Facts and figures
The programme at a glancePart of School
Programme information
What to expectAbout the programme
Within the IBaC programme, you will develop an International Business Plan:
- in an international multicultural context;
- with a strong focus on marketing and innovation;
- meeting the needs and wants of the customer;
- thereby achieving profitable win-win situations;
- that are logistically feasible and legally and financially sound;
- and can be implemented operationally.
Students are triggered to find strategic, creative solutions for existing international business and marketing challenges. Innovative teaching approaches ensure a dynamic, stimulating environment, in which students are pushed to develop critical competences and to achieve the very best. The competitive atmosphere encourages them to strive for optimal results, allowing them to stand out and gain a head-start when applying for a job.
Build up your network!
In the IBaC programme, we host students from all over the world, because we are working with 80 different partner universities. In international business in particular, the importance of a well-maintained network cannot be over-emphasized. The contacts you will make during the semester, will broaden your network and will help you with your future career.
Method
The focus of the programme is on project-based learning, supported by lectures, that will give you the tools to solve different challenges presented during the semester.
The project will be supported by lectures on:
- Marketing;
- Market research;
- Innovation;
- Cross cultural management and
- Negotiations.
Besides this, IBaC will offer each year a different variety of electives.
By following the core courses and electives, the student will achieve many different competences, very well appreciated in an international business environment.
Course selection
The full study load is 30 ECTS, divided as follows:
- Project (15 ECTS)
- Core courses - to support the project:
- Research (3 ECTS)
- Innovation (3 ECTS)
- Cross Cultural Management and Negotiations (3 ECTS)
- Besides this, you can choose 3 electives out of the following offer:
- European Business with several small field trips to European destinations included (2 ECTS)
- Geopolitics (2 ECTS)
- Logistics and Legal Aspects (2 ECTS)
- International Field Trip, a one-week business trip to a European destination (2 ECTS)
- Global Entrepreneurship Week a world-wide event on entre- and intrapreneurship (2 ECTS)
Type of assessment
There will be different forms of assessments:
- Presentations;
- Reports;
- Individual Assessments;
- Exams.
Study load
The full study load is 30 ECTS, divided as follows:
- Project (15 ECTS)
- Core courses, to support the project:
- Research (3 ECTS)
- Innovation (3 ECTS)
- Cross Cultural Management and Negotiations (3 ECTS)
- Besides this, you can choose 3 electives out of the following offer:
- European Business with several small field trips to European destinations included (2 ECTS) - To be confirmed
- Geopolitics (2 ECTS) - Not offered in Spring 2021
- Logistics and Legal Aspects (2 ECTS) - To be confirmed
- International Field Trip, a one-week business trip to a European destination (2 ECTS) - To be confirmed
- Global Entrepreneurship Week a world-wide event on entre- and intrapreneurship (2 ECTS) - Not offered in Spring 2021
Electives Spring 2021: Final offer will be confirmed as soon as possible. For further questions, please send an email to HRBS-international@hr.nl.
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this exchange programme then you are able to:
- Apply marketing concepts in an international environment;
- React in a creative, flexible and innovative way to international business problems;
- Translate these problems into profitable solutions;
- Reflect on your personal and professional competences, attitude and behaviour in a multicultural business environment.
and will have:
- Thorough practical knowledge of international business;
- An extensive international network;
- A springboard to an international business career.
Calendar
Block 1 + 2
| 1 - 3 September | Introduction days |
| 6 September | Start date |
| 28 January | Outro day |
| 29 January | End date |
Exams
| 25 - 29 October | Exams |
| 17 - 21 January | Exams |
Resits
| 2 - 6 November | Resits |
| 24 - 25 January | Resits |
Awarding
After successfully completing your exchange programme at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, you will receive a:
- Transcript of Records
- Special IBaC Certificate
Besides this, at the end of the programme, we will hand out the famous IBaC Challenge Cup, for the best project team of the year.
Subjects
An indication of the subjects you can expectBlock 1
-
International Business Project (15 ECTS) - Part 1
International Business Project (15 ECTS) - Part 1
In a tough and intense 16 weeks project, divided in two periods, student groups will form independent consultancy firms. The main purpose of this consultancy is to provide a company, who is looking for a new market for its product or services, with:
Topics (general)
- Research and Analysis Selecting the country that best fits with the customer’s core capabilities
- Strategic advice Selecting the best entry strategy for the new market
- Planning Creating a concise strategic marketing plan
- Project management Project plan in accordance with the marketing plan and financial plan
Topics for Situation analysis and country selection (4 ECTS)
- External analysis
- Criteria selection
Topics for Market analysis and entry strategy (4 ECTS)
- Target group selection
- Understanding Marketplace/ Customer Needs
- Design Customer Value Driven Strategy
- Market entry strategy
Learning Materials
Will be provided later.
