Objective of the Degree Programme
The objective of the Degree Programme in International Business at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) is to provide both Finnish and international students with a high quality, practically orientated, academic education. The content of the programme has been designed to encourage the development of entrepreneurial skills within the fields of International Business. Upon completion of the required 210 credits within three and a half years, graduates are awarded a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).
Learning Environment
The learning environment at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences actively encourages the achievement of the stated objective by providing a:
* programme that is both responsive and flexible to the needs of students
* programme that is both challenging and supportive to students
* truly international atmosphere, achieved through the UAS’s extensive links with partner universities abroad
* co-operation with a network of local businesses
* professional, highly educated staff
Learning Strategies
Because of the nature of the programme, the learning strategies employed to achieve its objectives are varied, depending on the subject they may include: lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, workshops, case study, group work, business projects, study trips, research, video conferencing and lectures given by international lecturers.
Each study year has its own theme which describes the main focus of the courses.
1st year – Observer of Business Operations
The student
* has the basic information needed to understand the fundamental processes of business operations, their impact on society, working life and the internationalisation process.
* understands the basis of entrepreneurship and the principles of profit making. * gains knowledge of the theoretical models applied in business operations.
* has the necessary computer skills and methodological tools needed for data collection, analysis and reporting.
2nd year – Learner of International Business Operations
The student
* is able to outline and evaluate the key patterns and trends in international business activities
* is able to assess differences between cultures
* knows the strategies of international marketing
3rd year – Applicator of Knowledge
The student
* is able to apply knowledge in practice * learns to plan research and business activities
* deepens his/her knowledge of international business
4th year - Developer of Business Operations
The student
* is able to develop business activities by implementing the latest findings in the field
The universities of applied sciences together with representatives from working life have determined the skills, i.e. competences that a university of applied sciences graduate is expected to have.
Competences are comprehensive areas of knowledge and skill that describe the graduate’s level of qualification, achievement potential and their ability to accomplish the work associated with their selected profession. Competences are divided into degree-programme specific (professional) and generic competences. Generic competences are common to the degree programmes offered by all fields; however their special features and significance may vary in different professions and professional tasks. The generic competences create the foundations for working as a professional, cooperating and the ability to develop one’s own expertise.
The professional competences will be presented separately in the Study Guide before each degree programme.
Learning Competence
•is able to evaluate and develop one’s competence and learning methods
•is able to retrieve and analyze information and evaluate it critically
•is capable of taking responsibility for collaborative learning and sharing knowledge in teams
Ethical Competence
•is able to take responsibility for one’s own actions and for the consequences of these actions
•is able to work according to the ethical principles of the subject field
•is able to take other people into account
•is able to apply the principles of equality
•is able to apply the principles of sustainable development
•is able to wield influence in society using acquired skills and basing all activity on ethical values
Working Community Competence
•is able to operate as a member of a work community
•is able to operate in communicative and interactive situations in working life
•is able to utilize information and communications technology in one’s subject field
•knows the working life in one’s subject field and is able to create personal contacts in working life and to operate in professional networks
•is capable of decision making in unpredicted situations
•is able to apply the principles of organizational management and leadership in working life and has abilities for managerial tasks
•possesses entrepreneurial skills
Innovation Competence
•is able to conduct research, development and innovation projects applying the existing knowledge and methods of the field
•is able to work in projects
•is capable of creative problem solving and development of working methods
•is able to find customer-oriented, sustainable and profitable solutions
Internationalization Competence
•possesses communicative competence necessary for one's work and for professional development in the subject field
•is able to collaborate in a multicultural environment
•understands the effects of and opportunities for internationalization development in one's own field
International Business Awareness
•Ability to outline and evaluate the key patterns and trends in international business activity, the different approaches to internationalisation, the influence of increasing globalisation, international trade systems and financial relations and the role of several principal institutions (e.g. WTO, EU, IMF, World Bank) in international business.
•Ability to assess the impact of these trends of the international business environment on one’s own activities as well on business policy.
Intercultural Adaptability
•Ability to assess the differences between national, organisational and occupational cultures and to outline strategies for adapting to these differences in e.g. human resources management, marketing and intercultural communication.
•Identification of the relevant dimensions of cultures and development of self-awareness of one’s own cultural background.
•Ability to adapt one’s behaviour to the standards in other cultures and can maintain an international network essential to one’s tasks.
International Operations Management
•Ability to assess processes and make decisions involved in developing international, i.e. export/import operations, focussing on supply chain management and to explain the meaning and application of key logistical concepts.
International Marketing Management
•Ability to perform a country-analysis on a macro, industrial and micro level, to conduct an international market survey in order to assess foreign market opportunities and competition.
•Ability to formulate market-entry strategies, to draft an international marketing plan and to implement, co-ordinate and control the international marketing (and sales) programme and projects.
•Ability to create, develop and maintain profitable customer relationships.
International Strategic Management
•Ability to use conceptual and visionary skills to contribute to the development, evaluation and implementation of the internationalisation strategy of a company.
•Ability to pro-actively seek and commercially evaluate business opportunities for both new and existing products.
•Risk-taking ability in order to optimise business profit.
•Ability to write and defend a business plan for a (start-up) company.
•Ability to perform a variety of cost and revenue calculations and to transform these data into information needed for decision making and budgeting process.
•Ability to contribute to and evaluate key accounting summaries and investment opportunities.
Organisational Development
•Ability to research and analyse relevant international business problems, to propose policy goals and objectives and to prepare alternative solutions in order to optimise business and human resources processes in order to strengthen the synergy between strategic, structural and cultural aspects of the organisation.
