• Risk modelling
• Strategical and tactical asset allocation
• International diversification
• Forecasting moments of asset returns
• Foreign exchange rate risks and management
• Portfolio management
• Performance analysis
• Behavioural finance
• Dividend policy
• Company valuation
• Legal and tax issues in financial decisions

Seminar

This seminar has the purpose to familiarise students with the different approaches to conduct research.
Students are required to review the existing literature, formulate a precise research question within the proposed field, select and apply the appropriate methodology and finally interpret their results. Purely descriptive results are not enough, but a structured interpretation and argumentation is expected.
The final paper has to reflect the structured approach of the research conducted.

• Students have at their command detailed knowledge of finance and have a critical understanding of the procedures and methods in the subject area
• Compiling and utilising available sources in order to acquire an overview of previously unfamiliar sub-areas
• Preparing research papers on assigned topics or shorter empirical or analytical research projects by applying exacting technical procedures and methods

.

• Research Exposé (30%)
• Final individual assignment (70%)

Financial Risk Management:

• Identifying, Measuring, and Management of Financial Risks
• Risk Categories and Associated Models: Market, Credit, Operational and Liqudity Risks
• Rating Agencies and Credit Ratings

• Derivatives Markets and Instruments: Forwards, Futures, Options, Swaps, Exotics, Credit Derivatives
• Pricing of Equity, Fixed Income, Currency, Commodity, and Credit Derivatives
• Hedging Using Derivatives
• Financial Engineering

Interactive lectures with exercises

After completion of the module, students realize both the importance and the potential of financial risk management. They relate financial risk management to other areas of finance and within financial institutions. In particular, they know about the risks associated with financial derivatives as well as their potential for applications in risk management and financial engineering.

• Understand fundamentals in risk management
• Identify, measure and manage financial risks
• Select and apply appropriate risk management techniques
• Know how derivatives and derivatives markets work
• Price financial derivatives
• Use Greek variables in risk management and financial engineering
• Devise and/or analyze derivatives strategies for speculation, hedging and arbitrage
• Combine basic instruments to achieve desired payoff structures/decompose payoff

structures into their basic components

Slides will be available via moodle.

See lectures within the module.

• Recognising problems and analysing various topics in the area of financial services
• Handling ambitious practical problems in financial services like consulting projects and

real portfolio management

• Developing customer-specific solutions
• Communicating with project client
• Presenting the final project report
• Working in a team in a project-oriented manner
• Mastering a portfolio under the supervision of a portfolio manager
• Working up all relevant information and data for portfolio management
• Structuring the strategic and tactical asset allocation
• Deciding on security selection

Practical project work

After completion of the module, the students have at their disposal practical experiences in
handling a consulting project in the area of finance.

In the course of the assignment, they utilize a range of advanced procedures and techniques incorporated in the discipline and apply theoretical insights to practical solutions, so that they are directly prepared for their professional life.

Students develop original and creative answers for topics and problems and are able to evaluate the situation even without complete information.

They are able to reflect and enlarge their knowledge and capabilities. In addition, they master
professional project assignment and presentation techniques and are trained to function in a
team.

They are also able to assume responsibility within the team and to coordinate team
assignments while taking into account the interest of the business.

See lectures within the module.

> Active and Passive Equity Portfolio Management
> Asset Allocation, Investment Horizon and Risk Measurement
> Performance Measurement and Output Evaluation
> Exchange Rate Risk Management
> Rebalancing Effects
> Discussion of the Methods of Individual Selected Journal Contributions
> Resampling to address parameter uncertainty and time-horizon effects in portfolio management
> Forecasting moments of returns
> Portfolio Theory and Optimal Risk Portfolio
> Capital Market Models and Evaluation on Complete Markets
> Momentum und Contrarian Strategies
> Technical Analysis
> Risk-based Heuristic Models
> Programming in R and/or Matlab

After completion of the module, the students are able to evaluate assets by means of various
models and to illustrate investment procedure. They thereby draw on current knowledge of
capital market research and can show suggestions for solutions while integrating their
theoretical knowledge. Events on the capital market are critically scrutinised in discussions
with instructors and fellow students.

See lectures within the module.

All aspects that have to be considered for writing a successful exposé and master thesis, like e.g. the fulfillment of formal requirements, the development of a research project and the correct choice of methodology for answering the research question.

Student Presentations and discussion
Self-study through reading announced literature at home.

After the completion of this module, the students have successfully handed in their Exposé for the master thesis and know how to conduct a research project. They have learned how to develop a research question, choose and discuss the methodology for answering it. They know how good research papers and theses look like and are able to transfer this knowledge into their own project.

