Instructors

Dr. Ingrid Van Rompay-Bartels

Centre of International Business Research, International School of Business

HAN_ University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

Dr. Clinton Watkins

Global Business Program

Akita International University, Japan

Course description

AIU students will work online on a six-week business case project in international teams with students from HAN University of Applied Sciences, a partner institution located in the Netherlands.

The business case will address the role and importance of culture in marketing communication related to consumer product promotion and sustainable development goals. How do large international firms communicate their commitment to sustainable development goals while promoting their products in different countries? What role does culture play in their adaptation of their messaging and marketing across countries?

Students will work through a series of individual and teamwork guided tasks and reflection. that stimulate intercultural awareness in a business setting and build the business case. An important component of this course is boosting students’ cultural competence and ability to work effectively in international cross-cultural teams in a business setting.

Workshop sessions will be conducted online jointly between the two universities. Five of the approximately 135minute workshop sessions will consist of approximately 60 minutes of instruction followed by group work monitored and mentored by the instructors (including brief break). The final session is devoted to groups’ presentation and defence of their business case report. The course is conducted in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) format.

Objectives

Students will gain an understanding of:

1. the importance of cultural competence (intercultural knowledge, skills, awareness and attitudes) in effective cross-border teamwork in a business setting;

2. the influence culture has on their actions and on actions of others, and how to adjust behaviour to enhance the quality of work in a culturally diverse team;

3. the role of culture in marketing communication, theories and concepts on the nature of culture and cultural differences;

4. the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they pertain to business, materiality under different approaches and issues such as greenwashing.

Reference Book

Author: C. Nunez, R. Nunez Mahdi, L. Popma

Title: Intercultural Sensitivity: from denial to intercultural competence (5th ed, 2021)

Publisher: Koninklijke Van Gorcum

ISBN: 9789023255550

https://www.vangorcum.nl/product/100-404_Intercultural-Sensitivity

Assessment

1. Group work including online structured collaborative reflection tasks and a final business case report, including a presentation and/or defence: 40%.

2. Structured individual reflection tasks including a pre-test, icebreaker reflection task and post-test: 40%.

3. Active contribution during workshop sessions, including peer evaluation: 20%.

Grading will be done jointly across the universities guided by a common rubric.

Attendance at all workshop sessions is mandatory and required to pass the course.

Expected academic background

Students should have passed at least two business courses to be eligible to apply.

Keywords

Coordinated online international learning, project based learning, sustainable development goals, sustainable business, marketing, intercultural sensitivity and communication.

AIU Academic Dishonesty Policy

Acts of Academic Dishonesty: In accord with AIU policies and good practices in higher education, acts of academic dishonesty such as plagiarism, cheating, forgery (on a paper, examination, test, or other assignment) will result in the failure of the course at a minimum. An act of academic dishonesty during the final examination or assignment in lieu of the final examination will result in failure of all courses registered in the relevant academic term. Cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs for relevant action.

Academic misconduct during the course is taken very seriously and will be dealt with strictly. Remember that your good reputation takes a lifetime to build, but it can be destroyed with one stupid act.

Please participate in this course to the fullest extent of your ability and with your highest levels of personal and professional integrity.

Class schedule