Postgraduate Course: Comparative and International Corporate Governance (LAWS11306)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course focuses on the theory, law and practice of the governance of corporations across different jurisdictions. 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. Corporate governance has become a key topic for legislators, practitioners, and academics in all modern industrial states. It has been increasingly recognised as an important element of sustainable development. Consequently, comparative knowledge and understanding of corporate governance are essential tools for business lawyers and policy makers, especially after the recent financial crisis and corporate scandals which highlighted the shortcomings of corporate governance systems. |
| Course description |
Week 1: Fundamental Concepts of Corporate Governance
Week 2: The Legal Foundations of Corporate Governance
Week 3: Politics and Culture as Drivers of Corporate Governance
Week 4: The UK Corporate Governance Code and the Stewardship Code
Week 5: The Board of Directors (1): Board Diversity
Week 6: The Board of Directors (2): Independent Directors
Week 7: The Board of Directors (3): Board-level Employee Representation
Week 8: The Gatekeepers: Auditors and Corporate Lawyers
Week 9: Shareholder Activism
Week 10: Proxy Advisors
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Please contact the online learning team at law.online@ed.ac.uk |
| Additional Costs | Students should have regular and reliable access to the Internet. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
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%); a portfolio of contributions made to weekly online discussions throughout the semester (20%).
Requirements for all course assessments will be outlined to students within the individual courses at the start of each semester. |
| Feedback |
Students will have the opportunity to obtain formative feedback over the course of the semester. The feedback provided will assist students in their preparation for the summative assessment.
Details of the School's feedback policy will be available at the start of the course.
|
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the meaning and relevance of the main concepts and theories of corporate governance
- Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of the role and responsibilities of directors, shareholders and other corporate stakeholders
- 3. Analyse the effects of corporate scandals and crises on corporate governance codes and principles of good practice
- Demonstrate key research, writing and communication skills
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Reading List
| A detailed list of key resources will be available at the start of the course. |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
https://edin.ac/3fU2GeA |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will develop their skills and abilities in:
1. Research and enquiry, through e.g. selecting and deploying appropriate research techniques;
2. Personal and intellectual autonomy, e.g. developing the ability to independently assess the relevance and importance of primary and secondary sources;
3. Communication, e.g. skills in summarising and communicating information and ideas effectively in written form;
4. Personal effectiveness, e.g. working constructively as a member of an online community;
5. Students will also develop their technical/practical skills, throughout the course, e.g. in articulating, evidencing and sustaining a line of argument, and engaging in a convincing critique of another's arguments.
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| Special Arrangements |
This course is taught by online learning. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
This course is taught by online learning. |
| Keywords | Corporate governance,board of directors,corporate governance codes,shareholder activism |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Remus Valsan
Tel: (0131 6)50 2008
Email: Remus.Valsan@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Clare Polson
Tel: (0131 6)51 9704
Email: Clare.Polson@ed.ac.uk |
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