> Formulate a research idea and develop a research question
> Narrow the research idea to a realizable size
> Choose and justify a research methodology
> Conduct a sound literature review
> Formulate an exposé in which the research project is described and justified
> Know and apply the scientific standards and writing principles of the University
> Discuss their project and integrate peer and professional feedback
> Give feedback on other research projects
> Organize their project in terms of literature, writing and time plan

See lectures within the module.

Mapping has become a part of our everyday lives. Just think of the way we use phones: most apps want to know where you are. Do you ever turn 'location services' off? In this course, we will not geo-reference big data, but rather consider mapping as a critical practice. Taking the crowd-sourced research project "An Inquiry Into Modes of Existence" (AIME), conducted by the French sociologist Bruno Latour, as our starting point, we will map media as actor-networks: What is given in a media experience? Which actors play a role in it? How are these elements connected? To which need is this network responding? And what could an alternative response be? The given actor-networks and their alternatives ought to be visualized as maps and counter-maps. In this way, the students will both get to know sociological concepts and develop their creative skills.

• Close reading
• Teamwork
• Presentations
• Individual projects

• Exploration of mapping and cartography
• Introduction into the sociology of Bruno Latour
• Encouragement of critical thinking
• Experiments with graphical representations

Assessment tasks:
Attendance (25%)
Teamwork (20%)
Presentations (25%)
Final project (30%)


Compulsory attendance (min. 80%)

Passed / Failed

• Course based on continuous assessment, details see under "assessment".
• Meeting attendance obligations is an essential pre-requisite for successfully completing a course based on continuous assessment.
• Attendance must be proven for at least 80% of the stipulated contact time. Responsibility for checking and providing written proof of this obligatory attendance lies with the course lecturer who is required to store this information at least until the end of the semester.
• In the case of absenteeism that exceeds the specified limits of absence, a medical certificate is required. Responsibility lies with the head of the Coordination Office for Cross-Faculty Elective Subjects to approve the reason for the student's failure to attend.
• Participation in other activities of the university are not recognized as an excused absence.

Cross-faculty elective subject:
Notice the special Multi-stage allocation process.

Life shows that on the long-run personality often makes the difference to be successful both in business and your private life. That's why having a better understanding about yourself and managing your personal resources is crucial. In this module we focus on the three elements Mindset, Brain and Body and enable you with knowledge and self-experience to high perform on the long run.

The Liechtenstein Academy Foundation elaborated a unique offer together with three external lecturers that cover the following main topics:
1) Purpose & Mindset: Why is purpose and mindset so crucial for success in professional and personal life?
2) Brain: Do you know how your brain actually works and how you can positively influence your brain performance?
3) Body Resources: Are aware of the power that lays within a conscious management of your body resources?

• Presence based (methodological mix of input, reflection, group works,…)
• Experience-oriented self-learning (e.g. readings, heart rate variability measurement + diary,…)

1) Purpose & Mindset:
Create awareness of the impact of purpose and mindset for your life. Main topics: Positive Psychology, Resilience, Mindfulness. Sybille Mäder, coach and leadership specialist with huge business experience in the international financial industry.
2) Brain:
Create awareness of how we can enhance our brain performance. Learn about important techniques and limiting factors. Andreas Pisch a very experienced trainer gives both theoretical input on how our brain works and is able to underline it with good practices and helpful techniques for further enhancement of your brain performance.
3) Body Resources:
Experience and understand the power of your body resources and the importance of a balanced profile between tension and recovery. Learn about your individual stress profile (you will get a 72 hours heart rate variability profile) and find out how you can positively influence your well-being. Ole Petersen, CEO of the Swiss-based Fit im Job AG, successful athlete and trainer combines knowledge and experience in dealing with body resources both from both, a sportsman's view as well as from a business related view.

Assessment tasks:
Module 1: (20%) - Attendance & active participation
Module 2: (20%) - Attendance & active participation
Module 3: (20%) - Attendance & active participation

Self-study: (40%) - includes readings, 72 hours HRV-test, individual learning journal

Compulsory attendance (min. 80%)

Passed / Failed

• Course based on continuous assessment, details see under "assessment".
• Meeting attendance obligations is an essential pre-requisite for successfully completing a course based on continuous assessment.
• Attendance must be proven for at least 80% of the stipulated contact time. Responsibility for checking and providing written proof of this obligatory attendance lies with the course lecturer who is required to store this information at least until the end of the semester.
• In the case of absenteeism that exceeds the specified limits of absence, a medical certificate is required. Responsibility lies with the head of the Coordination Office for Cross-Faculty Elective Subjects to approve the reason for the student's failure to attend.
• Participation in other activities of the university are not recognized as an excused absence.

