Academic Year/course:
2022/23
627 - Master's Degree in Circular Economy
69760 - Circular Economy accounting and information
Syllabus Information
Academic Year:
2022/23
Subject:
69760 - Circular Economy accounting and information
Faculty / School:
100 - Facultad de Ciencias
Degree:
627 - Master's Degree in Circular Economy
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
01
Semester:
Second semester
Subject Type:
Optional
Module:
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1.1. Aims of the course
The Accounting and information on Circular economy course is designed to know the fundamentals and main accounting techniques for the implementation of the Circular Economy.
These approaches and objectives are aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/), in such a way that the acquisition of the learning results of the subject provides training and competence to contribute to a certain extent to its achievement.
1.2. Context and importance of this course in the degree
The course of Accounting and information on Circular Economy is taught in the second semester as an elective subject of the socioeconomic module. It is designed for students with Law and Social Sciences degrees. The course is taught from the University of Zaragoza.
1.3. Recommendations to take this course
Regular use of the teaching platform and daily study of the concepts presented are recommended, with special emphasis on solving practical activities. Likewise, it is vital to consult the doubts and questions that pose difficulties in the teaching and learning process, for which personalised tutorials should be used.
2.1. Competences
BASIC COMPETENCES
CB6 - Have demonstrated knowledge and understanding that is founded upon and extends and/or enhances that typically associated with the first cycle, and that provides a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and/or applying ideas, often within a research context.
CB7 - Can apply their knowledge and understanding, and problem solving abilities in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
CB8 - Have the ability to integrate knowledge and handle complexity, and formulate judgements with incomplete or limited information, but that include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgements.
CB9 - Can communicate their conclusions, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and nonspecialist audiences clearly and unambiguously.
CB10 - Have the learning skills to allow them to continue to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed or autonomous.
GENERAL COMPETENCES
CG1 - Obtain information in Spanish and English using information technologies efficiently
CG2 - Manage, critically analyse and synthesise information
CG3 - Critically reflect in a systemic way and using causal relationships
CG4 - Formulate, analyse, evaluate and compare in a multidisciplinary way new or alternative solutions for different problems
CG5 - Work in interdisciplinary groups
CG6 - Transmit information efficiently through information and communication technologies
CG7 - Develop management skills (decision making, goal setting, problem definition, design, and evaluation)
CG8 - Properly manage available resources on time
SPECIFIC COMPETENCES
CE6 - Apply the principles of Circular Economy management.
CE7 - Apply the legal requirements for the implementation of the Circular Economy.
2.2. Learning goals
The student, passing this subject, achieves the following results:
1. Know the basic components of Corporate Social Responsibility and apply them in circular economy models and how they are integrated into organisations and institutions.
2. Being able to measure and analyse the social and environmental information of companies and organisations that carry out circular economy activities.
3. Be able to handle the tools for measuring the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability goals posed by Ecology and Earth Sciences by companies and organisations.
4. Be able to apply the standards and tools of financial accounting and environmental management that affect Circular Economy activities.
5. Know the main international sustainability proposals in circular economy models and the information derived from them.
6. Be able to define and measure circular economy activities for management control, such as dematerialisation, reuse, collaborative and symbiotic environments, and activities at the meso level in the value chain.
2.3. Importance of learning goals
Obtaining the learning results is essential to know the main accounting techniques for the implementation of the Circular Economy.
3. Assessment (1st and 2nd call)
3.1. Assessment tasks (description of tasks, marking system and assessment criteria)
The course will be evaluated using two assessment methods (continuous and global), in such a way that the student will be assigned the grade that is most beneficial to him/her. For this, the grades obtained in the following tests will be used:
* Active participation (A)
* Solving problems and cases (P). The resolution of these practices constitutes an individual or group work of the students. Students must submit a report at the end of each session following the guidelines and presentation format that will be marked.
* Course case study (FT). Students that choose the continuous assessment will elaborate a case study throughout the course according to the instructions provided for this purpose. Its main objective is the analysis of the level of accountability, of information on sustainability and, in particular, on the Circular Economy in organisations and companies.
