Sustainable Accounting – Non-Financial Information

(1) GENERAL

SCHOOL	SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS
SECTION	DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING & FINANCE
LEVEL OF STUDIES	POSTGRADUATE LEVEL
COURSE CODE	MA09	SEMESTER OF STUDY		3
COURSE TITLE	SUSTAINABLE ACCOUNTING – NON-FINANCIAL INFORMATION
INDEPENDENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES			WEEKLY HOURS TEACHING		CREDIT UNITS
LECTURES			3		6
TYPE OF COURSE	REQUIRED
PREREQUISITE COURSES:	NO
LANGUAGE OF TEACHING and EXAMINATION:	GREEK / ENGLISH
THE COURSE IS OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTS	NO
ELECTRONIC COURSE PAGE (URL)	https://eclass.uth.gr/

(2) LEARNING OUTCOMES

•       develops a complex way of thinking about the existence, origin and content of existing sustainable accounting techniques.

understands the risks and opportunities for businesses associated with environmental and social issues •       analyses the institutional framework for the accounting recording of non-financial information in Greece and the EU. •       study the international literature in the field in question •      recognises and applies international models and modern reporting techniques used by businesses and organisations (at micro-level) to recording and disclosing environmental and social information •       applies the relevant accounting standards •       participate in the academic debate on the new challenges arising from the emergence of these CSR reports

•

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: •       understands the conceptual framework of environmental/social and sustainable/sustainable accounting

Learning Outcomes

 

 

 

 

•       Search, analysis and synthesis of data and information, using both the necessary technologies •       Decision-making •       Autonomous work •       Teamwork •       Working in an international environment •       Working in an interdisciplinary environment •       Generating new research ideas •       Respect for the natural environment •       Demonstrate social, professional and ethical responsibility •       Promoting free, creative and inductive thinking

General skills

 

 

(3) COURSE CONTENT

 

The accounting of environmental (non-financial) information is one of the current topics of debate among researchers and stakeholders in general.

parties in recent years. In particular, there has been a growing global concern about social and environmental sustainability which, in turn, has highlighted the need to improve the information provided to stakeholders. On this basis, the aim of this course is to introduce students to the basic concepts of sustainable accounting.

First, the conceptual and theoretical framework of non-financial

Information. It also presents the techniques used by companies and organisations to capture this information. In addition, it presents the

official accounting systems, as developed in Greek and European legislation. More specifically, during the course of the course the following modules will be covered:

 

• Introduction to environmental, social and sustainable accounting
• Accounting models for recording and disclosing information
  • European and Greek regulatory and institutional framework for the disclosure of non financial information
• Sustainability reports – GRI Guides – Integrated Reporting – ISO 26000:2010
• Effects of environmental – sustainable policy on strategic planning and the financial structure of enterprises
  • Identification of the concepts of environmental and social costs, the

environmental and social output, environmental revenues, the depreciation of assets associated with environmental degradation

• Categorisation of sustainable accounting accounts based on the G.S. and the

E.L.P.

• Accounting treatment of environmental impacts under IAS/IFRS.
  • EU institutional initiatives for sustainable development
• Environmental and social performance indicators
• Audit of environmental and social impact reports (green auditing).

 

(4) TEACHING and LEARNING METHODS – EVALUATION

 

METHOD OF DELIVERY	On Site & Distance learning – Hybrid room
USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES	Use of a hybrid room that includes a large a wall-mounted screen on which the participants are presented remotely. The connection to the course is made through the Microsoft Teams software, in which a camera is connected to the course. in the room is recorded and illustrated by the teacher. The attendance of the course is also done with the use of the Wacom digital pen, which ensures the interactivity of the lesson with notes that appear directly on the students’ screen. In addition, slides are projected, use of the an asynchronous education platform for the posting of course materials, students’ assignments and communication between teachers and students, search for online journals and resources.
ORGANISATION OF TEACHING		Activity	Semester workload
		Lectures	36
		Study, preparation and presentation of activities	110
		Study and analysis of the literature (preparation of lectures & exams)	31
		Final written examination	3
		Total Course	180
STUDENT ASSESSMENT	The assessment is in Greek or in English and consists of a written assignment (individual/group) (40%) and a written exam (60%)  at the end of the semester. The examinations include essay development questions as well as multiple choice questions. An oral examination is foreseen in special cases (e.g. certain cases of students with learning difficulties, etc.).