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Apply marketing concepts in an international environment,
- React in a creative, flexible and innovative way to international business problems,
- Translate these problems into profitable solutions,
- Reflect on your personal and professional competences, attitude and behaviour in a multicultural business environment;
- Thorough practical knowledge of international business.
Type of assessment
Presentations, report and assessment
-
Research (3 ECTS)
Research (3 ECTS)
Topics
We will discuss subjects varying from “creating a problem statement” to “formulating research question”, and from “research strategy” to “creative assumption generation” as well as how to find reliable and trustworthy information. This course will help you create an advice for a company based on the information found, and doing so, present information correctly. The topics will be:
- Formulating research questions and hypotheses;
- Conducting qualitative and qualitative research;
- Interviews;
- Questionnaires;
- Validity and reliability.
Learning Materials
Weekly reading materials and exercises.
Learning Outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Formulate concrete research questions and testable hypotheses;
- Design semi-structured interviews and use them as tools for qualitative data collection;
- Prepare questionnaires to gain further insight into specific research questions;
- Demonstrate that the research design and data collection methods are valid and reliable.
Type of assessment
Report
-
Cross Cultural Management & Negotiations (3 ECTS) - Part 1
Cross Cultural Management & Negotiations (3 ECTS) - Part 1
Topics
Internationalization and globalization require expertise with regard to intercultural aspects. Insight to cultural differences are key conditions for successful international negotiations. Topics that will be discussed, are:
- Individualism vs Collectivism;
- Power distance;
- Universalism versus Particularism;
- Specific versus Diffuse Cultures;
- Affective versus Neutral cultures.
Learning Materials
Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampton Turner, Riding the waves of Culture. ISBN 9781904838388
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Understand what the differences are between a individualistic culture and and a collective culture;
- Understand differences in power structure and status in relationship with power;
- Understand differences between societies with a universalistic approach and societies with a particularistic approach and what this means for doing business and maintain relationships with employees of a organisation;
- Differentiate between affective and neutral cultures and how this influences negotiations, management and doing business.
Type of assessment
Written (block 1) and oral exam (block 2)
-
International Field Trip - Elective (2 ECTS)
International Field Trip - Elective (2 ECTS)
During the fall semester, you will have the opportunity to join our legendary field trip to a European destination. For many students, the field trip is the highlight of the exchange semester, because it is great fun and it will support team building tremendously. Needless to say, this trip will improve your network, your business skills and your knowledge of the business and political environment of a specific European country. Part of the programme will be a project related to business culture, cross-cultural management and elements of marketing/communication.
Please note that the field trip is the only elective where you need to pay for and that there is a limited number of places available. Consider whether you want to participate in the field trip before your arrival, because you will have to register before the start of the programme to secure your spot.
The company visits and assignments will support the other courses of the IBaC programme.
Learning Materials
Project-related documents provided in seminars.
Learning Outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Assess a new business environment;
- Connect the different theories seen during the lectures and apply them into the project;
- Evaluate hypothesis and solve a real-life case following the customs of a foreign business scene;
- Provide a professional advice coming from an appropriate analysis to a business;
- Communicate a strategy efficiently and work in a team in a professional foreign environment.
Type of assessment
Participation and Blog/Vlog
-
Geopolitics - Elective (2 ECTS)
Geopolitics - Elective (2 ECTS)
Topics
In this elective course, we will dive into the world of what has been called “China’s New Silk Road”. Starting with some historical background and Chinese perspectives on international relations, we will try to grasp the geopolitical implications of the BRI by mapping different projects across the globe. The topics of this course will be:
- Geopolitical Implications of the Belt and Road Initiative
- Chinese Perspective on International Relations
- Media
Learning materials
Online materials
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Assess the geopolitical impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on countries around the world,
- Compare different perspectives on China’s new geopolitical role in international relations.
Type of assessment
Report and presentation
-
Global Logistics - Elective (2 ECTS)
Global Logistics - Elective (2 ECTS)
Topics
- The Chinese New Silk Road, The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
- Changes in logistics patterns
- Chinese investments in several European and Eurasian coutries / rail connection / port in Greece
- Legal Customs, liability, sanctions and other limitiation in trade between countries
Learning Materials
Andre Wheeler, China Belt Road Initiative. The challenge for the middle Kingdom through a new logistics paradigm, 2018. ISBN 9781790110254
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Picture how changing transport costs and transit times influence the flow of goods and the organisation of global supply chains.