* Final short, long and/or development answer test (scored as F). The test will be held simultaneously at each university under conditions that guarantee the proper identification of students and the impossibility of fraud.
The grades obtained by each student in the aforementioned evaluation activities will be weighted according to the following formulas:
Formula 1 (continuous assessment): Final mark of the course: 0.2 × A + 0.3 × P + 0.5 × FT
Formula 2 (global assessment): Final grade for the course: F
It is not necessary to achieve minimum marks in the evaluation tests for the application of the above formulas. The final grade for the course will be the best grade obtained in each case after applying formula 1 and formula 2.
The number of official exam sessions to which enrollment entitles the enrollment (2 per enrollment), as well as the consumption of said calls, will be adjusted to the Rules of Permanence in Master's Studies and to the Rules of Assessment of Learning of the University of Zaragoza (https://ciencias.unizar.es/normativas-asuntos-academicos). To this last regulation, the general criteria for the design of the tests and the grading system will also be adjusted, and according to the same, the time, place and date on which the review will be held when publishing the qualifications will be made public.
4. Methodology, learning tasks, syllabus and resources
4.1. Methodological overview
Learning in this subject is based on the combination of the expository method and different teaching innovation methodologies such as the flipped classroom, the case study, or problem-based analysis (PBL).
In general, the professor develops the introduction of the topics before the students present in the classroom or other universities through videoconference. In addition, other teaching materials will be included in the Moodle platform that will allow dedicating some of the classes to interacting with students, raising questions that allow relating concepts, solving doubts, and evaluating the work done independently by students.
The virtual work in the network consists of the Methodology of collaborative work, which starts from a virtual space (Digital Teaching Ring, specifically Moodle platform), designed by the teacher and with restricted access, in which documents can be shared to work on them simultaneously. Likewise, you can add new ones, collect lectures and lectures, both theoretical and virtual, communicate synchronously and asynchronously, and participate in all the debates that each member may constitute.
All these training activities will be supported by tutorials from teachers via videoconference.
The approach, methodology and evaluation of this guide are prepared to be the same in any teaching scenario. They will be adjusted to the socio-sanitary conditions of each moment, as well as to the indications given by the competent authorities.
4.2. Learning tasks
This is a 6 ECTS credits course organised as follows:
- Lectures (1.6 ECTS credits: 16 hours). Whole group sessions of 100 minutes each one will be taken. Lecturers explain the theoretical contents and solve representative applied problems. Learning materials will be available on the virtual platform Moodle (https://moodle.unizar.es/add/course/view.php?id=53674&lang=en). Regular attendance is highly recommended.
- Practice sessions (4.4 ECTS credits: 44 hours, including 8 face-to-face hours). The preparation of a course report as well as solving a practical exercise will be required.
- Autonomous work and study (8.4 ECTS credits: 84 hours). Students are expected to study theory.
- Assessment tasks (0.6 ECTS credits: 6 hours). A final written examination including short answer and problem-solving questions will be carried out.
4.3. Syllabus
1. Accounting for sustainability: Circular economy and climate change
- Triple Bottom Line and corporate information for closing loops
- Conceptual aspects of social and environmental accounting
- Accounting regulation and sustainability
- Accounting applied to the circular economy
- Accounting for greenhouse gas emission rights
2. Measurement and control of the circular economy in organisations
- Measurement and development of sustainability and circularity indicators
- Performance measurement in circular economy models
- Environmental management accounting methodologies: Cradle to Cradle, Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA).
- Transfer costs in collaborative and symbiosis models
- Social impacts of circular business models
3. Information on Sustainability
- Context and evolution of the Information on sustainability.
- Content of sustainability report. Application to the Circular Economy.
- Sustainability reports assurance.
- Trends for reporting in circular economy models.
4.4. Course planning and calendar
Information on schedules, calendar and exams is published on the Master's page on the website of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Zaragoza (https://ciencias.unizar.es/master-en-economia-circular). The presentation of reports will be carried out according to the calendar that will be announced in due course through the Moodle page of the subject.