International Business Management

• Introduction, basic concepts and theories of digitalization
• Factors influencing markets and companies
• Digital application and implementation methods in a business context
• The relationship with traditional business administration functions
• The transformation of markets, industries and business models
• The impact on customers, competitors and market offerings
• Reflection on and adaptation of traditional business administration theories and models

• Basic AI concepts, definitions and historical development
• Core concepts and methods of AI
• Fields of application of AI in a business context
• Ethics, data protection and societal impacts
• AI and traditional business administration concepts
• Practical project work and transfer

• Ethics and morality in theory and practice
• Philosophical and intercultural principles of specific moral concepts and value systems
• Discussion of management approaches (e.g. principal-agent theory, shareholder-value approach, etc.) from an ethical perspective
• Triple bottom line (TBL) and the three dimensions of sustainability
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and corporate sustainability
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

• Classical and modern trade theories
• Agglomeration advantages and location choice
• Welfare effects of tariffs and trade quotas
• Globalization and global supply chains
• The sustainability of business models and the resilience of companies
• Corporate social responsibility and environmental social governance

• Project planning and organization
• Project collaboration and implementation
• Key performance indicators of project management
• Practical project: developing a concept or business plan

• Business functions (production, marketing, logistics, supply chain management)
• Market analyses and market developments
• Use of analytical tools (SWOT, benchmarking, cost and contribution-margin analysis)
• Development of strategies
• Controlling and key performance indicators

• Review and deepening of key principles of academic work (methodology, research logic, working with sources).
• Overview of current topics, research trends and practice-oriented questions in the field of International Business Management.
• Distinction: academic thesis vs. practical concepts/projects.
• Methods for finding and narrowing down a topic (from interests to a precise research question).
• Development of a theoretical basis and methodological approach for your own bachelor's thesis.

• The role of market research and its position within the marketing process
• Planning and conducting market research projects
• Designing and programming questionnaires
• Data collection and preparation
• Selected qualitative and quantitative analysis methods
• Interpretation and presentation of results
• Practical relevance and case studies

• Special features, rules and fundamentals of science and academic work
• Epistemological and methodological fundamentals of academic research
• Overview of quantitative (observation, survey, content analysis, experiment) and qualitative methods
• Appropriate use of AI when producing an academic paper
• Overview of databases and other options for finding literature sources

• Overview of the options for extracurricular activities and their potential for studies, career and personal development.
• Reflection on and transfer of theoretical knowledge into practical fields of action.
• Exchange and discussion of best practices from a variety of formats (e.g. specialist events, student initiatives, non-profit projects).
• Guidance on and feedback about individual learning and development paths throughout the course of study.

• Topic development and preparation in the form of a poster and a proposal
• Presentation and discussion of a poster in small groups
• Creation of a poster and a proposal

• Individual content-related support in developing, narrowing down and structuring the bachelor's thesis topic
• Arranging and holding supervision meetings as needed for reflecting on the progress of the work from a subject-specific and methodological perspective
• Discussion of and feedback on the state of the work, the academic approach and the formal requirements of the bachelor's thesis

The course content depends on the activities that students carry out at the host organization. Students select a placement position independently. In doing so, they can draw on the extensive range of placement listings provided by Kufstein University of Applied Sciences Tyrol. The program management reviews whether the placement activities are professionally aligned with the study content and the qualification profiles of the program. Following this, the program management checks whether the work placement corresponds to the educational objectives of the program and whether the student can be deployed in line with their qualification level. A detailed placement guide supports students in organizing their practical semester.
A minimum of 500 working hours in full-time employment must be completed.

• Deepening of academic working methods with regard to developing and implementing a research design and structuring the working process.
• Regular meetings on the current status and progress of the bachelor's thesis with the accompanying academic supervision
• Information on the board bachelor's examination

• The five axioms of communication, the four-sides model and the values-and-development square
• Theoretical introduction to presentation and argumentation techniques (in person and remote)
• Application of the topics discussed
• Feedback on and reflection about your own presentation performance (individually and in the group) and about the performance of fellow students

A1 – Beginner
Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences aimed at meeting concrete needs. Introduce yourself and others and ask other people questions about themselves – e.g. where they live, whom they know or what things they own – and respond to questions of this kind. Communicate in a simple way, provided the conversation partners speak slowly and clearly and are willing to help.

