Sustainability reporting is an important element of corporate disclosure, with an increasingly diverse range of stakeholders demanding information on the broader social and environmental aspects of organisational performance. Accounting plays a critical role, since information on a company’s sustainability activities requires accurate metrics and disclosures. As accounting for sustainability becomes increasingly central to corporate reporting, the accounting profession has begun to offer services similar to traditional financial accounting by producing verifiable sustainability information.

This course will explore issues associated with the development of sustainability accounting and the disclosure of sustainability-related activities. It will consider accounting metrics on a range of sustainability issues for internal and external reporting purposes. The implications of the need for accurate reliable information on audit assurance will also be examined. Students will also be introduced to the major difficulties and criticisms of accounting for sustainability and will gain awareness of current research into the value of disclosures to stakeholders. 

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an understanding of voluntary and mandatory sustainability reporting frameworks and how these initiatives aim to address climate change and sustainable development.
2. Evaluate and apply approaches to integrate sustainability metrics and processes within firms’ extant management accounting systems.
3. Apply metrics for disclosing accounting information to external stakeholders in relation to key sustainability issues.
4. Research and investigate the capital market impacts of sustainability accounting.
5. Critically evaluate sustainability accounting issues related to stakeholder versus stockholder focus.
6. Explain the trends in the assurance of sustainability.

Research-Led Teaching

This course will explore issues associated with the development of sustainability accounting and the disclosure of sustainability-related activities. Students will be introduced to the major debates surrounding - and criticisms of - accounting for sustainability. Students will be exposed to research investigating the impact and effectiveness of various forms of sustainability disclosure and their role in the socially-responsible allocation of capital. 

Required Resources

Required readings for the course are available online through the ANU library. Links to relevant articles will be provided each week on Wattle.

Recommended Resources

Adams, C.A., (ed) Handbook of Accounting and Sustainability, Elgar, 2022. (Adams)

Laine, M., Tregidga, H., and Unerman, J., (eds) Sustainability Accounting and Accountability, 3rd edition, Routledge, 2022. (Laine)

Rimmel, G., (ed) Accounting for sustainability, Routledge, 2021. (Rimmel)

Links to additional recommended resources will be provided each week on Wattle.

Staff Feedback

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

·        Written comments on assessments.

·        Verbal comments during tutorials and consultation.

·        Feedback to the whole class via Wattle email.

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

COMMUNICATION

Email and the Wattle Course Website

Email and the Wattle course website are the preferred ways of communication. If necessary, the lecturer and tutors for this course will contact students on their official ANU student email address. Students should use this email address when contacting staff as spam filters used by ANU may not allow other email addresses to be received.

Announcements

Students are expected to check the Wattle site for announcements about this course, e.g. changes to timetables or notifications of cancellations.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to sustainability accounting: Background and theoretical foundations.	Seminar Questions Topic 1
2	The sustainability accounting reporting process	Seminar Questions Topic 2
3	Sustainability accounting frameworks: Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); Integrated Reporting <IR>	Seminar Questions Topic 3
4	External sustainability frameworks: International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) (proposed) standards	Seminar Questions Topic 4
5	External sustainability frameworks: Sustainability reporting in the United States; SEC proposed Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors	Seminar Questions Topic 5
6	Accounting for sustainability in Australia	Seminar Questions Topic 6
7	Issues in accounting for sustainability: Accounting for climate, Accounting for biodiversity, water, human rights	Seminar Questions Topic 7
8	Integrated management accounting and control for sustainability	Seminar Questions Topic 8
9	Sustainability audit and assurance	Seminar Questions Topic 9
10	Sustainability reporting from a capital market perspective	Seminar Questions Topic 10
11	Socially responsible investment	Seminar Questions Topic 11
12	Greenwashing and critical perspectives on sustainability reporting	Seminar Questions Topic 12

Tutorial Registration

There are no tutorials.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial Preparation (10%)	10 %	31/07/2023	11/08/2023	1,2,3,4,5,6
Tutorial Presentation (10%)	10 %	31/07/2023	11/08/2023	1,2,3,4,5,6
Research Assignment 1 (25%)	25 %	01/09/2023	22/09/2023	1,2,3,4,5,6
Research Assignment 2 (25%)	25 %	13/10/2023	01/11/2023	1,2,3,4,5,6
Final examination (30%)	30 %	02/11/2023	30/11/2023	1,2,3,4,5,6

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Skills website. 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 delivery: on-campus seminar (recording on Echo360).

Attendance at all classes, while not compulsory, is expected in line with “Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning”, clause 2 paragraph (h).