Cross-faculty elective subject:
Notice the special Multi-stage allocation process.

Short description
In the first Innovation Lab, students collaboratively develop innovative solutions for real-life business problems in product and process design.

Topics

• Creativity
• Innovation
• Problem-solving
• Project management
• Teamwork
• Presentation

Learning objectives

• Students will demonstrate their ability to work in a team to solve contemporary business problems.
• Students will show they can plan and organize projects under time pressure and competition.
• Students will use common creativity techniques and problem-solving tools and methodologies and demonstate they can think creatively to create innovative business solutions.
• Students will understand there are different ways of looking at new problems as they will develop alternative approaches to solving the problems they are assigned with.
• Students will deliver professional quality presentations to a demanding audience.

Methods

• The module involves interactive seminars with workshops and regular presentations.
• Together with the faculty, a jury of representatives from regional companies evaluates their solutions against innovativeness and usefulness and provides them with feedback and advice.
• The e-learning platform Moodle will be used for the dissemination of course material and discussions.

Compulsory reading

• The students will be provided with a reader and all lecture slides and supporting materials.

Of paramount importance for every presentation is the personality of the presenter, which can create an atmosphere of trust and real interest.
In this elective course, students will learn how to enter a room with presence and charisma and make a convincing first impression. In addition, body language plays a very important part and, very often, is used only unconsciously.
With the help of feedback, students will improve their presentation skills, learn how to structure their presentations and use media.
Another important theme we will explore is personal "Status". Usually, "Status" is connected with a certain position or power, which someone enjoys in an organization or in society. However, in everyday life, we constantly play with our personal Status, which is somewhat independent from our professional Status. Everyone prefers a certain Status. To raise your own Status yields more authority and assertiveness. To lower your own Status, thereby increasing the Status of someone else, conveys empathy and sympathy. Both raising and lowering your own Status are important and useful in different situations. Students will learn their preferred status and how to change it, if necessary.
In this course, students will also work with the methods of improvisational theater to enhance their spontaneity, creativity and ability to deal with unknown situations.

• Presentations with feedback
• Group work
• Video recording
• Exercises from improvisational theater
• Role Playing

The participants

• professionalize their appearance and learn how to present their ideas using authentic voice, language and body language
• learn how to speak with presence and charisma
• get to know the basic principles of presentation techniques
• learn how to create inspiring stories using incidents from their lives - bringing personality and life into public speaking
• improve their ability to plan a public speech tailored to their audience
• develop strategies on dealing with difficult participants
• get to know the "yes and" principle as the key to successful communication, teamwork and innovation
• enhance their spontaneity, creativity and ability to deal with unknown situations

Assessment tasks:
Part A: presentations (individual and group) 50%
Part B: active participation 50 %

Compulsory attendance (min. 80%)

Passed / Failed

• Course based on continuous assessment, details see under "assessment".
• Meeting attendance obligations is an essential pre-requisite for successfully completing a course based on continuous assessment.
• Attendance must be proven for at least 80% of the stipulated contact time.Responsibility for checking and providing written proof of this obligatory attendance lies with the course lecturer who is required to store this information at least until the end of the semester.
• In the case of absenteeism that exceeds the specified limits of absence, a medical certificate is required. Responsibility lies with the head of the Coordination Office for Cross-Faculty Elective Subjects to approve the reason for the student's failure to attend.

Cross-faculty elective subject:
Notice the special Multi-stage allocation process.

Short description
The course focuses on virtual collaboration, collaborative work, and modern collaboration tools in a business environment. Students will apply their knowledge in a hands-on collaboration project with partners.

Topics

• Understand the concepts of virtual collaboration and collaborative work
• Learn how IT can be used in order to support collaboration in a virtual environment
• Learn about the potentials and limits of collaboration technology
• Experience collaboration with team members from other countries

Learning objectives

• Students will repeat the fundamental concepts of collaboration and collaboration systems.
• Students will understand the benefits of collaboration and collaboration systems for sustainable competitive advantage.
• Students will solve assignments in the field of collaboration, especially collaborative research projects in the areas of current topics in IS.
• Students will identify relationships between different types of virtual collaboration systems. They compare solutions with regard to their value contribution.

Methods

• The module integrates theoretical knowledge and practical skills based on an interactive seminar that includes a hands-on collaboration project. The e-learning platform Moodle will be used throughout the course for the dissemination of course material and discussions.

Compulsory reading

• Davenport, T. H. (2005). Thinking for a living: how to get better performances and results from knowledge workers. Harvard Business Press.