Module FINN1071: Ethics and Finance

Department: Finance

FINN1071: Ethics and Finance

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• The aims of the module are the following:
• introduce students to key concepts in ethics and their articulations in finance and financial offerings.
• discuss emerging ethical-based financing offerings, including ESG, social and sustainable development financing.
• provide students with frameworks and skills necessary to understand and critically evaluate the ethical nature of financial offerings in different institutional forms, including ESG, FinTechs and capital markets.

Content

• Ethical and Moral Foundations of Finance.
• Changing Financial Landscape and the Importance of Ethics in Finance and Financial Decision Making.
• Shareholder Value Maximisation vs Stakeholder Governance in Financial Sector
• Ethical Screening Methods in Finance and Investment: ESG, Responsible Finance, Impact Investing, Social Investment.
• Sustainable Development Financing.
• Ethical Capital Markets: Approaches and Products.
• Financial Inclusion, Inclusive Finance and Microfinance.
• Ethical Issues in Digital Financial Offerings, Fintechs, and Social Finance.
• Ethical and Social Finance Regulations.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand foundational bases of ethics and morality and their articulations in financial transactions and spheres.
• Develop knowledge of the ethical issues and dilemmas that arise in various financial offerings and institutional forms.
• Examine various forms of ethical compliance and screening in financial offerings.
• Develop knowledge of the ways and mechanisms finance and financial institutions can contribute to ESG and sustainable development.
• Understand the ethical aspects and requirements of the regulatory environment.

• By the end of the module, students should be able to:
• Recognize the ethics and ethical issues relevant to financial transactions and the sector.
• Developed technical and academic skills to distinguish and analyse ESG risks and ethical screening processes in financial transactions and the institutions.
• The ability to examine practical issues and case studies, practice problem-solving and analysis of ethical issues in financial transactions and institutions.
• Developed skills to critically evaluate developments, performance and progress of financial institutions and markets in relation to ethics, social and governance (ESG) and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Assess the regulatory approaches used in different jurisdictions to understand various ways in which ESGs and SDGs integrated into financial offerings.
• Understand ethical concepts and their articulations in finance and financial transactions from multi-disciplinary perspectives.

• Written Communication through summative assessment.
• Planning and Organising by observing the strict assignment deadlines and by preparing for the examination.
• Problem-solving and analysis by applying the necessary analytical skills to identify ethical compliance-related concerns and screening in financial transactions in undertaking seminars and assessed work.
• Ability to seek out and use relevant information and data sources, including electronic and bibliographic sources.
• Independent learning within a defined framework of study.
• Apply knowledge to new situations in relation to ethical decision-making in finance.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching is by lectures and seminars. Learning takes place through attending lectures, preparations and participation at seminars, and private study.
• Seminar activities and discussions provide technical awareness of topics in a comprehensive form.
• Formative assessment will be answers prepared by students to pre-assigned questions and readings that are presented and discussed in seminars.
• Summative assessment comprises a 3000 word assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Answers are prepared by students to pre-assigned questions and readings that are presented and discussed in seminars.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University