BBS Business & Accounting 1

st Year Handbook 2015 - 2016

Author: School of Business Date: September 2015

Maynooth University

School of Business

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Welcome to Business and Accounting 2015-16

I hope that the summer has been good to you, whether you took the opportunity to work and earn some cash for college, pursued your passions, or a mix of both! Welcome “Maynooth University”. Many thanks for choosing Maynooth University School of Business as your intellectual home. I, and all the faculty and staff, are thankful for your business and are looking forward to working with you! Welcome to the year of new beginnings: the start of a life long journey in business, of new friendships, the independence of thought and freedom that University brings. The first year is about building the foundations of business. You will cover a wide range of the key concepts and practices that are needed to operate a business successfully! Embrace class as an opportunity to maintain your focus and learn business. As a professional student, treat University as you would employment. Be structured in your study life, aiming to study for at least 30 hours a week, in addition to 12 hours of class. Remember to have coffee/tea (as an addict myself), but that this is social, not work time! Balance your life with sport and cultural activities, embracing University life. If you are finding life to be difficult reach out for support: talk with friends, family and our student counselling service. Over the last year the university have been making positive investments in your school of business, which benefit the education we can provide you as a student. In addition to our long standing faculty we now have a new faculty including: Professor of International Management, Pamela Sharkey Scott, Professor of Marketing, Joseph Coughlan and new lecturers Dr. Jean Cushen (HR and OB), Dr. Lorraine Morgan (Information Communication Systems), Dr. Ruifang Wang (Management), Dr. Olga Ryazanova (Management and Marketing), and Dr. Na Fu (HR/OB, whom joined us early last year) as well as Dr. Graham Heaslip (Operations), who is returning from a

research sabbatical We are also moving building, which will enable us to teach more of our postgraduate programs on the main campus and provide a more integrated service to our undergraduate students. Our new home is in the Rye Hall Building, located behind the John Hume Building. It is hear that you will be able to connect with our school

programs office about queries you may have and also where all your lecturer’s office will be located. Do drop by Rye Hall to see our home over the coming academic year. Enjoy your time here at Maynooth University and thank you very much for being a member of the student community of the School of Business.

Prof. Peter McNamara Head of School of Business

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IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

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What’s in this handbook?

Welcome to Business and Accounting 2015-16 .......................................................... 2

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY ................................................................... 3

What’s in this handbook? ................................................................................................ 4 Lecture Timetables, Campus Map and Room Codes ................................................ 5

Course Details .................................................................................................................. 7

Modules on offer ............................................................................................................... 7

Course Team .................................................................................................................... 9

Accounting Contact Details ............................................................................................ 9 Information Technology ................................................................................................. 10

Student – staff communications ................................................................................... 10 Charter for Teaching and Learning ............................................................................. 11

Examinations and Continuous Assessments ............................................................ 15 European Computer Driving License (ECDL) ............................................................ 17

Plagiarism ........................................................................................................................ 17 Attendance ...................................................................................................................... 20

Rules and Regulations .................................................................................................. 21

Health & Safety ............................................................................................................... 21

General Information ....................................................................................................... 22

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Lecture Timetables, Campus Map and Room Codes

PLEASE NOTE: Timetables are subject to some small changes. Please consult the timetable section at https://www.nuim.ie/timetable/ for updates

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Course Details

Semesters

The undergraduate academic year consists of two ‘semesters’, Autumn and

Spring. Normally a module taken in a semester is examined at the end of that

semester. Repeat examinations (where allowed) for both semesters are in

August.

Modules on offer

Modules are essentially courses with an associated credit weighting, known as

the European Credit Transfer System, or, ECTS for short. To graduate a

student must acquire 180 credits in total (240 for BBA), on the basis of 60 credits

per annum (normally 30 credits per semester). Modules come with a Module

Code and the full description of the module is available at www.nuim.ie/courses

Note that each 5 ECTS credit module is the equivalent of ca. 125 hours of work

(24 class hours, 101 hours of private study, assignment work, exam preparation,

etc.).

Please also note and be aware that some modules on the Accounting side of the

degree programme are required modules, which means these must be passed

in order to progress to the next year. To ensure exemptions for different

Accounting body accreditations, a pass mark for some modules may be 50%.

Your lecturers will inform you of this.

