LAW5378 - Comparative corporate governance - 2017

This unit explores contemporary thinking, regulation, and practice surrounding the connected areas of corporate governance, responsibility, and sustainability in Australia and comparable corporate regulatory systems worldwide, with particular emphasis upon corporate regulatory systems in Anglo-Commonwealth countries, the EU, and North America. Major topics covered include: major theories and issues of corporate responsibility and governance, recent transnational corporate governance reforms across foreign jurisdictions of relevance in Australia, related corporate social responsibility developments (including business and human rights), and corporate governance in the Australian public sector (including state business interactions, government business enterprises, and frameworks for public sector governance). As the unit exposes students to a variety of comparative, international, and cross-disciplinary ideas and material, it is suitable for students interested in comparative corporate governance from a range of national, academic, and work-related backgrounds, including students who are interested in exploring corporate governance law and regulation as it relates to both the public sector and the private sector.

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and understanding of theoretical debates, models, and concepts that underpin policy, regulation, and practice of corporate governance, responsibility, and sustainability with creativity and initiative to new situations for further learning
2. Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to comparative corporate regulatory systems
3. Conduct research in comparative corporate regulatory systems based on knowledge of appropriate research principle and methods
4. Use cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate at an abstract level complex ideas and concepts relevant to comparative corporate regulatory systems

Research assignment (3,750 words): 50%

Take-home examination (3,750 words): 50%

24 contact hours per semester (either intensive, semi-intensive or semester long, depending on the Faculty resources, timetabling and requirements)