INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE - 2025/6

Module Overview

Corporate Governance is an area that has grown rapidly in the last few years fuelled by high profile corporate collapses and financial crisis. The module builds on sound theoretical base to encompass the latest developments in the field worldwide.  It takes an international approach to corporate governance, contextualising its development and providing a stimulating range of academic and empirical practitioner research, and topical case studies.  It also introduces institutional and legal systems from both government and firm’s viewpoints that influence the effectiveness of corporate governance.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

SUGENO Saori (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

• Corporate Governance Theories


• Different corporate governance systems across the world


• Control versus ownership rights


• Directors and board structure


• Incentivizing and disciplining Managers


• Contractual Corporate Governance


• Corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investment

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Individual Coursework instead of Group Coursework

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate advanced knowledge and a balance between theoretical understanding and application of theories to business practices. This can be achieved by engaging with all forms of learning, reading through textbooks and other academic journals, and by improving their collaboration and communication skills.

 Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

1. Coursework – Group Essay which gives the opportunity to students:
   
   
   
   
   1. to learn how to search the electronic library in order to find academic articles which are necessary to write the assignment,
   
   
   2. to improve their communication skills, as they have to present their work in front of other students,
   
   
   3. to improve their team-working skills, as this is the product of a collaborative effort
   
   
   4.  to learn how to conduct efficient time-management, as they need to manage their time as a team in order to have the work ready by the assignment’s deadlines.
   
   
   
   

2. Exam which is based on a combination of discussion-type, multiple-choice and fill-in-blank questions aiming at the conceptual and critical understanding of corporate governance theories and practice.

Module aims

• Discuss the financial economics theories that underlie the theory of corporate governance.
  
  Critically assess the role of corporate governance in sustainability of modern enterprises.
  
  Critically analyse different corporate governance systems in an international context.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to allow students to come to grips with the essential quantitative nature of the subject, and more importantly, to facilitate the application to practical problems.

The teaching and learning methods include:

• Lectures to explore key topics, themes and theories and seminars to practice the application of skills and knowledge.


• Presentations to reinforce and test learning


• Use of SurreyLearn to facilitate teaching, enhance the learning outcomes and provide guided learning to include relevant reading in the set textbooks and in journal articles.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM202

Other information

Employability:

This module provides tools to apply theoretical knowledge to analysing a range of important issues that managers face in their day-to-day practice and communication with stakeholders. Understanding the current state of corporate affairs and the challenges the company faces, as well as the ability to collect and analyse evidence and critically evaluate possible solutions, are skills sought by employers.

Global and Cultural Capabilities:

This module is taught in an interactive and collaborative manner in a cohort that often represents diverse nationalities and backgrounds. Students will develop their ability to work with other students from diverse backgrounds to expand their understanding of different cultures and improve their international communication skills.

Module provides students with knowledge of the state of modern corporate governance in an international context and support an understanding of cultural differences that influence how corporate governance systems operate in different parts of the world.

Resourcefulness & Resilience:  

Throughout the course, students will learn how to apply theoretical knowledge of the foundations of corporate governance to real-world corporate settings, using real-world business cases and examples of corporate conflict. This module supports students in developing problem-solving skills and requires leadership skills and persistence to successfully complete the coursework.

Sustainability:

This module aims to develop students' understanding of the key sustainability challenges facing modern corporate governance, including but not limited to climate change, gender equality and inclusion. Seminars and group work will provide students with opportunity to discuss these issues in depth, supporting students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.