Course Program
Highlights
- Earn 6 US or 12 ECTS credit hours in an attractive short term program
- Enjoy discovering a dynamic economic region with an exceptional quality of life
- Meet and exchange with key professionals during our corporate visits
- Acquire survival skills in French on an optional basis at no extra cost and earn 1 US or 2 ECTS credit hours
- Learn about local culture and socialize with students from all around the world
Course description:
| Course title | Duration | Credits |
| European Heritage | 15 hrs | 1 |
| Key issues in Europe | 9 hrs | 1 |
| Managing business operations in EU | 12 hrs | 1 |
| Cross culture management | 15 hrs | 1 |
| Sustainable Development and corporate responsability | 15 hrs | 1 |
| Intercultural negotiation | 15 hrs | 1 |
| French Instruction | 15 hrs | 1 |
1. European heritage
2. Key issues in European Union
This course presents the European Union and its differences.
The objectives are:
- to understand the differences between European behaviours & cultures
- to get an overview of the main European issues
- to improve your ability to do business with Europeans by understanding European better!
The key European issues will be discussed in the following 3 courses:
1. What is Europe?
2. Governance in the EU
3. Agriculture and the EU
3. Managing business operations in Europe
General description
The European Union, after 50 years of developement, is now the largest market in the world. Despite these 5 decades of unification, differences among European nations persist. Therefore, Europe can sometimes be considered a unique market from a business perspective, and at other times, the sum of its national markets.
This module gives non-European and European students the keys to initiate business in the European Union, and presents the challenges and solutions of managing operations there.
Learning objectives
- Understand the diverging and common points among European countries
- Learn about issues and solutions related to trading with Europe from other continents, and doing business within EFTA
- Know how to run a business in Europe
Course details
- Trade within the European Union and EFTA: intra-community business
- Competition within European nations. Tax issues.
- Export & Import with the EU. EU Customs.
- European organizations. European logistics. European management.
4. Cross culture management
This 15-hour course is designed to provide a thorough introduction to cross-cultural communication & human resource management.
Topics to be covered:
- Basic theories and research on Intercultural Communication and Human Resource Management
- Domestic vs. International Human Resource Management
- Expatriate Failure
- Cultural effects of international mergers
- Cultural effects of global expansion (Disney, McDonalds, etc.)
5. Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsability and Business Ethics in Europe
The courses examines the concept of Sustainable Development and analyses present day issues under three headings: Environmental (such as climate change, resource depletion and water scarcity), Social (such as poverty and inequality between developed and developing nations) and Economic.
The course then considers Corporate Social Responsability and its different forms and interpretations, from simple compliance with regulations to industrial ecology and social enterprises. We analyse the response of European companies to the environmental and social challenges of today in their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.
Finally we consider Business Ethics, from day to day ethical issues to high profile cases, examinig the role of company culture and the behaviour of senior management in determining the ethical behaviour of staff. Case studies are taken from European examples.
6. Intercultural negotiation
This 15-hour module is designed to enable you to become more effective negotiators.
Of all skills you will need to be sucessful in business (and in life!), NEGOTIATION will definitely be one of the most important. This course will provide you with the theory and tools you need to succeed in your personal and professional negotiations.
The first half of the class will help you develop a clear understanding of the main concepts of negotiation, and give you numerous opportunities (both in and outside of class) to practice and cultivate your negotiation skills.
The international dimension will be covered during the second half of the class, where you will work in teams to prepare and execute an international case study, using information and skills you have acquired in your Cross Culture class.
7. French instruction
This course will enable you to start or improve your language skills in French. It is specifically designed to help you acquire basic language abilities and essential communicative skills according to your level. You will be taking a test on the first day of the course to assess your level. In class, emphasis is placed on oral practice and interactive learning activities in a real life approach to the language including simple routine tasks, common polite phrases and exchanges of information in order to help you develop your communication skills in daily life situations.
We will work in pairs and use role playing activities as well as authentic documents to help you survive and experience relationships in the new culture.