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The modules you will study on the BBS Business & Accounting programme are:

**Module Title Code Credit Semester Lecturer

INTRODUCTION.TO ACCOUNTING: AC101 10 1 Department of Economics

MICROECONOMICS ( MARKETS, WELFARE AND CONSUMER CHOICE) EC101A 5 1 Department of Economics

INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS EC102 5 1 Department of Economics

INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT & TEAMS MN101 5 1 Dr. Jean Cushen

INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING & SALES MN103 5 1 Prof. Joseph Coughlan

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 1 AC102 7.5 2 Department of Economics

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 2 /PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE AC103 2.5 2 Department of Economics

MICROECONOMICS (COMPETITIVE MARKETS AND GOVERNMENT POLICY) EC101B 5 2 Department of Economics

INTRODUCTION TO QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS EC105A 5 2 Department of Economics

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR MN102 5 2 Tatiana Andreeva

THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE MN172 5 2 Dr. Ruifang Wang

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Course Team

The School of Business is located in Rye Hall Extension, North Campus (formally

Hamilton Building).

The course team is composed of members of the academic staff of the School,

contributing departments, and a number of visiting lecturers. The course team

names and office numbers are given below. Visiting lecturers will occasionally be

available by appointment.https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/school-business/our-

people

Head of School Prof. Peter McNamara

Room 22 Peter.mcnamara@nuim.ie

Programme Academic Co-ordinator for Business & Accounting

Dr. Jean Cushen Room 26 Jean.cushen@nuim.ie

Administrator Kathryn Walsh Room 14 business@nuim.ie

Accounting Contact Details

1st Year Accounting coordinator

Responsible for Chartered Accounting qualification (CAI)

Michael Hayden

michael.hayden@nuim.ie

2nd Year Accounting coordinator

Responsible for Institute of Taxation, ACCA and CPA qualifications

Hilary Qualter Hilary.qualter@nuim.ie

3rd Year Accounting coordinator

Responsible for CIMA qualification

Aodhdin Casey

aodhdin.casey@nuim.ie

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Information Technology

Increasingly the world of work and academia relies on information technology.

We are no different and use Moodle as the almost exclusive means of

communication. All written assignments must be typed and uploaded to

Turnitin.com. via Moodle. To ensure that you are comfortable with the

technology we strongly recommend that you complete ECDL training. Details are

available here: https://www.nuim.ie/computer-centre/ecdl

There is plenty of computer access on campus in the Public Access Computer

Rooms:https://www.nuim.ie/computer-centre/public-access-computer-rooms-pacr

However, many students now opt to get their own laptop computer. This is a

good investment now that most of the campus is covered by wi-fi access.

Student – staff communications

Access to staff: Students are encouraged to consult with lecturers on academic

or other matters concerning their work in university and their general progress as

students. All fulltime lecturers will be happy to arrange to meet by appointment.

Some lecturers operate specific office hours for students to stop in. For contact

details click here: https://www.nuim.ie/school-business/our-people

If all of the times posted by a lecturer you wish to see clash with your classes,

you can ask for an appointment to see the lecturer at a mutually convenient time.

Visiting lecturers will do their best to meet with you, but their times are usually

more limited and may need to be just before or after classes.

Lecturers cannot enter into individual discussions on class topics with students

via email. In the first instance you should try to ask the questions in class. If there

are a number of students with a similar question that seems to remain

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unanswered you should ask the student representative to contact the lecturer on

behalf of the group and it may be possible to arrange a tutorial to pick up on the

issue. You can ask lecturers questions via Moodle. The lecturer will decide

whether to answer the question on Moodle or bring it to a class or tutorial to be

dealt with. In many cases you will find that a class member already has the

answer and students are encouraged to help each other through the use of

Moodle.

Module Evaluations: Towards the end of each module students will be invited

by the lecturer to complete a questionnaire evaluating various aspects of the

module. Please complete this form as fully as you can. Lecturers are pleased to

have the benefit of your comments in helping them to assess their work and to

integrate improvements.

Maynooth University Student Charter

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/maynooth-education/student-

charter

Maynooth University is committed to offering students an outstanding university

education, the best available in Ireland, an education which challenges and

supports all students to achieve their full potential, and prepares students for life,

work and citizenship, and for complexity, diversity and change.

Maynooth University is committed to providing an outstanding learning

environment for our students, with excellent teaching, research and scholarship,

and student supports. Maynooth University offers a curriculum and an

intellectual, cultural and social environment that provide students with

opportunities to make meaningful and positive contributions to the development

of the community and society

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Members of Maynooth University, staff and students, undertake to treat each

other with dignity and respect and to abide by the rules and regulations of the

University. We champion an open, friendly and inclusive learning environment

that is welcoming of diversity and the benefits this brings. We are committed to

fostering an atmosphere conducive to learning, research and scholarly activity in

which students are empowered to strive for academic excellence and to embrace

learning as a lifelong pursuit, while also recognising the importance of the social,

sporting and cultural aspects of the student experience. We are committed to

upholding the highest standards of academic, ethical and professional integrity,

and to recognising our social, environmental and civic responsibilities.

