Structured Class Presentation – Group Exercise (20%):  4 x student group exercises with specialised scenarios based on structured set questions to be completed on each day of intensive classes. This is a group exercise and the exercise question will be posted on Canvas before the class.

A mark will be given for each group presentation that reflects the level of collaboration and effort against all the Learning Outcomes. Each group member will receive the same mark for the presentation. The final mark will be the best mark achieved of the Exercises attempted in that you will have 4 opportunities to achieve the best possible mark overall.

This task will achieve Unit Learning Outcome 1 by requiring students to demonstrate an understanding of the central role of the board of directors in corporate governance. It will achieve the Unit Learning Outcome 2 by requiring students to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and understanding of the key themes and theories of contemporary corporate governance as discussed in the classes and prescribed readings. It will achieve Unit Learning Outcome 3 by requiring students to demonstrate a high level of understanding of the role of shareholders, and shareholder activism, in corporate governance. It will achieve Unit Learning Outcome 4 by requiring students to apply different approaches to stakeholder protection in corporate governance. It will satisfy Unit Learning Outcome 5 by requiring students to show their understanding of the unit of study material through high level synthesis and evaluation of the legal principles and policy that are relevant for the task.  

Discussion Board Submissions (20%):  4 x 500 words individual student Discussion Submissions on the Unit Discussion Board at the conclusion of each day (due Day 1, 2, 3 and 4 of intensive classes). This is an individual exercise in posting a thoughtful comment, observation or reflection on the material covered in the 3 lecture sessions for that day. Alternatively, you may post a thoughtful response or added comment, observation or reflection to another student’s post of their thoughtful comment, observation or reflection. The posts to the Discussion Board are to be no longer than 500 words (maximum).

Guidance on what constitutes a thoughtful comment other than the marking criteria also includes a critical analysis of the key themes of the day’s topics, based and connected to the day’s readings, on contentious matters of law/policy/and reform issues.

The 4 Discussion Board Posts (1 per day) are based on the Exercises (presented by fellow students), the lectures and required readings for that day. The lecture/s will focus on certain key areas of the readings.

Each post on the Discussion Board will be assessed and general feedback given the following day in class. Your final mark will be the best mark you achieve for the submissions.

The Discussion Board posts task is a continuous assessment task to allow you to demonstrate an ongoing engagement with the unit materials and with your peers’ perspectives.

The posts are to be respectful and adhere to the University’s on-line etiquette, policy and guidelines.

TIME: You are to post to the Discussion Board (as set out above) during the one hour allocated at the end of each day from 4.30pm. Late post submissions will not be marked.

This task will achieve Unit Learning Outcome 2 by requiring students to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and understanding of the key themes and theories of contemporary corporate governance as discussed in the classes and prescribed readings. It will satisfy Unit Learning Outcome 5 by requiring students to show their understanding of the unit of study material through high level synthesis and evaluation of the legal principles and policy that are relevant for the task.

Short Release Assignment (60%): The final assignment will be a duration of 72 hours. It will be released 23 September 9am and is due 26 September 9am (Sydney, Australia time). The word count is 4800 words maximum. The assignment has four questions, one is based on a hypothetical scenario and three questions are based on the unit’s lectures, readings, and learning materials.

This task will achieve Unit Learning Outcome 1 by requiring students to demonstrate an understanding of the central role of the board of directors in corporate governance. It will achieve Unit Learning Outcome 2 by requiring students to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and understanding of the key themes and theories of contemporary corporate governance as discussed in the classes and prescribed readings. It will achieve Unit Learning Outcome 3 by requiring students to demonstrate a high level of understanding of the role of shareholders, and shareholder activism, in corporate governance. It will achieve Unit Learning Outcome 4 by requiring students to apply different approaches to stakeholder protection in corporate governance. It will satisfy Unit Learning Outcome 5 by requiring students to show their understanding of the unit of study material through high level synthesis and evaluation of the legal principles and policy that are relevant for the task.

Word limit penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will include all footnotes but not include references and any bibliography (if required). 

Use of editors or proof-readers: The use of assistance in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is strictly prohibited. Assistance includes human and automated writing tools (not including spell checking). The use of Studiosity does not breach this rule but must be acknowledged.

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate.

Assessment requirement to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.