A2 – Basic knowledge
Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance (e.g. personal and family information, shopping, work, the immediate surroundings). Communicate in simple, routine situations that involve a simple and direct exchange of information about familiar and everyday matters. Describe, in simple terms, your own background and education, your immediate surroundings and matters related to immediate needs.

B1 – Advanced language use
Use clear standard language in academic and business contexts, communicate about familiar matters from work, school, leisure, etc., and apply relevant conversational skills. Express yourself simply and coherently on familiar topics and areas of personal interest. Report on experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals, and give brief reasons or explanations for plans and opinions.

B2 – Independent language use
Express yourself on the main content of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics in academic and business contexts, and take part in specialist discussions in your own field of specialization. Communicate so spontaneously and fluently that a normal conversation with native speakers is readily possible without major effort on either side. Express yourself clearly and in detail on a wide range of topics, explain a viewpoint on a current issue and give the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

C1 – Proficient language skills
Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and also grasp implicit meanings. Use the language effectively and flexibly in academic and business contexts and express yourself spontaneously and fluently without frequently and obviously having to search for words. Express yourself clearly, in a structured way and in detail on complex matters, using various means of text linkage appropriately.

C2 – Near-native proficiency
Effortless communication in all language situations. Summarize information from various written and spoken sources, reproducing reasons and explanations in a coherent presentation. Express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, and convey finer shades of meaning even in more complex matters.

• Understanding of roles, expectations and requirements placed on students.
• Getting to know and reflecting on personal goals, strengths and ways of working.
• Fundamentals of collaboration: appreciation, trust, communication.
• Models and methods for analyzing workload and resources (work-life balance)
• Mechanisms of gender roles, bias and structural disadvantage, along with practical approaches for the gender-inclusive design of working and learning environments
• Introduction to the concepts of team phases (Tuckman) and team roles (Belbin) as a basis for developing the cohort team.
• Development of joint initiatives and concrete measures to promote an inclusive team and cohort culture.

A1 – Beginner
Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences aimed at meeting concrete needs. Introduce yourself and others and ask other people questions about themselves – e.g. where they live, whom they know or what things they own – and respond to questions of this kind. Communicate in a simple way, provided the conversation partners speak slowly and clearly and are willing to help.

A2 – Basic knowledge
Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance (e.g. personal and family information, shopping, work, the immediate surroundings). Communicate in simple, routine situations that involve a simple and direct exchange of information about familiar and everyday matters. Describe, in simple terms, your own background and education, your immediate surroundings and matters related to immediate needs.

B1 – Advanced language use
Use clear standard language in academic and business contexts, communicate about familiar matters from work, school, leisure, etc., and apply relevant conversational skills. Express yourself simply and coherently on familiar topics and areas of personal interest. Report on experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals, and give brief reasons or explanations for plans and opinions.

B2 – Independent language use
Express yourself on the main content of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics in academic and business contexts, and take part in specialist discussions in your own field of specialization. Communicate so spontaneously and fluently that a normal conversation with native speakers is readily possible without major effort on either side. Express yourself clearly and in detail on a wide range of topics, explain a viewpoint on a current issue and give the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

C1 – Proficient language skills
Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and also grasp implicit meanings. Use the language effectively and flexibly in academic and business contexts and express yourself spontaneously and fluently without frequently and obviously having to search for words. Express yourself clearly, in a structured way and in detail on complex matters, using various means of text linkage appropriately.

C2 – Near-native proficiency
Effortless communication in all language situations. Summarize information from various written and spoken sources, reproducing reasons and explanations in a coherent presentation. Express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, and convey finer shades of meaning even in more complex matters.

A1 – Beginner
Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences aimed at meeting concrete needs. Introduce yourself and others and ask other people questions about themselves – e.g. where they live, whom they know or what things they own – and respond to questions of this kind. Communicate in a simple way, provided the conversation partners speak slowly and clearly and are willing to help.

A2 – Basic knowledge
Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance (e.g. personal and family information, shopping, work, the immediate surroundings). Communicate in simple, routine situations that involve a simple and direct exchange of information about familiar and everyday matters. Describe, in simple terms, your own background and education, your immediate surroundings and matters related to immediate needs.

B1 – Advanced language use
Use clear standard language in academic and business contexts, communicate about familiar matters from work, school, leisure, etc., and apply relevant conversational skills. Express yourself simply and coherently on familiar topics and areas of personal interest. Report on experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals, and give brief reasons or explanations for plans and opinions.

B2 – Independent language use
Express yourself on the main content of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics in academic and business contexts, and take part in specialist discussions in your own field of specialization. Communicate so spontaneously and fluently that a normal conversation with native speakers is readily possible without major effort on either side. Express yourself clearly and in detail on a wide range of topics, explain a viewpoint on a current issue and give the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

C1 – Proficient language skills
Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and also grasp implicit meanings. Use the language effectively and flexibly in academic and business contexts and express yourself spontaneously and fluently without frequently and obviously having to search for words. Express yourself clearly, in a structured way and in detail on complex matters, using various means of text linkage appropriately.

C2 – Near-native proficiency
Effortless communication in all language situations. Summarize information from various written and spoken sources, reproducing reasons and explanations in a coherent presentation. Express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, and convey finer shades of meaning even in more complex matters.

A1 – Beginner
Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences aimed at meeting concrete needs. Introduce yourself and others and ask other people questions about themselves – e.g. where they live, whom they know or what things they own – and respond to questions of this kind. Communicate in a simple way, provided the conversation partners speak slowly and clearly and are willing to help.

A2 – Basic knowledge
Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance (e.g. personal and family information, shopping, work, the immediate surroundings). Communicate in simple, routine situations that involve a simple and direct exchange of information about familiar and everyday matters. Describe, in simple terms, your own background and education, your immediate surroundings and matters related to immediate needs.

B1 – Advanced language use
Use clear standard language in academic and business contexts, communicate about familiar matters from work, school, leisure, etc., and apply relevant conversational skills. Express yourself simply and coherently on familiar topics and areas of personal interest. Report on experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes and goals, and give brief reasons or explanations for plans and opinions.

B2 – Independent language use
Express yourself on the main content of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics in academic and business contexts, and take part in specialist discussions in your own field of specialization. Communicate so spontaneously and fluently that a normal conversation with native speakers is readily possible without major effort on either side. Express yourself clearly and in detail on a wide range of topics, explain a viewpoint on a current issue and give the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

C1 – Proficient language skills
Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and also grasp implicit meanings. Use the language effectively and flexibly in academic and business contexts and express yourself spontaneously and fluently without frequently and obviously having to search for words. Express yourself clearly, in a structured way and in detail on complex matters, using various means of text linkage appropriately.

C2 – Near-native proficiency
Effortless communication in all language situations. Summarize information from various written and spoken sources, reproducing reasons and explanations in a coherent presentation. Express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, and convey finer shades of meaning even in more complex matters.

A precise description of the specific teaching and learning content for the two semesters abroad cannot and should not be defined, given the large number of partner universities and the range of elective options they offer within the economic sciences, so as to safeguard the flexibility available to students. The partner universities can be divided into three groups (industrialized countries outside Europe, European countries, and developing and emerging countries). The following gives an exemplary combination of courses, including the national credits, for one partner university.

Example:
• University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
• Strategic Management, OBS314, Credits 16
• Labor Economics and International Economics, EKN314, Credits 16
• Training and Development, TRG314, Credits 16
• Development, Underdevelopment and Poverty, SOS312, Credits 8
• Advanced Marketing Management, OBS324, Credits 16
• Financial Management, OBS364, Credits 16
• Development Economics and Public Finance, EKN324, Credits 16
• Governance and Political Transformation in Africa, PTW242, Credits 8

• Project management and problem-solving strategies
• Practice-relevant analysis and handling of business questions
• Interdisciplinary application of the knowledge acquired
• Teamwork and communication
• Practical relevance and cooperation with companies

• The concept of internationalization and globalization
• Internationalization as a process
• Theories and models of internationalization (Uppsala model, sprinkler model, etc.)
• Motives and drivers of internationalization
• Forms of market entry (indirect/direct export, licensing, joint ventures, wholly owned subsidiaries)
• Market selection, location choice and country risk analyses (economic, political, legal/institutional)
• Planning international expansion (timing of market entries, sequencing of internationalization steps, etc.)
• Differences between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and SMEs, in particular market-entry decisions under limited financial, human and organizational resources
• Challenges of internationalization and reverse internationalization

• Fundamentals and classification of general business administration
• Fundamentals of corporate management (organization, human resource management, etc.)
• Fundamentals of controlling and its cross-links to accounting and finance
• Selected business administration topics (innovation management, strategy development, etc.)