All students of Maynooth University are members of Maynooth Students’ Union.

Maynooth Students’ Union works in partnership with Maynooth University to

review, support and enhance the student experience and to ensure that all

students at Maynooth receive the highest standards of educational support and

services throughout their time at university. This Student Charter has been

developed by Maynooth Students’ Union and Maynooth University and is

endorsed by the Presidents of the Students’ Union and University. The Student

Charter will be reviewed annually.

Maynooth University undertakes to:

Provide comprehensive orientation and induction supports to facilitate

transition to third and fourth level;

Provide teaching, assessment, feedback and academic guidance, of a

high standard, informed by research active staff, and consistent with a

research-led university of high standing internationally, so as to support

students in their development as independent learners or researchers;

Provide access to learning activities that will support the fundamental

intellectual skills of analysis, synthesis, reflection and critical appraisal and

that will enhance employability and personal development;

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Provide fair and challenging assessment, both formative and summative,

in support of high academic standards and rewarding creativity and

intellectual skill;

Provide opportunities to develop critical skills including written and oral

communication and presentation;

Provide clear and timely communication of information relating to

timetables, examination schedules, module and programme content;

Consider student workload when planning continuous assessment

schedules, and provide clear, timely and unambiguous communication

about assessment requirements;

Provide clear, constructive and timely feedback on submitted work;

Support staff and student participation in quality enhancement activities

and in programme review;

Provide access to effective and progressive library, IT and learning

technology services;

Provide information and access to supports and advice on matters such

as health and welfare, finance and budgeting, accommodation, career

planning, subject choices and international studies;

Provide regular opportunities for continuing professional development for

staff and training and induction for new staff, appropriate to a research-led

university;

Provide a University handbook (online) which details rules, regulations,

codes, supports, examination arrangements and regulations, appeals and

complaints procedures, and programme structures as well as course

handbooks (online) which detail assessment criteria, timetables, contact

and consultation hours, academic guidance and support, and professional

requirements where appropriate;

Provide opportunities for anonymous and direct feedback on the teaching

and learning processes of the University and opportunities to have such

feedback taken into account by the University;

Provide opportunities, both within and outside the formal learning

environment, for development of highly valued skills, such as teamwork

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and communication skills, through active learning experiences. Such

opportunities include workplace learning, volunteering, international

exchanges and project work;

Provide direct participation for students in the governance structures of the

University.

Students undertake to:

Take responsibility for their learning, be self-motivated and engage with

their programme of study;

Attend induction, lectures, tutorials and other timetabled classes, and

meetings with tutors or supervisors, and participate actively in such

meetings;

Commit sufficient time to personal study and appropriately prioritise and

balance study time with other commitments;

Complete and submit assessed work by stated deadlines and consider

and act on feedback;

Notify departments of any factors that may affect engagement with their

programme of study, including, for example, significant absences;

Seek advice, if needed, on academic, personal and welfare issues, from

the Students’ Union and/or appropriate University supports;

Participate fully in group learning activities and projects and provide

collegial support for the contributions of group members;

Develop a portfolio of significant assessed assignments and project work

and other contributions and achievements, and use it to reflect on

accumulated learning as they progress through their studies;

Provide feedback to student representatives and to the University and

participate in quality enhancement activities when requested;

Support relevant clubs and societies as a means of enhancing personal

and professional development and the student experience;

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Use the facilities and resources of the University with respect and

consideration for all other users, and respect the physical environment of

the University;

Recognising the unique identity of Maynooth as a University town, support

University–community engagement and respect the people and physical

environment of Maynooth.

Examinations and Continuous Assessments

Examination and assessment processes vary across the different modules and

departments. They range from 100% continuous assessment to 100%

examination. Basic information on the assessment method is available from the

module descriptor (www.nuim.ie/courses). You lecturer will provide you with

specific details of the assessment. All assessments are set and graded by your

lecturers, so listen carefully to the advice they are giving you. To ensure

consistency across modules, degrees and universities assessments and results

are reviewed by the University’s academic council and an external examiner from

another University. This ensures that all students get fair treatment in their

assessment.

The School is absolutely confident that all students it accepts on the degree

programme are capable of passing the degree. However having the ability to

pass and passing are not the same thing. The difference is the attitude you take

to your studies, the effort you put in and the organisational skill you demonstrate.

