Bachelor's Degree Programme in International Business
Key learning outcomes
The focus of the international business bachelor's degree programme is to prepare graduates for getting employed and succeeding in the global marketplace. The key learning outcomes are skills in critical and analytical understanding, applied business skills, communication skills, intercultural collaboration skills, ethical conduct, and skills for personal career development.
Education content and professional growth and know-how
The professional growth of students is led by a tutoring process which starts at the very beginning of the studies and continues until graduation. In this process students make their personal learning plans and discuss with their tutors about their development needs based on their career targets and make their choices in the programme accordingly. During the first year, they develop their knowledge and understanding regarding the fundamentals of business. They develop their academic skills in the second year during which they participate in their academic tracks and then continue to write their theses. During the third year students gain international exposure through an exchange semester at a partner institution (30 ECTS). During the third and fourth years they also develop their personal business skills (20 ECTS) by choosing their specialization and complementary skills (15 ECTS) via electives. The development of working life and entrepreneurial skills (40 ECTS), information management and digital learning (29 ECTS), and intercultural communication and management skills (12 ECTS) take place on an ongoing basis throughout the studies.
Flexible studies
Most of the courses are implemented by blending in-class activities with learning in virtual environments. There is also a good number of fully virtual courses. Students can choose their electives from bachelor level courses of other degree programmes or from CampusOnline, Edufutura, Yritystehdas, and Future Factory. Prior learning from other bachelor level studies can be recognized through approval by academic tutors and course instructors. Further information is available in the Study Guide.
Working life oriented learning
Working life cooperation is an ongoing practice in the programme's curriculum. Corporate interaction is achieved through guest lecturing by industry professionals and alumni, in the Working Life and Entrepreneurial Skills module (40 ECTS) through company-assigned project studies and practical training at companies, as well as company-assigned theses (15 ECTS). Working life cooperation improves the quality of learning through enhanced student engagement and increases the likelihood of student employability.
At JAMK University of Applied Sciences, the operating model for working life oriented and student-driven learning is called JAMK Future Factory®. It combines working life operators, students, JAMK experts and working life oriented LAB environments and other learning environments. In addition to multidisciplinary and working life oriented project studies, it offers students a chance to develop their future working life skills, career paths and networks.
Studification is also among the options offered by working life oriented learning. It refers to combining work, project work, Future Factory activities, etc. with studies. Studification involves students drafting a studification plan and documenting it in the manner agreed with the teacher. Further information is available in the Study Guide.
Career opportunities and employment
We focus on global perspectives pertaining to the operation of a modern company, including internationalisation, marketing, strategic management, financial and legal issues. Our students will learn to recognise and leverage new business opportunities as means to increasing profitability. The career opportunities may include: Marketing Director, Secretary General, Export Assistant, CEO, HR Coordinator, Export Assistant, Mobile Product Manager, Area Sales Manager, B2B Marketing Executive, Trader, Sales Consultant, Business Area Manager, Lead Planner, Account Manager, Acquisition Marketing Manager, Product Manager, Store Manager, Business and Financial Analyst and Brand Manager.
Qualifications
There are no specific degree-related or statutory qualification requirements in the field.
Further studies
Students may, after graduation and a working career of at least two years, apply for studies leading up to a master’s degree. Studies can also be continued by applying for a university master’s degree programme or similar programmes. After a bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences, it is also possible to continue studies at higher education institutes abroad on master’s degree level programmes. A university of applied sciences also provides opportunities for continuing education in the form of specialisation studies, open studies, an online study portal (CampusOnline) and working life based continuing education.
A student who completes a master’s degree at a university of applied sciences may apply to continue on to postgraduate studies in science or arts at universities (Act 558/2009, Section 37).
Education planning
JAMK School of Business' Professional Advisory Board and International Academic Board share their input in the curricula planning process. School's Adacemic Board is also one vital stakeholder in this process. The results of alumni surveys and student feedback are considered in the planning and implementation of the curriculum.
Contact Information
Hirsilä Matti
Head of Department, Global Competence
+358405215637
firstname.lastname@jamk.fi