 

(5) RECOMMENDED-BIBLIOGRAPHY

– Suggested Bibliography: Bibliography in Greek language •       Nikolaou, I. E. and Evagelinos, K. H. (2020). Sustainable business performance accounting. Thessaloniki: DISIGMA Publications.   Bibliography in English

 

• Caliyurt, T. (2021). ethics and sustainability in accounting and finance. vol. II. Singapore:

Springer.

• De Villiers, , Hsiao, P. C. K. & Maroun, W. (Eds.) (2020) The Routledge Handbook of Integrated Reporting, London: Routledge.

• Debnath, (2019). Environmental accounting, sustainability and accountability. 1^st edition.

New Delhi: SAGE Publications Pvt Ltd.

• Oncioiu, , Cokins, G., Capusneanu, S. & Topor, D. I. (2020). management accounting standrards for sustainable business practices. Hershey, United States: IGI Global.
  • Rimmel, (2021). accounting for sustainability. 1^st edition. london: Routledge.
• Unerman, , Laine, M. & Tregidga, H. (2021). sustainability accounting and accountability.

3^rd edition. London: Routledge.

 

Academic articles

• Adams, A. & Abhayawansa, S. (2021). connecting the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and calls for ‘harmonisation’ of sustainability

Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 102309.

• Boiral, O. & Henri, J. F. (2017). is sustainability performance comparable? A study of GRI reports of mining Business & Society, 56(2), 283-317.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650315576134

• Boiral, O., Heras-Saizarbitoria, I. & Brotherton, M. C. (2019). Assessing and improving the quality of sustainability reports: the auditors’ Journal of Business Ethics, 155(3),

703-721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3516-4

• Cho, C. H., Laine, M., Roberts, R. W. & Rodrigue, M. (2015). organized hypocrisy, organizational façades, and sustainability Accounting, organizations and

society, 40, 78-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2014.12.003

• Dabbicco, G. (2021). emerging accounting patterns: accounting for natural resources.Public Money & Management, 41(3), 213-222. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2021.1873614
• Fonseca, A. (2010). How credible are mining corporations’ sustainability reports? A critical analysis of external assurance under the requirements of the international council on mining

Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 17(6), 355-

370. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.230

• Fonseca, A., McAllister, M. L. & Fitzpatrick, P. (2014). sustainability reporting among mining corporations: a constructive critique of the GRI Journal of Cleaner

Production, 84, 70-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.11.050

• Palea, V. (2018, September). financial reporting for sustainable development: critical insights into IFRS implementation in the European accounting forum, 42(3), 248-260.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2018.08.001

• Perego, P. & Kolk, A. (2012). multinationals’ accountability on sustainability: the evolution of third-party assurance of sustainability journal of business ethics, 110(2), 173-190.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1420-5

• Sytnik O.E., Kulish N.V., Tunin S.A., Frolov A.V. & Germanova V.S. (2021). accounting as a tool for achieving global sustainable development goals. in Bogoviz A.V. (eds) The

Challenge of Sustainability in Agricultural Systems. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 206. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72110-7_75

• Talbot, & Boiral, O. (2015).

case study among Canada’s large industrial emitters. Journal of Business Ethics, 132(2), 329- 346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2322-5

• Weerathunga, R., Xiaofang, C., Nurunnabi, M., Kulathunga, K. M. M. C. B. & Swarnapali, R.

1. N. C. (2020). do the IFRS promote corporate social responsibility reporting? Evidence from IFRS convergence in India.Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and

Taxation, 40, 100336.

 

– Related scientific journals:

Accounting, Organisations and Society

 

 

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal Advances in Environmental Accounting and Management British Accounting Review Business Strategy and the Environment Journal of Business Ethics Journal of Environmental Management Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal