Course Details in

Module Title	Finance and Core Skills
School	School of Engineering
Department	Civil Engineering
Module Code	04 20471
Module Lead	Professor K Hawwash
Level	Masters Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	MEng Civil Engineering, MEng Civil Engineering (International Study, MEng Civil Engineering (Industrial Experience), MSc/PG Diploma/PG Certificate in Road Management and Engineering, MSc/PG Diploma/PG Certificate in Road Management and Engineering, MSc/PG Diploma/PG Certificate in Roads and Public Policy.
Exclusions
Description	The module covers writing skills, and oral presentations and teamwork. The module also deals with the usage of the Internet and the library for information gathering. Students undertake a range of exercises designed to improve their communication skills and their abilities to collect data and carry out a critical analysis on specific research topics related to management and engineering. Students are also introduced to how they can ensure they avoid plagiarism. This module provides an introduction to the issue of Financial and Economic decision-making in the modern business environment. It also gives key skills of business analysis in relation to published financial reports and forward-planning, but also addresses the conflicts and paradoxes which exist for managers making economic business decisions in a modern market economy environment.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: give oral presentations to specialised audience understand the issues involved in working as member of teams use the university internal and external resources to gather information produce technical reports that are consistent with the university standards outline planning and problem solving techniques present information to a variety of recipients collect, critically evaluate and present information which relates to a topic researched in a coherent form Prepare profit and loss accounts and balance sheets Analyse published financial statements through ratio analysis Conduct cost volume profit analysis, plan for limited resources and understand the behavioural aspects budgetary control Understand the dynamic nature of supply and demand and the nature of a market economy Appreciate some of the conflicts and paradoxes which exist in market-economy decision-makingConduct investment appraisal and understand the mechanism and determination of the rate of interest for investment
Assessment	20471-02 : January Exam : Exam (Centrally timetabled) - Computer based (50%) 20471-05 : Core Skills : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 50% 2 hour unseen written examination 15% presentation 35% report Reassessment: 100% Centrally timetabled examination.
Other
Reading List	Pocket Guide to Technical Presentations & Professional Speaking - Steven B. Zwickel and William Sanborn Pfeiffer, Pearson Prentice Hall, ISBN 0131529625 An Engineer's Guide to Technical communication - Sheryl A. Sorby and William M Bulleit, Pearson Prentice Hall, ISBN 0130482420 Handy, C. (1996), "The Hungry Spirit", Hutchinson Handy, C. (1994), "The Empty Raincoat", Hutchinson Drury, C. (1996) "Cost and Management Accounting", Pitman