Referring to knowledge

Referring to abilities, skills

This subject is taught through three main types of activities.

First, students attend both on-campus and online classes of two different types:

a) Lectures with a theoretical–practical component, in which the lecturer presents the main concepts of each topic, introduces the theoretical tools required for their analysis, and provides examples of how to apply them.

b) Practical sessions, devoted to various types of activities: numerical exercises or the discussion of readings related to the topics covered in class. These activities are based on problems or texts that students must solve and/or read in advance. The detailed schedule for these sessions is made available at the beginning of the semester on the Virtual Campus.

Secondly, students undertake supervised independent study in their own time, which includes the reading of recommended bibliography and the completion of exercises or assignments proposed by the lecturer during the course.

Finally, students have to complete independent learning activities. These include reviewing class notes, consolidating knowledge, reading complementary texts, and preparing for the final examination and continuous assessment tests.

The student’s workload for this course is distributed evenly across these three types of activities, corresponding to an average of three to four hours per week for each.

Note 1. As part of the Teaching Quality Improvement Project implemented in the Faculty of Economics and Business (promoted by the Research, Innovation and Teaching and Learning Improvement [RIMDA] unit and the Office of the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Academic Planning), the teaching methodology used in some groups may differ slightly from that described above. Details of any such variations will be published on the Virtual Campus at the beginning of the semester.

Note 2. The teaching of the EUS and GIE groups, given their specific characteristics, may adopt a slightly different methodology. At the beginning of the course, these differences are explained if necessary.

Students are assessed on a continuous basis by means of the following activities:

a) Practical exercises or discussion of readings, carried out individually or in small groups, on a weekly or fortnightly basis. These are organized according to the size of the group and may include assessment of both the written work and oral presentation in class (0–40% of the continuous assessment grade).

b) Two or three continuous assessment tests, consisting of multiple-choice or short-answer questions (60–100% of the continuous assessment grade).

c) Problem-solving or short-answer questions set during lectures, without prior notification (0–10% of the overall mark for continuous assessment activities, depending on the size of the group).

Students may be required to sit a final examination worth up to 40% of the continuous assessment grade.

The dates and weighting of continuous assessment activities described in points a) and b) as well as the weighting of each component in the final grade, will be announced at the beginning of the course on the Virtual Campus.

Examination-based assessment

Single assessment consists of a final examination worth 100% of the final grade. This examination covers the entire syllabus presented in the theoretical and practical classes, as well as the reading material recommended throughout the course (chapters from the main textbooks, press articles, academic papers, etc.).

At the start of the semester, the Virtual Campus specifies the procedure and deadline by which students may waive continuous assessment and opt for the single mode of assessment.

Repeat assessment, held in July, consists of an examination with the same structure as that of the final exam and carries 100% of the final grade for all students, whether they opted for continuous or single assessment. All students who fail or do not sit the first final examination have the right to sit the repeat assessment examination.

Clarifications (for both assessment options, but NOT applicable to the EUS group*)

The generic competences that students should acquire during the semester include the capacity to communicate clearly in written Catalan, Spanish and English.

English: in order to acquire these competences, some of the recommended reading is in English, as well as some of the texts or basic materials for the resolution of exercises completed in class or via the Virtual Campus. To promote progress in this area, some of the recommended readings and materials for occasional exercises (either in class or via the Virtual Campus) are in English. However, all exercises may be submitted in either Catalan or Spanish.

Catalan and Spanish: In addition to oral presentations and class participation, written expression (spelling, grammar, etc.) is taken into account in all exercises, assignments, tests, and exams. Correct spelling or grammar does not earn extra points, but poor writing may reduce the score by up to 10% in all cases.

* The EUS group is taught entirely in English, and all submissions must be in English.

Note. As part of the Faculty of Economics and Business’ ongoing Teaching Quality Enhancement Project—promoted by the Research, Innovation and Teaching Improvement Unit (RIMDA) and the Office of the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Academic Organisation—teaching methodologies in some course groups may differ slightly from those described above. Details of any such variations will be published on the Virtual Campus at the beginning of the semester.