International Business and Management with Professional Practice and Placement

Why are some businesses multinationals when others are exporters only or remain solely in their home market? There are sound economic arguments for expanding into some markets and not others. International trade is a key issue on the world agenda and has considerable effects on countries’ businesses and consequently economies. The effects occur at the micro level of firms and households as well as at the macro level, where they are the subjects of government policy debates. This module advances your knowledge on a range of economic concepts such as comparative advantage and new trade theories enabling you to appreciate the benefits (and the costs) of international trade and investment. Skills you will develop as part of this module include critical thinking for decision making and data analysis.

Accounting is the language of business, which global leaders need to master. The module equips students with detailed knowledge of internationally recognised accounting techniques that managers and external stakeholders use to make decisions. You will be able to interpret at a glance the performance of a global corporation and use the tools that organisations draw on in their daily operations.

Get ready for captivating discussions on cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, privacy, sustainability, cross-cultural communication and ethics. This module is an invitation to be at the forefront of challenges posed by operating in global markets. Join the module as we navigate the twists and turns of the international business landscape, where each challenge becomes an opportunity, and each question sparks innovation. Let the exploration begin.

How do multinational organisations make big-picture decisions about managing their global portfolios? How do they gain sustained advantage over their competitors? You will learn about how multinational enterprises design and manage their operations across borders, handling the tensions between their headquarters and their subsidiaries in order to get results on a global scale. Gain insight into strategic decision-making by looking at internationalisation strategies, managing strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions, and also risk management, knowledge creation, divestment, and corporate social responsibility on a global scale. Round out your degree by understanding international business in a strategic way while mastering sought-after communication skills through the support provided for assessments on the module.

Global Value Chains have transformed the nature of trade and foreign direct investment and continue to bring opportunities and challenges for business enterprises and their operations around the world. Learn about how you as a manager can develop optimal relationships with your value chain partners, adapt to changing business and industry supply chain circumstances, and make responsible decisions in the context of an uncertain global economy. Evaluate the governance, policy, and power relationships that shape global value chains and learn how to manage risk and make your industry supply chains resilient to external shocks. Collaborate with other students on your course to analyse the value chains of real-world multinational companies and report on them, developing communication skills that you will be able to boast about!

Brands and products are crucial to the success of organisations. The module focuses on brand strategy, brand management, and measuring brand effectiveness, as well as shining a light on product management. You will be able to apply this knowledge to successfully manage brands and products in modern organisations.

In a world marked by perpetual transformation, how can emerging leaders adeptly navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that shape their decision-making through global perspectives? Through engaging and interactive sessions you will unravel the complexities inherent in leadership principles and strategic decision-making. This module emphasizes hands-on applications, ensuring that students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also develop the practical skills essential for effective leadership based on EDI principles in the contemporary business environment. You will leave the module with a knowledge of organisational behaviour and human resource management practice and understand how indispensable resources are utilised by organizations to navigate the intricate landscape of global strategic decision-making.

The Placement Assessment is your chance to reflect on and evidence your experiences in relation to both your university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills. Through this, you will further enhance their critical thinking, communication, professional behaviours and resilience. This process allows you to better communicate to employers what skills and experiences you bring to their businesses and workplaces, setting you up to launch your career or forge a new path.

Gain consultancy experience and pitch your solutions to existing organisational problems!  You will work with problem-based case studies and address the posed challenges to offer sustainable and targeted solutions. Get ready to polish your consultancy, team-working, leadership, self-reflection skills but also show-case your best analytical and critical thinking and more!

The Placement Experience provides you with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study. The Placement enables you to develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme. You’ll develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context. The Placement requires you to document your experiences in relation to both your university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills. To be able to undertake this module it is necessary for you to secure a placement. The placement should be appropriate to your degree and experience. The length of the placement should normally be at least 39-44 weeks. This experience will further enhance your critical thinking, communication, professional behaviours and resilience.

The Professional Practice route provides you with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study. You’ll develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in simulated as well as real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme. You develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context. The Professional Practice requires you to document your experiences in relation to both their university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills. By taking this module, you will be exposed to a wide range of skills development workshops designed to get you ready for a global workplace, developing an understanding of ethical and sustainable management practices. Over the course of two academic terms, you will study a language as well as undertake an experiential learning stream in line with your career aspirations selected from three options: Leadership, Entrepreneurship or Consultancy. Finally, you will complete an 8-week virtual internship provided by the school, in the career field of your choice with a company located either abroad or in the UK.