Marks & Standards

The Marks & Standard Document can be found on the following University Link

http://examinations.nuim.ie/marks_standards.shtml. This contains important

information that you should familiarise yourself with.

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Continuous Assessments

Continuous assessments form an extremely valuable part of the learning and

assessment process for a number of modules offered by the School (MN and EQ

codes). Continuous assessment may be conducted by means of a single piece of

work or it may require several continuous assessment components to be

completed.

For all modules offered by the School all continuous assessment components

are compulsory unless explicitly stated otherwise. It is the expectation of the

School of Business that all students taking modules delivered by us ought to

complete all continuous assessment components of their module as part of their

education journey. All students are expected to engage fully with all forms of

assessment, be that continuous assessment, examinations, individual or team

work. If you miss a component of continuous assessment you will ordinarily be

assigned a zero percentage grade for that component. Some forms of continuous

assessment take place at fixed times and locations and cannot be repeated

during or at the end of the semester. If you miss such time- and/or location-

specific assessments you will carry a zero percentage for this component in the

calculation of the overall grade for the module. It is the responsibility of the

student to therefore ensure that they comply with all instructions regarding

continuous assessment for each module.

Further details on the continuous assignment policy for each module are

available on the individual moodle spaces.

European Computer Driving License (ECDL)

Maynooth University School of Business strongly encourages all Business

students to complete the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) before

graduation and ideally within the first year of studies. It is an additional skill-set

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which employers in industry appreciate when recruiting Business graduates. It

also validates your basic computing skills, which as an entrant to third level

education you are assumed to have. Basic computing skills (such as word-

processing, spreadsheets, email, web-browsing, presentation technology and

skills amongst others) are assumed by Maynooth University Business School to

be capabilities of all incoming students. If you lack these technological skills then

you ought to complete ECDL as these skills are assumed to be part of your

courses. If you have these skills but lack validation of them, then ECDL will

validate your skills for future employers and be a positive achievement on your

CV.

From 2014/15 ECDL is not required to graduate from a Business programme in

Maynooth University (National University of Ireland Maynooth). ECDL is not a

prerequisite for many of our Business modules. When selecting module options,

it is each student’s individual responsibly to read the module descriptors provided

on the university web-site and to determine their ability to successfully participate

in the module.

Plagiarism

Guidance for Students

It is recognised that nearly all assignments and essays draw on the work of

others: published research and critical commentary, lecturers’ notes and

handouts, etc. The effective use and evaluation of existing material are among

the skills that students are expected to develop.

Material is cited in order to contribute to a larger line of argument, or to be

subjected to scrutiny, or to be combined with other material in order to arrive at

new perspectives; value should be added by some original thinking in the way in

which it is used. In all cases, the source of the material (an idea or opinion, a

quote, data, etc) must be acknowledged in a standard form of referencing.

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Plagiarism is the passing off of another person’s work as your own. It includes

copying without acknowledgement from a published source (print or electronic),

or from unpublished sources (e.g. another student’s essay or notes). Plagiarism

occurs when material is copied word for word, but not only in that circumstance.

Plagiarism also occurs when the substance or argument of a text is copied even

with some verbal alterations, such as in paraphrase or translation, without

acknowledgement.

Plagiarism includes using material from books or periodicals, from the internet,

from grind tutors, or from other students, without full acknowledgement of the

sources. Copying and collusion are related to plagiarism. Copying occurs when a

student copies work from a peer, with or without the consent of the original

author. Collusion is when students collaborate to present work as if it were

individual and original. Both copying and collusion are forms of plagiarism.

In instances where two or more purportedly original assignments show clearly

derivative similarities that are unacknowledged, they shall both or all be treated

as plagiarism unless the contrary can be demonstrated.

Plagiarism in any form of assignment contributing to marks or a grade for a

course is a serious offence. It is a form of cheating on several counts: the

perpetrator is attempting to obtain credit for work not done, and is also attempting

to benefit from work done by somebody else. Plagiarism undercuts the whole

thrust of scholarly enquiry that is the essence of education.

Plagiarism will be severely penalised wherever it is detected. Students submitting

assignments, essays, dissertations or any form of work for assessment may be

required to sign a declaration that the material in question is wholly their own

work except where indicated by referencing or acknowledgement.

Students are reminded that any student submitting written work for continuous

assessment can be asked by the marker or the department to take a

supplementary test. This may take the form of an oral examination on the

assignment in question and related issues, or the writing of a paper in controlled

conditions. Students should provide adequate and accurate referencing for their

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assignments. Gordon Harvey, Writing with Sources: A Guide for Students,

(Hackett Publishing Company, 1998) is one of a number of booklets outlining

good practice in reference and citation.