Examination(s)

Information regarding permitted examination materials for the course will be available on the examination timetable website when the examination timetable is released: https://exams.anu.edu.au/timetable/

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial Preparation (10%)

Due and Return dates

The due date listed in the assessment summary is the earliest possible date. This assignment task is assessed weekly commencing in Week 2. Feedback will be provided weekly with the first return date of the end of Week 3.

Instructions

Students are required to attempt ALL the set seminar questions in advance of attending the class and to submit their attempts each week on Wattle.

It is expected that students prepare for and attend ALL seminars scheduled for the course. Students who cannot attend due to misadventure, sickness or other valid reasons must notify the course convenor with supporting evidence (such as medical certificates) as soon as possible. 

Task details

Students are expected to prepare the assigned seminar questions with sufficient effort. Seminar questions will be posted on Wattle. The submissions will be marked based on the extent of completion and effort (not necessarily accuracy). The questions must be completed and submitted on Wattle before class each week. The task is worth 5% of the overall grade. Weekly marking guidelines for tutorial preparation:

2 marks   – The student has made a genuine attempt to answer ALL the set seminar questions in advance of attending class.

1 marks – The student has made a genuine attempt to answer the majority but not all of the set seminar questions in advance of attending class.

0 marks – The student has not make a genuine attempt to answer the assigned seminar questions

This component is worth 10% of the overall final grade.

Feedback

The assessment mark will be provided on Wattle by the end of the following week. Progressive feedback on seminar preparation will be provided the week after submission. Students will receive feedback on their first submission on later than the end of Week 3.

Assessment Task 2

Tutorial Presentation (10%)

Due date

The due date listed in the assessment summary is the earliest possible date. For this assessment task, presentations will start in Week 2.

Instructions

Students will be assigned to groups of one to three students and allocated a seminar week in which they will present their findings to the set seminar questions for the week and promote broader discussion with the class on the weekly topic. The seminar questions to be included in the presentation will be provided on Wattle. Students will be assigned the question they are presenting one week before their presentation. The presentation will be assessed based on the following equally weighted criteria:

1. Content of the presentation: The student(s) demonstrate a solid understanding of the topic, coverage of the key issues, and provide evidence and reasoning to support their findings.
2. Quality of the presentation: The clarity, structure and cohesiveness of the response, creativity and interest of the presentation format, and keeping to appropriate time limits.
3. Effort and ability to engage the class and to encourage participation in discussions, and respond and interact with the class and the instructor.
4. Individual presentation skills: The effectiveness and communication skills demonstrated by the individual student.

This component of the assessment task is worth 10% of the total course grade. To allow subsequent validation of this assessment task, students' presentations will be recorded.

Feedback

Feedback will be released progressively throughout the semester as students present each week. The return date listed in the assessment summary is the earliest possible return date.

Assessment Task 3

Research Assignment 1 (25%)

Due date

5pm on Friday 1 September 2023 (end of Week 6).

Instructions

Students will work in groups of one to four for this assessment task. This assignment provides students with an opportunity to explore topics related to sustainability issues in the context of a practical case or debate in the academic literature and/or accounting profession. The preparation of the assignment will require extensive reading. It is expected to be broadly researched, clearly written, well-reasoned and argued, and that it will draw upon a considerable range of source material. Students may be required to present material from the assignment to the class. Any word or page limit and associated penalties will be specified in the actual assessment task requirements.

Task details

Task details of the assignment will be provided by the end of Week 2.

Submission

This assignment will be submitted on Wattle via Turnitin.

Assessment Task 4

Research Assignment 2 (25%)

Due date

5pm on Friday 13 October 2023 (end of Week 10).

Instructions

Students will work in groups of one to four for this assessment task. This assignment provides students with an opportunity to identify and critically evaluate the role of sustainability accounting in corporations. Students will take the role of a new accounting hire tasked with promoting the organisations commitment to sustainability accounting. The assignment involves, inter alia, an informed statement to the organisation explaining the nature of sustainability accounting, why is it important, what standards exist to guide practice, implementation issues, integration with the organisation as a whole, and other topics germane to the issue. Any word or page limit and associated penalties will be specified in the actual assessment task requirements.

Task details

Task details of the assignment will be provided by the start of Week 7.

Submission

This assignment will be submitted on Wattle via Turnitin.

Assessment Task 5

Final examination (30%)

The final examination will be a one day (24 hour) take home exam. The examination questions will be available online via Wattle. The scope of the final examination will be the whole semester's syllabus.

Centrally administered examinations through Examinations, Graduations & Prizes will be timetabled prior to the examination period. The due date listed in the assessment summary is the earliest possible date. Please check ANU Timetabling for further information. Information regarding exam script viewing will be provided in due course.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

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

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

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

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Feedback on assignments will be provided via the Turnitin system and the Wattle grade system.

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.

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 Access 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