• Linear and quadratic functions
• Elementary financial mathematics
• Differential calculus
• Systems of linear equations
• Analysis of functions of two variables

• Fundamentals and classification of accounting
• Differentiation between financial and management accounting
• Tasks, functions and legal foundations of financial accounting (Austrian Commercial Code, UGB)
• Introduction to the bookkeeping obligation
• Fundamentals of bookkeeping and double-entry bookkeeping
• Generally accepted accounting principles (GoB)
• Structure and classification of the balance sheet and income statement under the UGB
• Introduction to cost accounting

• Economic growth, social inequality and environmental conditions
• Efficient allocation of scarce resources
• The market model and market equilibrium
• Strategic interaction and social dilemmas
• Elasticity, pricing and market structures
• Analysis of the welfare effects of government intervention

• Deepening of knowledge in financial accounting
• Tasks, functions and legal foundations of financial reporting under the UGB
• Components of the annual financial statements
• Structure and classification of the balance sheet under the UGB
• Recognition and measurement of selected balance-sheet items
• Overview of selected accounting regulations
• Selected balance-sheet ratios for corporate management
• Introduction to international accounting under IFRS
• Financial reporting as an information basis for controlling
• Introduction to controlling
• Fundamentals and instruments of controlling for corporate management

• Basic concepts of statistics and data analysis
• Univariate and multivariate data description
• Fundamentals of probability theory and theoretical distributions
• Estimation procedures and statistical tests
• Software such as MS Excel (in depth) and/or SPSS/R (on an illustrative basis)

• Interpretation of gross domestic product and the consumer price index
• Measurement of economic growth and inflation
• The remit of the central bank with regard to the money supply and interest-rate setting
• Aggregate demand and aggregate supply
• Systemic crises linked to the financial sector and environmental pollution

• Definition of the concepts of the marketing mix
• Differences between the B2B and B2C markets
• Market segmentation, positioning, USP
• Customer-centric market research
• Social media management
• Customer experience management
• Integrated marketing
• Customer journey mapping
• Touchpoint management

A precise description of the specific teaching and learning content for the two semesters abroad cannot and should not be defined, given the large number of partner universities and the range of elective options they offer within the economic sciences, so as to safeguard the flexibility available to students. The partner universities can be divided into three groups (industrialized countries outside Europe, European countries, and developing and emerging countries). The following gives an exemplary combination of courses, including the national credits, for one partner university.

Example:
• University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
• Strategic Management, OBS314, Credits 16
• Labor Economics and International Economics, EKN314, Credits 16
• Training and Development, TRG314, Credits 16
• Development, Underdevelopment and Poverty, SOS312, Credits 8
• Advanced Marketing Management, OBS324, Credits 16
• Financial Management, OBS364, Credits 16
• Development Economics and Public Finance, EKN324, Credits 16
• Governance and Political Transformation in Africa, PTW242, Credits 8

• Fundamentals of organizational psychology and an overview of key organizational theories
• Psychological perspectives on leadership, teamwork and conflict behavior
• Motivation, job satisfaction and individual performance in organizations
• The influence of organizational climate and organizational culture on behavior and collaboration
• Psychological aspects of change processes (e.g. resistance, acceptance, resilience)

• Introduction to the European legal system
• The relevance of law in international business transactions
• Fundamentals and principles of European business law
• The institutions of the EU and their significance for business law (ECJ, Commission, Council, Parliament)
• The single market: fundamental freedoms (free movement of goods, persons, services and capital)
• EU trade policy and international agreements
• Current topics in European law
• The effects of EU law on companies and business strategies

• Key characteristics of organizations (membership, purpose, hierarchy)
• Decisions and decision premises
• The three sides of organizations (the formal side, the informal side and the display side)
• Structural characteristics of organizations (programs, communication channels, personnel)
• The meta-structure matrix of organizations
• Organizational development and change
• Paradoxes and side effects

• The influence of interest-rate developments on companies and their financing and investment decisions
• Investment appraisal methods, in particular discounting methods such as net present value, calculation of the internal rate of return, etc.
• Types of bonds and how they are valued
• Fundamental knowledge of shares