Course Syllabus

International Financial Management

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Semester & Location:

Spring 2021 - DIS Copenhagen

Type & Credits:

Core Course - 3 credits

Major Disciplines:

Business, Economics, Finance

Faculty Member:

Neil Smith

n.smith@nordeqmanagement.com

Program Director:

Susanne Goul Hovmand - sgh@dis.dk

Program Coordinator: 

TBA

Time & Place:

Exact time TBC, Room TBA

Prerequisites:

A year-long sequence of Micro and Macroeconomics, and an introductory course in Finance

Faculty Member: Neil Smith 

Graduated from the University of Glasgow (Bachelor of Laws, 1999) and Diploma in Legal Practice (2000). Neil is based in Copenhagen as a Board Member and one of the owners of Nordeq Management A/S where he advises companies on structuring, international expansion and M & A. With DIS since spring 2016.

Objectives:

Removal of government controls and internationalization of firms have created, among other things, a vigorous global market in foreign exchange. These currency markets are the first contact most managers and investors have when venturing outside their own country.

Other major financial markets, such as the money markets (short-term instruments) and capital markets (debt and equity securities) maintain important domestic features, but are in fact dominated by multinational players trading global products.

This course aims at providing students with a practical understanding of foreign exchange markets, international money markets, and international capital markets. Students will be introduced to international finance by means of looking at how firms and governments interact with these markets. The course will ask: Why is a country’s currency policy important? What are a country’s financial policy options? How do managers and investors determine their exposure, or risk? How do they control, or hedge, this exposure? How do they finance their operations and investments?

In addition, political economy is currently more important for multinational businesses than in any time in a generation. We look at topical issues that are creating uncertainty and how these can be managed.

Requirements:

Written examination in April (80 minutes), 4 case study assignments (3 to be completed in groups), 1 news presentation.

Case write-ups are due at the beginning of class on the due date indicated. Late cases will not be accepted.

Readings:

Please see course calendar for further details about what to prepare for each class. Links and files will also be available through the calendar.

Key text book:

Madura & Fox, 2014 “International Financial Management” 3rd edition.

Others:

Approach to Teaching:

Students can expect an experiential, hands-on atmosphere in the classroom. Many classes will be workshop based, either with regards to discussing relevant articles, or participating in case studies based on real world scenarios. It is therefore vital that students are prepared in advance of each class to enable them to participate actively and intelligently in these sessions.

Participation (engagement in class):

The classes require active participation in classes and during the field studies. Attendance is mandatory. To get a good engagement grade you must evidence:

  • Active and voluntary participation in class discussions;
  • Preparation for every class, i.e. required reading and having thought about various issues in advance;
  • Being analytical and concise in oral interventions, i.e. backing up arguments by facts and references;
  • Being able to collaborate well with your assigned team and delivering group presentations

COVID-19:

We all have a collective responsibility to avoid the spread of COVID-19 at DIS.  Currently, we expect to conduct all teaching remotely through the end of February, and to begin in-person teaching on Monday, March 1.  Once in-person teaching begins, please monitor yourself carefully for symptoms of COVID-19 (dry cough, high temperature, breathing difficulties, sore throat, headache, muscle pain).  If you experience any of these symptoms, please stay at home and inform your instructor that you won’t be in class or at a field study – this will count as an excused absence.  Do keep up with your coursework and join activities via distance learning, if you are able to (Neil will be happy to help with this).  If you are too sick to do work, please reach out to the DIS Care team at care@dis.dk for medical support and coordinate with Neil on how you can make up missed class time.

Course Policies:

Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment - DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final  course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS

reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Attendance – You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss multiple classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified and they will follow up with you to make sure that all is well.  Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness.

Specifically:

 - An unexcused absence is any absence not due to illness AND not notified to the instructor in advance of class, unless specifically agreed otherwise with the instructor in advance.

 - A late arrival is any case where you are not ready to start class at the designated time (i.e. coming through the door at start time will count as a late arrival).

Your participation grade will be docked 10% for two unexcused absences and 10% for each additional unexcused absence. Your participation grade will be docked 5% for 2 late arrivals, and an additional 5% for each subsequent late arrival.

 

Disability and Resource Statement Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org

 

Grading Elements:

 

Grading scheme:

 

Participation (engagement in class)

= 20 points

Points

Grade

4 Cases (mark split equally)

= 60 points

100 - 93

A

April Exam

= 20 points

<93 - 90

A-

 

 

<90 - 87

B+

<87 - 83

B

 

 

<83 - 80

B-

 

 

<80 - 77

C+

 

 

<77 - 73

C

 

 

<73 - 70

C-

 

 

<70 - 67

D+

 

 

<67 - 63

D

 

 

<63 - 60

D-

 

 

<60

F

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due