Group Research Project

• Weight: 16% of the final grade
• Due by the end of Unit 2, 7, and 10 or as directed by your professor

Objectives

The group project's objective is for students to research a finance topic in-depth, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic and related it to course materials. Students will also comment on the direction of future trends of this topic.

Instructions

Students are required to submit a short research paper of 2500 words (+/- 250 words, excluding table of contents, bibliography, tables, charts etc.) in groups on one of the topics identified in the list below.

The written research paper should provide a comprehensive overview of the topic by integrating the topics covered in this course as they impact the area. Special consideration will be paid to the integration of finance topics while grading these projects. As such, students are encouraged to develop their papers in a manner which will highlight their understanding and integration of the topics covered in this course as part of their research project.

The project has been designed into the following parts:

• Part 1- Form groups and allocate the topics
• Part 2- Perform research on the assigned topics
• Part 3-Final project submission and presentation

Late Submission Policy

• This assignment is subject to the Late Submission penalty policy, namely 5% per day for three days.
• This page will close and will not allow further submissions after this Late Submission period has expired.
• In the event of an emergency preventing you from submitting within this time frame, special permission must be obtained from your instructor. A documentation substantiating emergency is required. In such a circumstance, if the extension is granted, the professor will reopen the submission function for you on an individual basis.
• Please do not email your submissions to your professor, either before or after the due date; all coursework should be submitted through the online course (Moodle).

Part 1- Form groups and allocate the topics

• Weight Ungraded but required
• Due no later than 11:00 p.m. on Sunday of Unit 2

Description

The Instructor will form groups of 2 or more students according to class size. The proposed topics will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis

Proposed Research Topics List

• Green Financing Fad or Real Returns?
• Use of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Investment Management
• Government efforts to protect financial instability due to Covid-19
• Use of fintech to promote financial inclusion
• Emerging trends in Inflows and Outflows of FDI in growing economies
• Directional volatility spillover of cryptocurrencies
• Role of Financial Literacy during Covid-19

Part 2- Perform research on the assigned topics

• Weight 4.8% of the final grade (30% of the project grade)
• Due no later than 11:00 p.m. on Sunday of Unit 7

Description

Once the topic has been assigned, the students will undertake the research by introducing the topic, identifying key issues, current state of activity in the area, and future directions. The students will deliver on these items by identifying and using the leading research in the area from the latest editions of major finance journals; use at least four peer-reviewed academic articles, and four credible professional/business journals, newspapers or magazines. The students are required to share the preliminary draft of the paper with the Instructor to receive the feedback before the final submission.

Submission Instructions

• Additional Guidelines
  • Students will complete the paper in groups. Only submit one paper per group with all names of contributors clearly stated in the report.
  • The instructor will be available for consultation to assist in the preparation of the research paper.
  • Sections of the paper must include
    • Introduction
    • Key Issues and terms
    • Current State analysis
    • Future directions
• Groups Signup Page (Wiki)

Part 3-Final project submission and presentation

• Weight 11.2% of the final grade (70% of the project grade)
• Due no later than 11:00 p.m. on Sunday of Unit 10

Description

The students will incorporate the feedback of the Instructor in part 2 and submit the final version of the written research paper in the moodle (Due unit 10). The instructor can choose to have students present their topics in class with a PowerPoint presentation, maximum 10 minutes, following by a 5 minute Q&A session

Submission Instructions

• Additional Guidelines
  • Students will complete the paper in groups. Only submit one paper per group with all names of contributors clearly stated in the report.
  • The instructor will be available for consultation to assist in the preparation of the research paper.
  • Sections of the paper must include
    • Introduction
    • Key Issues and terms
    • Current State analysis
    • Future directions
• Groups Signup Page

Evaluation and Feedback

The Group Research Project will be marked in its entirety out of 100. The following grading scale indicates the criteria students are to adhere to, and their relative weights to the assignment overall.

	Activity/Competencies Demonstrated	% of Final Grade
	a. Paper is logically organized into sections	/20
	b. Paper integrates course topics	/40
	c. Content is current and relevant	/30
	d. Grammar, spelling, and APA	/10
Total		/100