shan - bhavani shanmugabalan

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Research and Analysis Project

Session 1 – Jan 2018

Shan - Bhavani Shanmugabalan

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Registered Mentor with the Oxford Brookes University and seen more

than 130 students successfully graduated with flying colours via his

dedicated mentorship.

The passion towards the mentorship and active engagement with

students and members have not only contributed towards the success of

the mentorship but also focus on continuous improvement on the

program.

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Contents

Introduction to the Degree Program

Eligibility Requirements

Assessment Criteria & Deliverables

Selection of Topic & Organisation

Report Structure

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Oxford Brookes University

• Oxford Brookes University, being a public university, has

degree awarding powers in the UK

• The degree is quality assured by the Quality Assurance Agency

(QAA) in the UK

• Outside of the UK the degree is widely recognised by

governments across the world

• Consistently ranked as the best vocational / professional

practice based UK university

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• It will significantly improve your position in a very

competitive global labour market

• Development of research and soft skills not covered in ACCA

professional examinations

• Better prepared for further qualifications

• UK degrees are among the highest regarded internationally

• Only university to have such a collaborative link with ACCA

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Eligibility

1. Opted-in to the degree scheme before passing F7, F8 and F9

2. Pass F7, F8 and F9 and successfully complete all nine

Fundamental level papers, 2 months before the start of the

submission period

3. Hold a recognised English Qualification, which is submitted

and approved by ACCA before passing F7, F8 & F9

4. Complete the ACCA Professional Ethics module before 31

Mar / 30 Sep

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Eligibility

5. Complete and pass the Research and Analysis Project

6. The degree must be completed within 10 years of the earliest

of the date of your first ACCA examination pass or the date of

your first ACCA exemption being granted

Contact ACCA @ [email protected] for any clarifications

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Eligibility

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Eligibility

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Eligibility

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http://www.obusubmissions.co.uk/

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Eligibility

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Submission Period commence on 1 May and 1 November

Deliverables

1. Research Report (“RR”) - 7,000 - 7,500 words

2. List of Reference in accordance with Harvard Referencing

3. Skills and Learning Statement (“SLS”) - 1,800 - 2,000 words

4. 15 minute Presentation on the project to your project mentor

and the submission of the slides to OBU

5. Excel spreadsheet with necessary workings to evidence your

IT skills

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Deliverables

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Submission Portal

Deliverables

6. A viva may be undertaken face to face or by other medium

such as Skype, expected to last around 15 minutes and students

could be asked about any aspect of their submission

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Assessment Criteria

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Criteria Technical and Professional Skills

1. Understanding of

accountancy / business

models

Highly appropriate choice of theory/concepts. Very

clear relevance and shows evidence of wider

reading

2. Application of

accountancy / business

models

Insightful and critical application of models to the

project topic.

3. Evaluation of

information, analysis and

conclusions

High level of critical thought shown in the analysis

and a rigorous approach to the evaluation of

information.

4. Presentation of project

findings

Can engage reader in a professional manner and

produce a relevant and coherent project report with

appropriate structure.

Assessment Criteria

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Criteria Graduate Skills

5. Communication Language mostly fluent.

Grammar and spelling mainly accurate.

6. Information gathering and

referencing

Clear evidence of a range of relevant information

sources.

Clear evidence of correct referencing methodology.

7. Information technology

Shows reasonable evidence of having accessed

online information sources and having used a

spreadsheet and / or other software in preparing the

project report.

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Assessment Criteria

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Criteria Skills and Learning Statement

Self reflection Makes a reasonable attempt to address all four questions.

Shows ability to reflect on judgements made / actions

taken during project work.

Evidence of recognising own strengths and weaknesses

Communication skills

A copy of the presentation to the project mentor is

included.

Presentation has appropriate structure. Content is clearly

linked to project report findings.

Topic & Organisation

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How to choose a Research and Analysis Project?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUDqj211YCo

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1. List of available topics

2. Period of consideration

3. Specific requirements / changes

4. Access to information

5. Examiners’ articles and guidance

6. Most popular topics

7. Career objectives & personal preference

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List of available topics:

Refer to page 38-39 of the Information Pack for the approved

list of topics.

Students have to remain within the listed topic areas and are

not able to request to undertake a RAP based on a different

topic.

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List of available topics:

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Period of consideration:

All topics except 8, 15, 17 and 20, to be based on

organisational activity took place in the preceding three

calendar years.

Topics 8 and 15, to use the most current 3 year financial

statements i.e. Company results published (in any form) 90

days before the start of submission period (1 May / 1 Nov).

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Period of consideration:

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Annual results published (in any form) 90 days before the start of submission period


Specific requirements / changes:

T8 and 15, to be based on an organisation in the Aerospace,

Food Products or Hotel Industry classification (ICB),

pertaining to P35 & 36 Submission.

T17 & 20 have been modified to focus on an organistion that

had weak Corporate Governance and Corporate Social

Responsibility practices respectively within the past 5 years

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Access to information:

There is no requirement to conduct primary research although

in selecting your topic and organisation and setting your

objectives you must consider whether or not you will need

some primary information.

Information on target organisation, competitor(s) and industry

for critical analysis and evaluation.

Clear evidence of a range of relevant information sources.

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Access to information:

Ministry of Trade and Industry: http://www.mti.gov.sg/

Department of Statistics: http://www.singstat.gov.sg/

Ministry of Manpower: http://mom.gov.sg/

Singapore Stock Exchange : http://www.sgx.com/

Monetary Authority of Singapore: http://www.mas.gov.sg/

SGX Research Reports:

http://www.sgx.com/wps/portal/sgxweb/home/mygateway/brokers/

publications

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Examiners’ articles and guidance:

2009.05 Student Accountant: Grade "A" RAP

2010.05 Student Accountant: How To Pass

2011.07 Student Accountant: Getting to grips with research in

your RAP

2013.05 Student Accountant: Presentation and slides

Information Pack & Resubmission Guide

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Most popular topics:

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65%

15%

20%

Topic 8 Topic 6 Other topics

Other Popular Topics: T17 – CG; T18 - Marketing ; T20 - CSR

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Career objectives & personal preference:

Career objective and roles and responsibilities in the

organisation

Personal preference

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Report Structure

1. Research Report (RR)

Title Page

Table of Contents

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

2. List of References

3. Appendices

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Report Structure


Research and Analysis Report

An analysis and evaluation of the business and financial performance of

BreadTalk Group Limited, between 1 Jan 2014 and 31 Dec 2016

ACCA No: 1234567 7,310 words

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Title page:

Report Structure

Table of content:

Part 1 & 2 to follow the recommended structure

Part 3 to be based on the research questions

Concise and within a page

Recommended to use the MS Word function

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Report Structure

PART 1 - Project objectives and overall research approach:

1.1 Reasons for choosing the topic and the organisation

1.2 Project objectives and research questions

1.3 Overall research approach.

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Report Structure

PART 2 - Information gathering and accounting / business

techniques:

2.1 Sources of information

2.2 Methods used to collect information

2.3 Limitations of information gathering

2.4 Ethical issues

2.5 Accounting and business techniques

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Report Structure

PART 3 - Results, analysis, conclusions and recommendations:

A description of the results obtained and any limitations

Presentation of the results in an appropriate form e.g. tables,

graphs, charts

A critical analysis / evaluation of the results which includes an

explanation of your significant findings

Conclusions on the research findings and how well the project

objectives and research questions have been met

If appropriate, recommendations on specific courses of action

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Report Structure

Word Count Limit:

RR: 7,000 – 7,500

SLS: 1,800 – 2,000

Submissions out of the above range are UNLIKELY TO PASS

Recommended distribution of the Word Count:

Part 1 : 1,000

Part 2: 2,000

Part 3: 4,500

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Report Structure

Presentation:

Word Processed using A4 size pages

Black Text on a white background

Avoid background graphics & pictures behind the text

Arial font with a size of 11 or 12

Line spacing not exceeding 1.5

Others:

Avoid using 1st / 2nd person

Key terms could be bolded to emphasise the message

Charts / Diagrams / Tables to have an Index, Title and Citation

Avoid over crowding in charts / diagrams

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Report Structure

List of references :

In accordance with the Harvard Referencing System

Citation Vs Reference

Reference Vs Bibliography

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Report Structure

Appendices:

Evidence of the use of Information Technology

Computations of Financial Ratios/Indicators, preparation of

Charts, Graphs & Tables

Record & analysis of questionnaire findings

Where relevant to include extracts of the financial statements

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Suggested Timeline

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Useful Links

ACCA: http://www.accaglobal.com/sg/en/student/exam-entry-and-

administration/oxford-brookes-bsc-hons-in-applied-

accounting.html

OBU: http://business.brookes.ac.uk/undergraduate/2016/acca/

OBU Mentoring: http://www.oxfordbrookesmentoring.co.uk/

OBU Submissions: http://www.obusubmissions.co.uk/

WriteCheck: http://en.writecheck.com/

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Thank You!

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Shan – Bhavani Shanmugabalan

FCCA, CA Singapore, BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +65 9022 6425

Web Page: www.obumentorship.com

FB Page: www.facebook.com/OBUMentorship

http://www.accaglobal.com/sg/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/oxford-brookes-bsc-hons-in-applied-accounting.html



















http://business.brookes.ac.uk/undergraduate/2016/acca/

http://www.oxfordbrookesmentoring.co.uk/


http://en.writecheck.com/

shan - bhavani shanmugabalan

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