Module: BMA5103-20 Accounting in Practice

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Bronwen O'byrne

Module Tutor Contact Details: b.obyrne@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This practice based module has been designed for Accounting Pathway students. The module will provide you with an opportunity to investigate a range of National or International accounting practice routes and career development pathways, or to select, design, plan, manage and evaluate a project relating to an accounting issue.  You will gain exposure to experiential learning by conducting some of your project in an accountants or an accounts department of a business in the UK or overseas, in the accounting department of an overseas University, or by interviewing accounting professionals.  Your project will be directly related to your career intentions.  There will be instruction at the beginning of the module on experiential learning and the design, planning and management of your project.

In this module, you will be able to demonstrate the following Graduate Attributes:

• Employable, equipped with the skills necessary to flourish in the global workplace, able to work in and lead teams.

• Critical thinkers: able to express their ideas in written and oral form, and possessing information literacy.

• Ethically aware: prepared for citizenship in a local, national and global context

2.Outline syllabus

You will select a topic/activity in consultation with the module leader during the initial weeks of the module and begin to make plans at that time.  The module leader will appoint a supervisor who will assist you in completing an activity and project synopsis, again during the initial weeks of the module. You may use experience/material gathered at any time as well as during the currency of the module.

You will be directed to the critical reflection template on Minerva.  You will receive guidance on the requirements of critical analytical reflection.  The completed documents will therefore be both event based and reflective.

3.Teaching and learning activities

You will be allocated a supervisor and have regular meetings, during which such issues as practical experience, relevant accounting research and progress in the execution of the project, together with presentation style will be discussed.

You will also receive tuition on designing, planning and management of your project.

You are required to arrange guidance and feedback sessions with your supervisor. This will include discussion of areas of the project that require critical analytical reflection.  You are required to keep a logbook of attendance and work, which must be reviewed regularly with the supervisor.

Learning will also be in the form of designing and then undertaking the necessary work to complete the project within a limited period of time and thereafter project report writing for the written assessment.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Coursework

• Description: Reflective journal (2,000 words)

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Coursework

• Description: Assignment (3,000 words)

• % Weighting: 60%