Assignment/Coursework Remit

Assignment:

In 2015 the United Nations set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a plan of action to ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity and to put the planet on a more sustainable path by 2030.

You are required to:

Choose and explain four SDGs. Critically evaluate how, and to what extent, the accounting profession can help achieve your chosen SDGs.

You should use the evidence and arguments from the three publications listed below as a starting point:

1.   IFAC (2016) The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. A snapshot of the accountancy profession’s contribution. Available at:

https://www.ifac.org/knowledge-gateway/developing-accountancy- profession/publications/2030-agenda-sustainable-development

2.    CGMA (2018) Creating asustainable future. The role of the accountant in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Available at:

https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/download/sustainable-development-goals- and-the-role-of-the-accountant

A free account is required to download this document and it is also available on Canvas.

3.   Laine, M., Tregidga, H., and  Unerman, I. (2022) Sustainability Accounting and Accountability. 3rd  Edn. London: Routledge.

Parts of chapters 1 and 2 in particular maybe useful

Additional resources: You may also use and cite:

•   The content of, and resources used during, lectures and seminars.

• Relevant additional academic and/or professional literature

Marks will be deducted for long reference lists that include poor quality and/or irrelevant articles/reports and for the inaccurate use of the content of articles/reports.

Module Learning Outcomes:

In this assessment the following learning outcomes will be covered :

•     Identify and explain the key building blocks of academic arguments. Demonstrate engagement with own personal, academic and professional development activities;

•     Demonstrate the ability to formulate and deliver logical arguments;

•     Define critical thinking and practice critique of the academic work of others and selves.

Please note that these learning outcomes will be covered by addressing the requirement.

You should not attempt to address them directly.

Grading Criteria:

Essays will be graded using the rubric at the end of this remit. This rubric can be used as a guide, but you should ensure that your essay is focused on addressing the requirement rather than becoming too focused on each individual item in the rubric.

Feedback to Students:

Both Summative and Formative feedback is given to encourage students to reflect on their learning that feed forward into following assessment tasks. The preparation for all assessment tasks will be supported by formative feedback within the tutorials/seminars. Written feedback is provided as appropriate. Please be aware to use the browser and not the Canvas App as you may not be able to view all comments.

Plagiarism:

It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand correct referencing practices. You are expected to use appropriate references and keep carefully detailed notes of all your information sources, including any material downloaded from the Internet. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are not vulnerable to any alleged breaches of the assessment regulations. More information is available at

https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/registry/policy/conduct/plagiarism/index.aspx .

Use of Generative AI:

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, students should assume that the use of generative AI within an assessment or assignment is not permitted. Any assessment submitted that is not a student’s own work, including that written by generative AI tools, are in breach of the University’s Code of Practice on Academic Integrity

(https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/registry/policy/conduct/plagiarism/index.aspx

Please also see the additional notes below.

Wellbeing Extenuating Circumstances:

The process for Extenuating Circumstances is to support students who have experienced unforeseen issues that have impacted their ability to engage with their studies and/or complete assessments. Students should notify Wellbeing of any extenuating circumstances as soon as possible via the online form, following the guidance provided.

https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/social-sciences/college-services/wellbeing/index.aspx

Additional notes

Self-plagiarism (auto-plagiarism)

If you are completing this assignment as a resit then you should be particularly careful to avoid self-plagiarism,i.e. submitting work that includes sections that you have previously submitted for another assignment.

Word limit

1,500 words is the absolute maximum for this essay, and therefore marks will be deducted for exceeding it. The word limit includes in-text citations but not the reference list or appendix.

Use of Generative AI

For this assignment, generative AI may be used to help you understand sections of the three listed resources. You should not rely solely on any summaries produced by generative AI, as they can be incomplete and/or inaccurate. Instead generative AI can be used to supplement your reading of the articles.

Generative AI must not be used to help write any element of your essay. This must be solely your own work.

Appendix

All essays must include an appendix detailing how generative AI has been employed, including the software used and the prompts entered.

The use of generative AI is not compulsory and if you do not use it then the appendix needs to state this and give clear, logical reasons for not using it.