Type of assessment
Presentation and report
Block 2
-
International Business Project (15 ECTS) - Part 2
International Business Project (15 ECTS) - Part 2
In a tough and intense 16 weeks project, divided in two periods, student groups will form independent consultancy firms. The main purpose of this consultancy is to provide a company, who is looking for a new market for its product or services, with:
Topics (general)
- Research and Analysis
Selecting the country that best fits with the customer’s core capabilities - Strategic advice
Selecting the best entry strategy for the new market - Planning Creating
A concise strategic marketing plan - Project management
Project plan in accordance with the marketing plan and financial plan
Topics for Marketing Approach (4 ECTS)
- Integrated Market Programme
- Marketing Analytics
- Marketing Balanced Score Card
Topics for Communication Plan and Continuity (3 ECTS)
- Implementation with Marketing Automation
Learning Materials
Will be provided later.
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Apply marketing concepts in an international environment;
- React in a creative, flexible and innovative way to international business problems;
- Translate these problems into profitable solutions;
- Reflect on your personal and professional competences, attitude and behaviour in a multicultural business environment;
- Thorough practical knowledge of international business.
Type of assessment
Presentations, report and assessment
- Research and Analysis
-
Innovation (3 ECTS)
Innovation (3 ECTS)
Topics
Innovation
- Design Thinking
- Google Sprint methodology
- Management of innovation
- Prototype testing
- Validation of testing
Consultancy
- Relationship consultant – client
- Client management
Strategy
- Strategy formulation
- Strategy presentation
Learning materials
Recommended:
- Jake Knapp, Sprint
- Alex Osterwalder, Testing Business Ideas
- Tristan Kromer, The Real Start Up Book
- You tube videos on RJ & Smart on design sprinting
- Other relevant articles about strategy, consulting and innovation will be provided
Required
https://www.thesprintbook.com/videos
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Apply the sprint methodology and give a clear demonstration of understanding the benefits and shortcomings of design thinking and sprint methodology;
- Build and test a relevant prototype for testing hypothesis and substantiate findings with expert insights and market research;
- Account for choices and reflect on the impact of these choices;
- Translate the results of prototype testing to relevant insights for his/her client;
- Maintain a working relation (as a ‘consultant’) with his/her client;
- Present findings and results of prototype testing to his/her client.
Type of assessment
Presentation and report
-
Cross Cultural Management & Negotiations (3 ECTS) - Part 2
Cross Cultural Management & Negotiations (3 ECTS) - Part 2
Topics
- Sales goals
- Conversation techniques
- Making a calling script
- Verbal and non verbal communication skills
Learning materials
- Syllabus Sales training
- Cases
- PPT
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Formulate professional goals in regards to a sales conversation;
- Have a professional one on one sales conversation in an international context;
- Prepare, structure, execute and follow up a sales conversation;
- Apply, in a successful way, both verbal and non verbal communication skills.
Type of assessment
Written (block 1) and oral exam (block 2)
-
Global Entrepreneurship Week - Elective (2 ECTS)
Global Entrepreneurship Week - Elective (2 ECTS)
Topics
The Global Entrepreneurship Week is an event to inspire people all around the world through local, national and global activities, designed to help them take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey.
During the Global Entrepreneurship Week, the focus is on entrepreneurship. Various successful Entrepreneurs and Marketers and the Rotterdam Business School combine forces with the objective to give students an inspiring week, which will help them to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set they will benefit from for the rest of their life.
This event is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. The Global Entrepreneurship Week aims to inspire people all around the world through local, national and global activities, designed to help them to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey.
Explore your start-up ideas together with Dutch and international students, from different cultural backgrounds, by following our custom-made workshops offered by the university and its lecturers. Unlock your potential and prepare yourself for success!
Please visit our Global Entrepreneurship Week’s website.
Learning materials
Workshops and events during the Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Recognise successes and failures of experienced entrepreneurs,
- Generate, in a team, a creative and innovative start-up idea and elaborate this as a team in a start-up business plan,
- Present a start-up business idea in an attractive form, using innovative presentation techniques.
- Build an international network
Type of assessment
Performance during the week and a reflection report.
-
European Business - Elective (2 ECTS)
European Business - Elective (2 ECTS)
Topics
The European Union is one of the world’s largest and most important economies and markets. This course will provide an insight into the European Business Legal Framework, facilitating Business in Europe, through its cultural and political dimension. The following topics will be discussed:
- Different forms of capitalisms influencing the conduct of business in Europe
- European Union basics (European institutions and principles),
- European legislation: the EU four Free Movements and EU Competition Law,
- Current affairs: Brexit, the 2008 crisis and any relevant affairs affecting the course of business in Europe and the
Learning Materials
Extracts from books and academic journals provided in class.
Learning Outcomes
If you have successfully completed this course, then you are able to:
- Solve cases related to current affairs and European Legislation;
- Apply the theories learnt in class to a given case;
- Perform the appropriate analysis using the tools learnt in class.
Type of assessment
Written exam
Practical matters
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