The idea is to write a reflection for workshop 1-6 each for 200 words
Then using this knowledge and writing in workshop 6 for approx. 2,000 words
Workshop 7 for 1200 words and a PowerPoint presentation
Introduction
Personal strategy relates to all aspects of an individual’s strategic plan for the future. As financial planning emerges as a key feature in achieving ones life’s objectives it is considered a fundamental part of personal strategy. In Saudi Arabia, recent statistics estimate financial literacy rates of Saudi citizens at just over 30%, compared with other high-income countries which have rates in excess of 70% (KKF, 2018).
Within this group, women are considered at high risk of financial exclusion. For example, nearly 60% of women in KSA don’t have bank accounts, compared to only 7% of women in other high-income countries, with the gender gap in bank account ownership in KSA estimated at around 22% (KKF, 2018).
Given the relevance of these statistics to our student population, all students will be required to engage in a short financial literacy course. Throughout this course they will engage in a series of workshops whereby they will have the opportunity to assess their individual financial literacy skills and the potential consequences of their knowledge level and approach to personal finance to their future financial stability.
They will also engage in a number of initiatives to improve their financial literacy skills, including guest speaker sessions from industry experts and in class workshops.
The topics to be covered during this short course are as follows: Workshop Topic Workshop 1 Financial Psychology Workshop 2 Financial Planning Workshop 3 Financial Planning in Action Workshop 4 Financial Products: Saving, Investing and Borrowing Workshop 5 Credit Reports and Protecting your Money Workshop 6 Overall Reflection: Link between Personal Strategy and Business Strategy Workshop 7 Financial Education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Workshop 1:
Financial Psychology
The aim of this workshop is to allow students explore their financial personality types and to examine how emotions and past experiences impact on spending and saving. Students will also explore how their financial choices are impacted by outside factors (e.g. family/peer influence), leading to choices that might not be in their best financial interest.
By helping students identify and define their personal relationship with money, it can serve as the foundation upon which healthy financial habits can be built. Mr Brian Flanagan from UConsulting will deliver a guest speaker session on this topic Reflection: Students will be required to write a short reflection (approx. 400-500 words) on their learnings from this exercise. This reflection should include the following points:
• Determine the main influences of their approach to financial decision-making
• Examine personal habits, strengths, weaknesses and values when it comes to money 3
• Identify common financial situations where decision-making may be influenced by external forces
• Determine the difference between a need and a want
• Explain the relationship between saving money on daily purchases and reaching long-term financial goals
• Create a plan to create good money habits (This reflection is confidential to the student and does not have to be shared with any third parties inside/outside class unless the student themselves wants to disclose this information)
Note: This reflection does not need to be submitted on loop or by email but will be useful for the overall reflection that must be written and submitted in workshop 6.
Workshop 2:
Financial Planning
In this workshop students will be required to take action by establishing short- and long-term financial goals and creating a spending plan to help achieve these goals. In doing so, students will firstly have to identify their current spending habits by recording their most recent income and expenditures, as well as determining their current net worth. After completing this exercise, they will be required to complete a document detailing their strategic life plan.
Mr Brian Flanagan from UConsulting, Ireland will deliver a guest speaker session on this topic and provide the relevant worksheets which students must complete. Reflection: Students will be required to write a short reflection (approx. 400-500 words) on their learning from this exercise. This reflection should include the following points:
• Current spending levels and net worth – complete the course worksheets (i.e. income and expenditure and net worth worksheets)
• Based on the insights gained for the above identify short-term and long-term financial goal(s) (e.g. short-term goal – financial target by the end of this semester)
• Develop a strategic plan for the future and determine how good financial planning can help achieve long-term goals (i.e. complete the strategic life plan worksheet) (This reflection is confidential to the student and does not have to be shared with any third parties inside/outside class unless the student themselves wants to disclose this information)
Note: This reflection does not need to be submitted on loop or by email but will be useful for the overall reflection that must be written and submitted in workshop 6.
