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A Critical Review Of The Basel Margin Of Conservatism Requirement In A Retail Credit Context
Get PDFThe Basel II accord (2006) includes guidelines to financial institutions for the estimation of regulatory capital (RC) for retail credit risk. Under the advanced Internal Ratings Based (IRB) approach, the formula suggested for calculating RC is based on the Asymptotic Risk Factor (ASRF) model, which assumes that a borrower will default if the value of its assets were to fall below the value of its debts. The primary inputs needed in this formula are estimates of probability of default (PD), loss given default (LGD) and exposure at default (EAD). Banks for whom usage of the advanced IRB approach have been approved usually obtain these estimates from complex models developed in-house. Basel II recognises that estimates of PDs, LGDs, and EADs are likely to involve unpredictable errors, and then states that, in order to avoid over-optimism, a bank must add to its estimates a margin of conservatism (MoC) that is related to the likely range of errors. Basel II also requires several other measures of conservatism that have to be incorporated. These conservatism requirements lead to confusion among banks and regulators as to what exactly is required as far as a margin of conservatism is concerned. In this paper, we discuss the ASRF model and its shortcomings, as well as Basel II conservatism requirements. We study the MoC concept and review possible approaches for its implementation. Our overall objective is to highlight certain issues regarding shortcomings inherent to a pervasively used model to bank practitioners and regulators and to potentially offer a less confusing interpretation of the MoC concept
Capstone Engineering Design Projects For Community Colleges
Get PDFCapstone engineering design courses have been a feature at research universities and four-year schools for many years. Although such classes are less common at two-year colleges, the experience is equally beneficial for this population of students. With this in mind, Madison College introduced a project-based Engineering Design course in 2007. This paper explores Madison College’s experience over the past decade offering this class. Unique challenges and opportunities for engineering design courses at two-year colleges are discussed. Our findings include several recommended practices to benefit colleges and universities at any level that are creating new engineering design courses.
Using Analogical Problem Construction As An Advance Organizer To Teach Advanced Database (SQL) Nomenclature
Get PDFAlthough business faculty have an important teaching responsibility to prepare students for professional positions in industry, very few have any formal training in instructional design. Analogical problem construction and advance organizers are powerful design techniques used to link prior knowledge to new material. Unfortunately, the use of analogies as a formal teaching strategy is disappointingly low. This study examines the use of analogical problem constructions as an advance organizer strategy to teach advanced database (SQL) concepts
Using Computer Output As A Vehicle For Self-Directed Study Of Financial Theory: The Art Of Teaching Backwards
Get PDFThis paper presents an example of an approach to teaching financial theory at the college and post-graduate levels that I call “teaching backwards”. In the more traditional approach, instructors begin by explaining financial theory, then proceed to give examples of the way this theory can be applied to a business problem, structuring data around the predetermined theory. When teaching backwards we reverse the process, suggesting various ways to organize and report data related to a business problem and then inviting students to analyze these data to identify relationships between the variables that enable them to see potential applications of financial theory, or even to discover the theory itself. The example presented employs computer modeling and computer simulation as essential enabling tools for self-directed learning
Enhancing Integrated Communication Network Service Using a Queueing Model
Get PDFThis paper describes a strategy for efficiently constructing the demand servicing process of an Integrated Communication Network (ICN). Performance analysis, service problems, and relief action of ICNs are provided. End-to-end statistical performance parameters are first used to measure network compliance over a given fixed period. If any of the performance objectives are not satisfied, a servicing function determines the corrective action required to maintain service quality. The advantage of this network model is its efficiency and flexibility in handling a variety of services and applications. Enhanced network service and ICN traffic problems are solved using adaptive queuing models
Performance Of South African Automotive Exports Under The African Growth And Opportunity Act From 2001 To 2015
Get PDFThe South African automotive industry is faced with the challenge of how to expand through exports in a saturated global automotive market, characterized by overcapacity. The vision of the South African automotive industry is to double its vehicle production to one million units per annum by 2020. However, domestic market limitations impede the ability to achieve sufficient economies of scale. Trade arrangements contribute towards increasing market access. The impact of the AGOA on automotive trade between the United States of America and South Africa was analyzed. It was found that the AGOA resulted in a substantial increase in two-way trade. Further research is encouraged with regard to the potential of regional integration in Africa for automotive exports from South African and the USA
