Course content

Every module in International Business focuses on Multiple Value Creation. This means looking beyond profit and exploring how businesses can create value for society, the environment and everyone involved. You will work on real business challenges, from developing sustainable marketing campaigns to making ethical financial decisions. In this way, you learn how to turn business knowledge into responsible choices and practical solutions.

As an international business professional, you will work with people from different cultures and backgrounds. By learning to understand different perspectives and ways of thinking, you develop the skills to collaborate across borders and make well-informed decisions in an international business environment.

What will you learn?

The International Business bachelor’s programme gives you a broad understanding of how businesses operate. You combine theory with real-life practice across four key areas:

• Marketing and Sales – Learn how businesses understand their customers, develop markets and drive growth.
• Finance and Accounting – Understand the financial information behind business decisions.
• Operations and Supply Chain Management – Learn how organisations manage processes, products and supply chains.
• People and Organisation – Explore how people work together in organisations and learn to collaborate across different cultures.

Throughout the four-year programme, you build knowledge and practical experience in all four areas. You also learn how they connect, so you can look at business challenges from different perspectives and make well-informed decisions.

At Saxion, you work on real-life business challenges and have the freedom to shape parts of your programme around your interests and strengths. This helps you develop the knowledge, practical skills and international perspective you need for a career in international business.

At the School of Finance and International Business, we see ourselves as “Investors in Meaningful Business”. Businesses increasingly need to consider the value they create for society, the environment and the people involved, alongside their financial results.

That is why the programme prepares you to work across cultures, respond to changes in the international business environment and contribute to sustainable and responsible business decisions. You learn how to combine different business disciplines with intercultural awareness, preparing you to work in internationally operating organisations.

THE FIRST YEAR

Build your foundation in international business and work on real business challenges from day one.

In your first year, you explore the foundations of international business and management. You learn about Marketing and Sales, Financial Accounting, Cultures, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and People and Organisation. This gives you a broad understanding of how different parts of a business work together.

From the start, you apply what you learn to real company projects. Each quarter, you work with classmates on a new business challenge and take on roles you may encounter in your future career, such as junior marketer or supply chain officer.

Alongside your business knowledge, you develop professional skills that help you collaborate, communicate and make well-informed decisions in an international business environment.

The second year

Deepen your business knowledge and start shaping your own direction.

In your second year, you build on the foundations from year one. You work on more complex business challenges and learn how different areas of a business connect. The projects become larger, you take on more responsibility and you explore how organisations respond to change, innovation and international developments.

You also start shaping your own study path by choosing electives that match your interests. At the same time, you take on professional roles such as change manager and business developer. Through real-life cases, you learn to analyse business challenges, develop solutions and make well-informed decisions.

Quarter 1 and 2
You focus on business process excellence, HRM and change management, sustainability and intercultural business relationships. During the Business Challenge, you take on the role of change manager.

Quarter 3 and 4
You explore innovation, technology and data-driven decision-making. During the Business Challenge, you work as a business developer.

Electives

Choose from electives such as:

• Asia’s Business Ecosystem: Insights from China and India
• Continuous Improvement
• Entrepreneurship 1 and 2
• Spanish Language and Cultures 1 and 2
• Accounting Information Systems and Risk Management
• E-Commerce, Branding and Positioning

By the end of your second year, you have deepened your business knowledge, gained experience in different professional roles and explored which areas of international business best match your interests.

Year 2 quarter 3	Year 2 quarter 4
Entrepreneurship 1 (5EC)	Asia’s Business Ecosystem: Insights from China & India (5EC)
Spanish Language and Cultures 1 (5EC)	Continuous Improvement (5EC)
Accounting Information Systems & Risk Management (5EC)	Entrepreneurship 2 (5EC)
	Spanish Language and Cultures 2 (5EC)
	E-Commerce, Branding and Positioning (5EC)

The third year

Put your knowledge into practice and build your international experience.

In your third year, you apply what you have learned in a professional environment. During a full-semester internship, you work within a company and gain experience with day-to-day business practice. This gives you the opportunity to develop your skills, build your professional network and explore which roles suit you.

You also take part in the Smart Solutions Semester. During this interdisciplinary project, you work with students from other programmes on complex, real-life challenges. By combining different perspectives, you learn how to approach business issues in a professional environment. During this semester, you also follow the module Investor in Meaningful International Business.

After your second year, you spend at least one semester abroad. You can do this during your internship, a minor or your final assignment. You can also choose to complete more than one of these parts abroad.

Your third year includes:

• an international or Dutch internship
• the Smart Solutions Semester
• Investor in Meaningful International Business

By the end of the year, you have gained practical business experience, worked across disciplines and further developed your international profile.

In our International Business (IB) programme, after year 2, a minimum of one semester must be spent abroad. Whether during your internship, minor, or graduation. You also have the option to undertake all three experiences abroad if you so choose.

THE FOURTH YEAR

Specialise, gain more international experience and complete your studies.

In your final year, you have the freedom to further shape your study path. You can follow a minor or study abroad at one of Saxion’s 85 partner universities. This gives you the opportunity to specialise in an area that interests you, experience another culture and expand your international network.

You complete the programme with an individual final assignment at an internationally oriented organisation. You work on a real business challenge and apply the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout the programme.

Your fourth year includes:

• a minor or study abroad
• an individual final assignment at an internationally oriented organisation

After four years, you graduate with broad business knowledge, practical experience and an international perspective. You have learned how to work on real business challenges, collaborate across cultures and apply your knowledge in a professional environment.