Sustainability Related Governance and Assurance unit (BFA760)

Introduction

Organisations will often have a vision and a mission which will in turn link to goals and objectives and related strategic planning. To enable an organisation to achieve is mission, objectives, and goals requires a well-designed, organisational-relevant governance system. An organisational governance system will have a myriad of integrated policies and procedures inclusive of various forms of social and environmental audits.

The extent to which an organisation is effectively applying particular governance procedures can be assessed through various forms of independent social and environmental audits, the results of which will be reported through different forms of audit/assurance reports. Selecting and/or developing appropriate policies and procedures, such as those referred to above, is a fundamental role of management. Quests to operate sustainably demand a suite of sustainability-related policies and procedures which requires critical thinking. Appropriate governance policies reduce the risks, and heighten the opportunities, that the sustainable development agenda creates for an organisation.

It is important that graduates understand the need and role of good governance. Employer groups, professional accounting bodies and course advisory committees have consistently highlighted the need for business students to be critical thinkers; be able to demonstrate skills that extend beyond technical competencies; and to be able to demonstrate an understanding that organisations are part of a broader social system on which they rely for organisational survival.

This unit responds to this expectation, as it:

• Explores the meaning and role of organisational governance in helping an organisation be a valuable member of society

• Identifies the components of a well function governance system with a particular focus on policies and procedures aimed at addressing problems associated with modern slavery, environmental performance generally, and climate change

• Explains the role of social audits and how to implement them

• Explores the types and roles of third-party assurance statements particularly as they relate to non-financial aspects of performance

Summary

Unit name	Sustainability Related Governance and Assurance
Unit code	BFA760
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Tasmanian School of Business and Economics
Discipline	Accounting
Coordinator	Doctor Mansi Mansi
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Critique various governance procedures that can be used to improve an organisation’s performance with respect to its social and environmental (climate-change) performance.
• Explain the need for ‘social audits’ and prescribe how to implement them
• Critically reflect on the features of a well-designed environmental management system aimed at assessing the quality of environmental management systems
• Critically evaluate the role and contribution of audit/assurance statements particularly as they relate to aspects of social and environmental performance.
• Communicate sustainability-related governance information and recommendations to a professional audience.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	From 2027 onwards, BFA760 weekly workshops (both online and on-campus) will run for 12 weeks, with each workshop (both online and on-campus) being 2 hours long [12 weeks x 2-hour workshops]. In 2026, the online workshops are 1 hour, and the F2F workshops are 2 hours.  To maintain consistency with face-to-face teaching, weekly online workshops will be extended to two hours weekly starting in 2027.
Assessment	Team Project (30%)|Individual Assignment (35%)|Individual Assignment (35%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.