Bringing accounting and finance alive
Published 3 December 2009
The first term of Lancaster's MSc in Finance and MSc in Accounting and Financial Management is nearly complete. But for the 120 students on the two programmes, it's not all been traditional study in lecture theatres.
The Department of Accounting and Finance brings the subject to life through case studies, trading room simulations, interactive business games and quiz nights and socials – as you can see in this video story.
Professor Mark Shackleton spent part of his early career in a trading environment, before re-entering academia, and he knows how important it is to give students exposure to this sort of environment. “Here they are speculating in virtual money, there's no real money at stake, but they still feel very excited about it, and they're acting as if it's real.”
The department has good links with world-leading finance companies, and in November, KPMG were on campus working with the students on a business game that simulates a typical management consultancy assignment - in this case, corporate restructuring.
Mike Woodrow was formerly HR Director for KPMG and now teaches at Lancaster.“It's really strategic thinking,” says Mike. “In this simulation, these guys are working as management consultants, they're looking to advise a company on how to streamline their organisation and how to increase their profitability.”
If you'd like to find out more about the Penny Trading game used in Professor Mark Shackleton's Financial Markets course, and about the KPMG business game, watch these in-depth videos:
