In October 2011 MPT753 Finance was offered as a Study Program. Students had the opportunity to study intensively at Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus over a three day period and to visit firms in the CBD, before undertaking a series of industry visits in Tasmania.

The theme of the study program was; “Investing in a Sustainable Future”. Students were familiarised themselves with the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and gained an understanding of the implications this will have for business in Australia.

Students then undertook visits to businesses in the Forestry, Eco-Tourism, Aquaculture, Food and Beverage and Power Generation sectors. The purpose of the visits is to work with business managers to identify investment opportunities that have the potential to reduce the company’s environmental impact and improve upon its operating costs. These visits also provided an opportunity for students to see firsthand a variety of initiatives that businesses have undertaken to be greener and to transplant these ideas to other companies.

Students put into practice the fundamental valuation techniques developed during the intensive study period of the program. These included forecasts of cash flows, the Internal Rate of Return, the estimated net present value and scenario and sensitivity analysis. The team produced a set of recommendations based on these estimates. These recommendations and estimates formed the basis of the consultancy report. The consultancy report was the primary source of assessment for the unit.  Students were assessed on an individual reflective journal to be submitted post tour, and from assessment developed by the unit chair during the tour.

This innovative program of study provides students with a valuable "networking” opportunity to work with business managers to develop commercially and environmentally viable solutions.