4. Effectively work in groups and discuss results of the activities undertaken in a team.

Research-Led Teaching

This course will 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.

Examination Material or equipment

There is no examination in this course.

Required Resources

No textbook is required for the course.

Recommended Resources

Students can access to relevant resources via ANU library web at https://anulib.anu.edu.au/.

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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	Introduction of the Course
2	Initiate Research Question
3	Developing Literature Review	Finalizing Group Formation
4	Group Meeting: Pitching Research	Pitching Research Task
5	Data and Methodology I
6	Data and Methodology II	Due: Research Question and Literature Review
7	Group Meeting: Finalizing Group Project
8	Project Report
9	Group Meeting
10	Group Meeting
11	Presentation	Group Presentation
12	Presentation	Group Presentation

Tutorial Registration

Drop-in sessions will be available on campus, live through scheduled Zoom sessions and as pre-recorded videos. Information regarding enrolments for these options will be provided on Wattle no later than week one of the semester.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Group Formation	0 %	10/08/2021	13/08/2021	4
Pitching Research	10 %	17/08/2021	20/08/2021	1,2
Research Question and Literature Review	35 %	03/09/2021	20/09/2021	1,2
Group Presentation	10 %	19/10/2021	29/10/2021	1,2,4
Group Project Report	45 %	04/11/2021	02/12/2021	1,2,3,4

* 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 Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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

Course content delivery will take the form of scheduled live Zoom sessions and as pre-recorded videos (available via echo360 on Wattle) and weekly drop-in sessions, delivered in hybrid format (on campus, live through scheduled Zoom sessions and as pre-recorded videos).

Examination(s)

There is no examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Group Formation

Student can self-select into groups through links on Wattle. Each group will be no more than five members. If a student cannot find a group by the end of week three, the instructor will form a new group for the remaining students or assign the student randomly to an existing group depending on the consensus of current group members.

Assessment Task 2

Pitching Research

Students will pitch their research topic ideas to the instructor and get feedback. This task is designed to get the students up to speed with their research topic selection. Details will be provided in class and on Wattle before Week 2. Submission will be on Wattle through Turnitin.

Assessment Task 3

Research Question and Literature Review

This assessment is designed to ensure that students have a viable research project that can be completed in the required time. Each student needs to use their own words to clearly outline the research question to be investigated and the importance of the contribution. Student should position the research question in the existing literature, and have a synthesis of the relevant literature. Detailed instruction will be provided in class and on Wattle by the end of Week 3. Submission is through Turnitin on Wattle.

Assessment Task 4

Group Presentation

This assessment will ensure that each student is fully aware of the elements of the group research project. Presentation materials will be available one week before the schedule. Each group will present their research for a maximum of 15 minutes in class. Presentations will be recorded through Zoom.

Assessment Task 5

Group Project Report

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. Details of the requirement will be available in class and on Wattle by the end of Week 7. Each member needs also to give a peer review of the contribution of other members. Out of the 45%, 15% will be scaled by the average score of peer review of contributions. 30% will be applied to each member nondiscriminatory. The research needs to be re-producible. Submission is through Turnitin on Wattle. The code and data of the submission need to be uploaded on Wattle.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to 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 be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, 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 Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

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) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

All assessment submission in the course is on Wattle through Turnitin.

Late Submission

Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

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.

Returning Assignments

Feedback will be provided over Wattle.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted 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.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission is not permitted.

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