Workshop 3:
Financial Planning in Action
Guided by the financial plans set in the previous workshop students will be required to monitor their progress towards their short-term financial goals (i.e. end of semester financial goal). One behavior that is considered important in making sound financial decisions is price comparisons. In order to help develop this skill, students will be required to engage in the following task:
4 Task: In the coming week, before making a purchase, do a price comparison of that product/service with other similar products/services – Do this for FIVE purchases Reflection:
Students will be required to write a short reflection (approx. 400-500 words) on what they learned from this exercise and whether it will encourage them to conduct price comparisons when making purchases in the future. Note: This reflection does not need to be submitted on loop or by email but will be useful for the overall reflection that must be written and submitted in workshop 6.
Workshop 4:
Financial Products
Saving, Investing and Borrowing In this workshop students will be required to reflect on their knowledge of financial products including saving, investment and debt products.
As part of this workshop they will be required to engage with their local bank/financial institution and seek information on the various saving, investment and debt products available to them, as well as the risks associated with these products. On completion of this task they will be required to outline where the main gaps in their knowledge exist and where they would benefit from guidance from an expert in the field.
Based on the perceived gaps in their knowledge, a financial expert will be asked to deliver a guest speaker session on the most popular financial products on offer for this target market, the potential benefits and risks of these products and advice on how to choose the best products for their needs.
Reflection: Students will be required to write a short reflection (approx. 400-500 words) on their learnings from this exercise. Note: This reflection does not need to be submitted on loop or by email but will be useful for the overall reflection that must be written and submitted in workshop 6.
Workshop 5:
Credit Reports and Protecting your Money
Every financial decision one makes culminates in a credit history and score that forms one’s personal “money story.” By understanding how to access credit reports, how to read them, and how to report discrepancies, students will learn how to become their own financial advocates. During this workshop students will be required to develop an understanding of why it is important to have a good credit history, how to obtain their credit report and the components of a credit report.
They will also be required to develop an understanding of how financial behaviours influence a credit score and to consider ways to build or repair a credit score, as well as reporting and addressing errors. As part of this exercise students will be required to engage with the Saudi Credit Bureau (SIMAH) and request their own credit report. Upon receipt, they will be required to review the report and develop an understanding of it’s various components.
Students will also examine the different forms of identity theft and consumer fraud, ways to protect their identity, and what to do if ID theft or fraud occurs. They should also use examples of any common identity theft and consumer fraud schemes that they have been exposed to in the past. 5 On completion of these exercises, students will be encouraged to identify gaps in their knowledge regarding credit reports and identity/security fraud.
A financial expert will be asked to deliver a guest speaker session to address these perceived gaps. Reflection: Students will be required to write a short reflection (approx. 400-500 words) on their learnings from this exercise. Note: This reflection does not need to be submitted on loop or by email but will be useful for the overall reflection that must be written and submitted in workshop 6.
Workshop 6:
Overall Reflection – Link between Personal Strategy and Business Strategy
Students are required to write an overall reflection on their key learnings from this short course in financial literacy, taking care to include a summary of the learnings from workshops 1-5 (approx. 2,000-3,000 words – use the reflections written as part of workshop 1-5 to help with writing this section).
They should include details on whether their behaviors and mindset towards money management have changed over the duration of the course. They must also determine whether this course influenced the way in which they made decisions when running their airline company. Examples must be provided to illustrate these points.
Workshop 7:
Financial Education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
In groups, students will be required to build on their learning outcomes from the business simulation and personal financial literacy course by considering possible solutions to the following problem statement:
PROBLEM STATEMENT:
Recent statistics estimate financial literacy rates of Saudi citizens at just over 30%, compared with other high-income countries which have rates in excess of 70%. As many women lack the necessary skills to participate fully in financial decisions in the home and the workplace they are considered at high risk of financial exclusion (KKF, 2018).
RESEARCH STATEMENT:
Financial inclusion of women can be achieved through initiatives embedded in the educational curriculum. Elaboration of Problem Statement: This problem statement directly relates to two of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 4 Quality Education and SDG 5 Gender Equality, which serve as a useful framework to facilitate the design of innovative solutions.
To achieve this, the scope of resolving the problem statement will be further broken down into four sub-themes. Each student group will be assigned one of these four themes and required to develop financial literacy educational solutions for each of the following groups in society: