ACCT340-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Social and Environmental Reporting

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

A study of forms of non-financial accounting; possibilities and limitations; philosophies behind different accounts - especially sustainability accounts and intellectual capital statements; reasons for non-financial accounting; problems such accounts can contribute to solve.

This course investigates various forms of social and environmental accounting practices and reporting by a range of entities, including for-profit companies and public sector entities. The course covers current practices, relationships and interrelationships with various stakeholders, theoretical motivations, and current problems in social and environmental accounting and accountability.

Students will be exposed to an array of academic and professional literature around a series of international and NZ-based emerging issues in sustainability, the role of business organisations in contributing to sustainable development, and how such organisations account for and report on their social and environmental impacts.

Learning Outcomes

The outcomes of the course are:

1. Critically evaluate and understand sustainability accounting and reporting practices, and formulate justified responses to organisational challenges, including theoretical aspects.

2. Conduct a high-level analysis and interpretation of corporate sustainability reporting.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the latest New Zealand and International sustainability reporting initiatives, guidelines, and standards.

4. Understand the implications of sustainability reporting for diverse stakeholder groups and critically assess its impact in organisational contexts.

5. Develop and apply best practice principles of sustainability accounting and reporting, with reference to current guidelines.

6. Demonstrate an awareness of current and emerging issues in existing sustainability accounting practices, particularly regarding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Integrated Reporting/Thinking, and evolving Sustainability Reporting Standards.

Prerequisites

Any 45 points at 200-level or above.

Restrictions

ACIS340, AFIS340

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 14:00 - 16:00 Rehua 101 Lectorial
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Heba Gaber Ahmed

Lecturers

Beverley Lord and Natasja Steenkamp

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Report Analysis 40% Individual report
Climate Report Analysis 20% Group report
Oral Presentations 20% Group presentation
Self-reflections 10% Self-reflections from your learning in lectures
Attendance & Participation 10% Attendance and participation in group activities during class

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,003.00

International fee $4,538.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Department of Accounting and Information Systems on the departments and faculties page .

All ACCT340 Occurrences

  • ACCT340-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026
  • ACCT340-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026 - Not Offered