The Usefulness Of Analytical Procedures, Other Than Ratio And Trend Analysis, For Auditor Decisions
Get PDFThe International Standards on Auditing require of the external auditor to perform analytical procedures during audits. Analytical procedures range from simple to advanced, but available literature focuses on ratio and trend analysis for use in audits. This study therefore aims to analyse and compare the objective, advantages and disadvantages of selected analytical procedures other than ratio and trend analysis (Du Pont, Economic Value AddedTM (EVA), Altman’s Z-score and Benford’s Law) in an external auditing context by means of a qualitative literature analysis. Findings indicate that further analytical procedures significantly compliment ratio and trend analysis during audits, specifically during going concern evaluations and identifying error and fraud. Du Pont, Altman’s Z-score and Benford’s Law is found to be of particular value to the auditor, due to its cost benefit. EVA is found to be impractical to utilise by the auditor if not implemented by the entity. The study is an important contribution to the literature on analytical procedures as it is the first of its kind to analyse the objective, advantages and disadvantages of analytical procedures other than ratio and trend analysis in an external auditing context
Student Attitudes Regarding Active Learning In Health Professions Microbiology Course
Get PDFWhile many active learning strategies are evidence-based, it is unclear as to which methods are preferred by most students. In the present study students in an undergraduate health professions microbiology course were assigned four projects (“types” 1 – 4) that included elements of active learning and that required students to apply microbiological concepts to health care or public health. A type 1 project involved the student consulting professional journals, textbooks and/or websites and preparing an informative brochure on an infectious disease suitable for reading by the lay public. A type 2 project involved the student shadowing a health care professional. A type 3 project involved the student performing a community service. A type 4 project involved the student designing and conducting an original lab research study. A survey was used to assess student attitudes about doing these projects. I report that while some students preferred particular project types, no project type was preferred by a majority of students. In addition, students ranked all four project types highly and considered them all to have equal educational value and relevance to course content. These results suggest that instructors should avoid using a “one size fits all” active learning approach. Students value the use of diverse pedagogical approches that engage their learning in different ways and that connect course concepts to real-world applications.
Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School Promotes Student STEM Interest
No full textThe principal purpose of this investigation is to study the effect of robotic cooperative learning methodologies on middle school students’ critical thinking, and STEM interest. The semi-experimental inquiry consisted of ninety four six-grade students (forty nine students in the experimental group, forty five students in the control group), chosen by their principals. A critical thinking test was administered to evaluate the cognitive skills and STEM interest of the students. Instruction was implemented in two formats: cooperative learning and problem-based learning. The experimental group utilized robotic cooperative learning while the control group utilized problem-based learning. After four sessions of both instruction types with both groups the findings reveal that critical thinking of students is enhanced significantly by robotic cooperative learning (P<0.01)
Measuring Learners’ Attitudes Toward Team Projects: Scale Development Through Exploratory And Confirmatory Factor Analyses
Get PDFTeam projects are increasingly used in engineering courses. Students may develop attitudes toward team projects from prior experience, and their attitudinal responses could influence their performance during team project-based learning in the future. Thus, instructors need to measure students’ attitudes toward team projects during their learner analysis to better understand students’ characteristics and be proactive in providing effective strategies to help students succeed in a team project environment. The purpose of our study was to develop a survey instrument that measures students’ attitudes toward team projects to be used as a learner analysis tool, derived from our local practical needs and due to the lack of appropriate existing instruments. The study was conducted at a mid-sized university in the northwestern United States during 2015-2016. After we generated an initial pool of 50 items, we administered the survey to 225 undergraduate engineering students, performed exploratory factor analysis on the data, and arrived at a four-factor solution of 20 items and a three-factor solution of 14 items. We tested the two competing solutions with another set of 330 undergraduate engineering students. Based on our confirmatory factor analysis results, we arrived at a three-factor model of 12 items as the finalized scale, which measures: (a) professional capacity building, (b) learning and problem-solving skills development, and (c) workload challenges. We call the scale, the Attitudes toward Team Projects Scale on Capacity, Learning, and Workload (ATPS-CLW). Suggestions for future research include continuous development, testing, and validation of the scale