Course Title: Corporate Governance

Part A: Course Overview

Course ID: 002957

Course Title: Corporate Governance

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

JUST1063

City Campus

Postgraduate

615H Accounting & Law

Face-to-Face


Course Coordinator: Melissa Simpson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5756

Course Coordinator Email: melissa.simpson@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Previous study in Company Law and/or suitable work experience.


Course Description

This course will study the area of corporate governance and examine the legal issues which arise in relation to corporate governance and directors’ duties and corporate governance best practice. Particular emphasis will be placed on important recent developments relevant to corporate governance. Selected legal areas will be examined in order to develop an awareness of the legal context in which directors operate. This course reflects the growing awareness of the business community to give increasing recognition to the importance of corporate governance, in an overall understanding of the corporate and financial environment.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Students will be expected to:

• Gain awareness of the theoretical underpinnings of corporate governance

• Understand the role and functions of ASIC and ASX in relation to corporate governance and the nature of regulation in Australia.

• Appreciate the reasons for and the major issues raised by the ASX Corporate Governance Council’s Principles and various other codes and statements of corporate governance best practices.

• Be aware of developments in the US and other countries which have an impact on corporate governance law and practice in Australia.

• Develop an understanding of the major provisions in the Corporations Act and case law and other developments and how these affect or will affect corporate governance.

• Understand current policy issues and how these may affect existing corporate law.

• Acquire a more detailed knowledge of selected areas of company law relating to corporate governance which are of particular relevance to business professionals dealing with, advising or acting as officers of companies.

• Comprehend and analyse relevant case law materials, statutory provisions, professional journal articles and internet resources in relation to corporate governance.


At tghe end of the course, students will be:

  • understand the regulatory and ethical obligations related to corporate governance
  • able to assess and understand what is best practice in corprate governance
  • able to locate and interpret relevant law and cases on corporate governance
  • able to understand the legal and ethical issues arising in the area of corpoate governance in Australia and overseas.


Overview of Learning Activities

Students will undertake class discussion on current corporate governance issues and legal problems. They will give presentations to the class and will be able to work in teams to ansewer legal problems. They will undertake a research paper, requiring legal research skills and the ability to express legal concepts in clear English.


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be advised of the prescribed text for this course and other reading materials upon enrolment.

Distributed Learning System (DLS)
This course is supported online using the Learning Hub of the DLS. The DLS gives access to important announcements, staff contact details, the teaching schedule, assessment timelines and a variety of important teaching and learning materials. The Learning Hub of the DLS can be found at http://www.rmit.edu.au/online


Overview of Assessment


Generally, assessment will be based on a class presentation, class participation and a research paper. A pass in the subject requires students to satisfactorily complete all aspects of assessment.