Postgraduate Course: Comparative and International Corporate Governance (LAWS11306)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This module focuses on the theory, law and practice of the governance of corporations across different jurisdictions and at supra-national level. Corporate governance regulates the relationships between various corporate constituencies (directors, officers, majority and minority shareholders, employees, creditors) with a view to establishing an adequate system of controls that prevents any single corporate constituency from acquiring overriding power or influence. Because legal systems rank social priorities differently, several models of corporate governance have emerged worldwide.
Throughout this module students will acquire comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical approaches to governance of companies. They will explore the mechanisms that different models of corporate governance adopt to mitigate the conflicts between different kinds of corporate constituencies, and the main sources of diversity of corporate governance systems. Students will use these theoretical tools critically to analyse the advantages and shortcomings of the main North American, European and Asian governance systems. Upon successful completion of this module, students will acquire a trans-national and inter-disciplinary understanding of the tensions among corporate constituencies and the policy strategies adopted by various jurisdictions to tackle them.
|
| Course description |
1. Fundamental concepts of corporate governance
2. Drivers of corporate governance: law, politics and culture
3. Corporate governance codes: origins, perspectives, enforcement
4. The market for corporate control: the role of hostile takeovers
5. Shareholder activism and corporate governance
6. Employee involvement in corporate governance
7. Transparency, internal control and risk management mechanisms
8. Corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investment
9. EU-level corporate governance
10. Globalisation and corporate governance
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Please contact the distance learning team at escript.support@ed.ac.uk |
| Additional Costs | Students should have regular and reliable access to the Internet. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Please contact the distance learning team at escript.support@ed.ac.uk |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 40,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
156 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
One essay of up to 4,000 words (60%); one individual assignment (20%); contribution to weekly online discussions throughout the semester (20%). Requirements for all module assessment will be outlined to students within the individual modules at the start of each semester. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
1. Understand the meaning and relevance of the main theories of corporate governance:
- understand the causes of the conflicts between managers, shareholders and other stakeholders, and the role of corporate governance in managing these conflicts;
- analyse the premises, substance and rationale of the shareholder primacy theory, the stakeholder primacy theory and the board primacy theory;
- compare and contrast the policy objectives that underpin the main corporate governance theories.
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of main corporate governance systems worldwide:
- understand the particularities of the main national corporate governance models discussed throughout the course;
- analyse the emerging international standards in the area of corporate governance.
3. Demonstrate the development of key research, communication and personal effectiveness skills:
- the ability to synthesise and communicate information and ideas effectively;
- the ability to work independently, seeking relevant advice and support when necessary.
|
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Remus Valsan
Tel: (0131 6)50 2008
Email: Remus.Valsan@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Douglas Thompson
Tel: (0131 6)50 2022
Email: D.Thompson@ed.ac.uk |
|
© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 12 January 2015 4:17 am
|
University Homepage