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Professional Standards and Development

Module title	Professional Standards and Development
Module code	BEFM024
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Wei-Ming Lee () Mr Simon Allington ()

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	2

Number students taking module (anticipated)	40

Module description

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module is designed to embed the development of career management skills that empower you to take control of your career, now and in future, and to help you develop the employability skills required to find and apply for appropriate positions in the finance industry and succeed in a competitive job market. On this module you will engage with a guided programme of career guidance and skills development that will help you better understand yourself, explore opportunities in your career areas of interest, make confident and informed decisions, and develop a detailed action plan of your next steps. Through the module you will engage with career coaching professionals, external experts in the finance industry, alumni and employer events, and guest speakers. The module also introduces ideas and concepts that will help you understand the importance of ethical behaviour in the finance industry. In addition to introducing you to the globally recognised CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, that CFA candidates must follow to achieve the broader industry expectations, you will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of the professional standards by analysing a real-world case study using the EthicalDecision Making Framework.  

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. identify, critically reflect on, and articulate your personal competencies and attributes (e.g. skills, strengths, values, motivations, personality, knowledge) and their relevance to effective career decision-making and the requirements of graduate job opportunities;
• 2. demonstrate a capability for the practical aspects of managing your career and devise an action plan for short-to-medium term career development informed by your self-awareness and effective career research;
• 3. analyse what recruiters are looking for and demonstrate strong abilities in providing examples of own experiences and tailoring your approach to suit their requirements;
• 4. be able to distinguish between ethical and legal standards, describe the importance of maintaining professional standards in the investment industry, and apply the Ethical Decision-Making Framework using case studies based on real-world situations;
• 5. be able to explain the ethical responsibilities required by the CFA Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and describe why Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) were created;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. research and analyse careers and employment opportunities in financial sectors of interest, utilising a wide range of reputable resources and available services;
• 7. gain the confidence and clarity in navigating ethical issues within the investment management industry.?

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. exercise diligence, independence, and thoroughness in making ethical investment decisions.
• 9. adapt and adjust both written and verbal communication styles, to meet the needs of diverse audiences, and be able to work effectively as an individual and in a group;
• 10. develop self-awareness through a commitment to learning from experiences and taking responsibility for personal growth, and be able to organise and maintain your own programme of study to meet graduate recruitment and academic deadlines.

Syllabus plan

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
36	114	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and teaching activities (Career)	22	Lectures
Scheduled Learning and teaching activities	14	Workshops
Guided independent study	114	Additional reading, career research, self-assessments, one-to-one career coaching appointments, web-based learning

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Draft parts of Career Development Portfolio	1500-2000 words	1-3, 6, 9, 10	Feedback given in seminar
The?Standards of Practice online?exam	Contains 75 multiple-choice questions based on application of the Code and Standards	– 4, 5, 7-9	Online feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Career Development Plan	50	2000-2500 words	1-3, 6, 9, 10	Written
Career Progress Tracker	10	Participation in short update surveys	1-3, 6, 9, 10	Online
Ethical MCQ Test	40	1 hour	3-5,8,10	Online
	0
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Career Development Portfolio	Career Development Portfolio (50%) 2000-2500 words	1-3, 6, 9, 10	August
Career Progress Tracker	Participate in short update survey and one-to-one career guidance appointment (10%)	1-3, 6, 9, 10	August
Ethical MCQ Test	1 hour	4, 5, 7-9	August

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

 

Basic reading:

 

I

Key words search

Careers, Career Development, Employability, Ethics, Standards, Finance, Investment Banking, Asset Management 

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	N/A
Module co-requisites	N/A
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	13/09/2019
Last revision date	22/08/2023