Unit Outline

Investors and lenders have an important role with respect to sustainable development. Through directing their financial resources to socially and environmentally responsible investment options, investors and lenders have the power to make significant contribution to sustainable development. This applies to both small- and large-scale investors and lenders. Apart from the moral aspects associated with socially responsible investing, a failure to consider the social and environmental risks inherent in particular investments expose investors and lenders to potential financial loss. Investors need to be aware of the risks and opportunities that the sustainability agenda creates; they need to be aware of, and be able to critically evaluate, different approaches to ethical investment and lending; and they need to have an awareness of the products available within the market place. This unit responds to these needs as it:

Explores the meaning and role of socially responsible investment

Identifies the sustainability related risks and opportunities that aspects of an investee’s/borrowers operations create for investors or lenders

Identifies and explains some tools used to assess investments from a sustainability-related perspective

Discusses some available products available to ‘socially responsible’ investors and lenders.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Critique the risks and opportunities that the sustainability agenda creates for investors and lenders
2.	Apply the tools for evaluating socially responsible investments
3.	Critically reflect on how socially responsible investments can create positive social and environmental impacts
4.	Appraise high-profile international guidance pertaining to socially responsible investing and lending
5.	Collaborate with other professionals/practitioners to communicate recommendations relating to socially responsible investing and lending to a range of stakeholders

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Individual Assignment	Week 5	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Individual Assignment	Week 8	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Team Assignment	Week 12	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Individual Assignment

Task Description:

Report to executive management: The case study organisation is considering investing in a portfolio of listed shares, but desires to do so in a socially responsible manner.
Management requests that you prepare a report clearly explaining the risks and opportunities that a ‘sustainability agenda’ creates for investors.
Further, they seek specific guidance on how to determine which potential investments are likely to be ‘low risk’ (and ‘high risk’) from the perspective of one of the currently important sustainability issues (e.g., biodiversity, modern slavery, carbon emissions, climate change etc.,). The full details of the task will be provided in MyLO.

Task Length:

2000 Words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Determine how the sustainability agenda creates risks and opportunities for investors	LO1
2	Evaluate the investment risks specifically linked to climate change and modern slavery	LO2
3	Review trends pertaining to socially responsible investing and lending	LO4
4	Professionally communicate your findings in a report to management	LO5

Assessment Task 2: Individual Assignment

Task Description:

The case study organisation requests that you to prepare a report to the executive management team in which you propose one of the main forms of socially responsible investment (SRI) portfolio management approaches (e.g., exclusionary, integration, impact etc.,). In doing so, they want you to clearly describe the SRI approach, the advantages and challenges of this approach, any analysis tools which can support this approach, and the potential for positive social and environmental impacts from this approach. The full details of the task will be provided in MyLO.

Task Length:

2500 Words

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate advanced knowledge of different forms of SRI	LO1
2	Apply the identified analysis tools used by SRI investors	LO2
3	Justify why and how socially responsible investment creates positive social and environmental impacts	LO3
4	Professionally communicate your findings in a report to management	LO5

Assessment Task 3: Team Assignment

Task Description:

The executive management team of the case study organisation is thinking about investing a significant amount of money into a Socially Responsible Investment Fund. However, they don’t know how to select one. They want you to prepare an 8-minute video for the Board of Directors in which you explain clearly:

• What constitutes an SRI Fund?
• What objectives do SRI Funds typically have?
• What are the main ‘types’ of SRI Funds?
• How/why can investing in SRI Funds create positive social and/or environmental change?
• What standards, codes, or guidelines, if any, do SRI Funds apply?
• Which types of SRI Funds do you believe that the organisation should consider investing in, and why?

You will reflect on your experience in the team assignment with each team member providing a short outline of what they contributed to the team presentation. The full details of the task will be provided in MyLO.

Task Length:

8-minute video

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Evaluate the investment range of SRI Funds	LO1
2	Recommend which SRI Funds to invest in	LO2
3	Assess the social and environmental impacts that SRI Funds might be able to create	LO3
4	Integrate regulatory and industry standards, codes, or guidelines	LO4
5	Reflect on your experience in the team assignment	LO5
6	Demonstrate professional interaction working with people from diverse backgrounds	LO5

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.