PRL 8004 Financial Communication

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
PRL 8004 55422 2, 2006 EXT Financial Communication 1.00 Toowoomba
Academic group: FOART
Academic org: FOA004
Student contribution band: 2
ASCED code: 080509

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: Barbara Ryan
Moderator: Aidan Burke



REQUISITES:

Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MPRL


OTHER-REQUISITES:

It is recommended that those with no experience in the area of finance or financial markets complete FIN8101 before undertaking this course.

SYNOPSIS:

Financial Communication provides grounding for experienced public relations practitioners preparing to enter or who are early in their career within the field of financial communication and investor relations. The course builds on public relations theory and incorporates theory applicable to financial markets. It also works through the communication responsibilities of corporations who are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and/or registered with the Australian Investment and Securities Commission and/or their international equivalents, allowing students to build on their knowledge of international and/or Australian markets.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. Review and evaluate financial market and public relations theory to develop a sound understanding of financial communication (Assessment - Assignment 1)
  2. Apply an understanding of financial markets and the communication constraints of these markets to develop and manage proactive and effective communication strategies for registered and/or listed companies (Assessment - CMA and Assignment 2)
  3. Evaluate and manage risk associated with communication in financial markets and manage this risk (Assessment - Assignment 2)
  4. Advise boards of directors and company executives on communication issues relating to financial market communication (Assessment - Assignment 2)
  5. Facilitate and promote an understanding at an executive level of the value of pro-active financial communication (Assessment - Assignment 2)

TOPICS:


Description Weighting (%)
1. Introduction to financial communication; definitions and overview
 15.00
2. Public relations and financial market theory
 15.00
3. The stockmarket in a global economy
 10.00
4. Understanding stakeholders and measurement of shareholder value
 10.00
5. Corporate governance and the role of communication
 8.00
6. Financial communication campaigns
 7.00
7. Financial communication techniques for market needs
 7.00
8. Financial communication techniques - media
 7.00
9. Financial communication techniques - the IPO and fundraising, including the prospectus
 7.00
10. Financial communication techniques - the annual report and other reporting tools
 7.00
11. Financial communication techniques - issues management
 7.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Cole, BM (ed) 2004, The new investor relations: expert perspectives on the state of the art, Bloomberg Press, Princeton.




REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.


STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ACTIVITY HOURS
Directed Study 115.00
Private Study 50.00


ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date
PARTICIPATION VIA STUDY DESK 100.00 15.00 25 Jul 2006 (see note 1)
CRITICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY 100.00 30.00 31 Aug 2006
DEV INVESTOR REL'TNS EVAL PLAN 100.00 55.00 30 Oct 2006
NOTES:
1.
This assessment item will require participation-focused assessment involving weekly contributuions to StudyDesk discussion pages. Students will be advised of the requirements in the first week of semester.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

  1. Attendance requirements:
    There are no attendance requirements for this external course. However, it is the student's responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item.
  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval, then a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each of the first FIVE working days late, after which a zero mark will be given.
  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of a passing grade, students must demonstrate, via the summative assessment items, that they have achieved the required minimum standards in relation to the objectives of the course by obtaining at least 50% of the total weighted marks for all summative assessment.
  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
  6. Examination information:
    There is no exam for this course.
  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Given the details under (6) above, there are no deferred exams for this course. However, if any deferred/makeup work is granted, it would have to be submitted by a date set by the examiner.
  8. University Regulations:
    Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1. The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must lodge the assignment at the USQ.
2. Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within five days if required by the Examiner.
3. In accordance with University's Assignment Extension Policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner of a course may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances such as documented ill-health.
4. Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in the course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of the course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM Incomplete-Makeup. An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study.
5. Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or sit for an examination at the scheduled time, may apply to defer an assessment in the course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

  1. This public relations course maintains a high standard of spelling, grammar, syntax and style. Faults in any of these could render a project or proposal unacceptable.