University Plagiarism Document

The library runs workshops on how to avoid plagiarism:

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/library

Disciplinary Consequences

Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty and will be treated with the utmost

seriousness wherever discovered. Examiners, tutors and markers are required to

report instances of suspected plagiarism to the relevant Head of Department

concerned.

Any student submitting written work for continuous assessment can be asked by

the marker or the department to take a further test. This may take the form of an

oral examination on the assignment in question and related issues, or the writing

of a test paper in controlled conditions. Requiring a student to take such a test

does not necessarily imply that plagiarism is suspected.

In instances where an element forming part of an assignment (from a phrase or

sentence up to a paragraph or two) is found to be plagiarised, marks will be

deducted for that assignment, there will be no possibility of submitting a “make-

up” assignment, and previous and subsequent work submitted in connection with

the course may be subject to particular scrutiny. While the amount of marks

deducted will be proportionate to the extent of the plagiarised material, the

deduction may be severe.

In instances where a significant part or all of an assignment is found to be

plagiarised, zero marks may be awarded for that assignment, there may be no

possibility of submitting a “makeup” assignment, and previous and subsequent

work submitted in connection with the course may be subject to particular

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scrutiny. In serious cases the plagiarism will be reported to the Supervisor of

Examinations and the Committee of Discipline.

All written continuous assessments for the department will be typewritten and

submitted through www.turnitin.com a plagiarism checker. This software

compares your work to thousands of academic databases, a myriad of internet

sources and websites as well as continuous assessments from other business

students in your course, university and other universities around the world.

Attendance

Under university regulations, students are expected to attend all their courses

satisfactorily.

For tutorials and electives modules in the department attendance is always

recorded. Students are expected to treat meetings of these classes as they

would any other business appointment. Failure to attend, without a very good

reason, is taken as a breaking of trust with the class as a whole - fellow students

and lecturer/tutor. When a student has to miss a class, he/she is expected to

explain this in advance to the lecturer/tutor or, if that is impossible, to explain as

soon as possible afterwards. In either case a written explanation should be

submitted to the School. Students arriving late for a class may be marked absent.

N.B.: Work, in the sense of paid employment, is never acceptable as an excuse

for missing class.

The student is responsible for securing all information - both in terms of course

work and administration details - conveyed by lecturers and tutors at his/her

scheduled lectures and tutorials.

All medical certificates submitted by students are kept on a confidential file and

are referred to at examination time.

Rules and Regulations

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All students are expected to acquaint themselves with, and observe, University

rules and procedures. The following rules and regulations are available on this

link:

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/rulesandre

gulations.pdf

1. General rules of the University

2. Code of Discipline for students

3. Policy for responsible computing

4. Code of conduct for users of computing facilities

5. Library regulations

6. Plagiarism

7. Examination

Health & Safety

The commitment and co-operation of all staff and students of the University is

essential if safety, health and welfare are to be ensured.

When entering a lecture theatre or classroom, students should note the nearest

exit in case of emergency.

In the interest of safety students are asked not obstruct passageways with

bags/books etc. in classrooms and lecture theatres.

Please consult the Health and Safety web page for further information regarding

fire assembly points, first aid etc: www.nuim.ie/service/safety

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General Information

Printing in the Public Access Computer Rooms

The Computer Centre provides a quality prepaid printing service in the

University’s Public Access Computer Rooms (PACRs).

On the North Campus there are three PACRs, Rye Hall, Arts PACR and Callan

Foyer. A net point providing internet and email access is available in the Arts

Building behind the lecture theatres.

On the South Campus there are three PACRs, Long Corridor PACR opposite

Callan Hall, and Teaching Rooms 1 & 2, located behind the Computer Centre

building. Click here for more details on PACR’s

For further details on this service contact the Computer Centre on extn 3388

(Helpdesk) or email helpdesk@nuim.ie or Web http://computercentre.nuim.ie

Student Services

Students entering university may be coming straight from school or, in the case

of mature students, after a considerable break from formal education. In both

cases the transition can be a challenge. Student Services are provided to support

students during this transition and ensure that these difficulties do not affect the

students’ success in university. Student services can be contacted at:

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/current-students

Medical Centre There is the service of a Medical Centre on campus – contact 01

7083878 for further information.

Counselling Service The Student counselling service at NUI Maynooth offers a

confidential service to students of the University. Contact 01 – 7083554 for

further information.