Professional Standards and Development

Module description

Full module specification

Module aims

This module is designed to embed the development of career management skills that empower you to take control of your career, now and in future, and to help you develop the employability skills required to find and apply for appropriate positions in the finance industry and succeed in a competitive job market. On this module you will engage with a guided programme of career guidance and skills development that will help you better understand yourself, explore opportunities in your career areas of interest, make confident and informed decisions, and develop a detailed action plan of your next steps. Through the module you will engage with career coaching professionals, external experts in the finance industry, alumni and employer events, and guest speakers. The module also introduces ideas and concepts that will help you understand the importance of ethical behaviour in the finance industry. In addition to introducing you to the globally recognised CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, that CFA candidates must follow to achieve the broader industry expectations, you will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of the professional standards by analysing a real-world case study using the EthicalDecision Making Framework.  

ILO: Module-specific skills

• 1. identify, critically reflect on, and articulate your personal competencies and attributes (e.g. skills, strengths, values, motivations, personality, knowledge) and their relevance to effective career decision-making and the requirements of graduate job opportunities;
• 2. demonstrate a capability for the practical aspects of managing your career and devise an action plan for short-to-medium term career development informed by your self-awareness and effective career research;
• 3. analyse what recruiters are looking for and demonstrate strong abilities in providing examples of own experiences and tailoring your approach to suit their requirements;
• 4. be able to distinguish between ethical and legal standards, describe the importance of maintaining professional standards in the investment industry, and apply the Ethical Decision-Making Framework using case studies based on real-world situations;
• 5. be able to explain the ethical responsibilities required by the CFA Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and describe why Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) were created;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

• 6. research and analyse careers and employment opportunities in financial sectors of interest, utilising a wide range of reputable resources and available services;
• 7. gain the confidence and clarity in navigating ethical issues within the investment management industry.?

ILO: Personal and key skills

• 8. exercise diligence, independence, and thoroughness in making ethical investment decisions.
• 9. adapt and adjust both written and verbal communication styles, to meet the needs of diverse audiences, and be able to work effectively as an individual and in a group;
• 10. develop self-awareness through a commitment to learning from experiences and taking responsibility for personal growth, and be able to organise and maintain your own programme of study to meet graduate recruitment and academic deadlines.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Syllabus plan

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

I

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Origin date

13/09/2019

Last revision date

22/08/2023