Curricula

Objectives

This course introduces essential cross-cultural management aspects including inter- and cross-cultural communication, conflict management, and managing across cultures.

IBCOM Communication Skills: You have developed intercultural communication awareness and competences needed for working in international contexts.

IBCOL Intercultural Collaboration Skills: You are able to develop and demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution skills in international contexts.

IBETH Ethical Conduct: You embrace ethical principles in decision-making and practice, as exampled by the Principles for Responsible Management Education (UNPRME) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

IBPER Skills for Personal Career Development. You are able to reflect upon your experiences to deepen personal and professional learning, and to embrace those learnings to support your career development.

IBCRI Critical Thinking: You are able to critically review and analyse information available from academic and professional business sources. You are able to observe, interpret and describe social phenomena associated with human interactions, conflict management and business management in international contexts.

Content

The course utilises appropriate texts and media, and may use simulations, group learning, case studies, project-based activities, and individual practice to develop knowledge and expertise pertaining to intercultural communication, conflict management and cross-cultural management.

Learning materials and recommended literature

The learning materials feature primarily peer-reviewed published journal articles.

Teaching methods

This in-class course emphasizes experiential, interactive, and student-centered pedagogy. This means that students will actively engage with theory and practice. This combination of content and activity involves a blend of teaching and learning methods, ranging from lectures and in-class activities to group and project work.

Practical training and working life connections

During this course, international experts in the field may be invited to present. In addition, the project work on a global virtual team supports the course content. By engaging the diversity in the classroom and on the global virtual team, students can gain information and experience, as well as early networking, that could open opportunity for internship and employment prospects.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

The assessment in this course are based on written tasks related to the X-Culture project (the global virtual team) and mastering the basics of cross-cultural influences and intercultural interaction.

International connections

Particularly during the global virtual team project, students have the opportunity to begin developing a network of individuals who can provide international connections. Moreover, the course content also provides information that can facilitate internships, professional training, and exchanges that further develop a student's growing network of international contacts.

Alternative completion methods

You have the right to apply for recognition of your studies if you have prior learning (e.g. university studies completed elsewhere) that can be accredited toward the degree you are currently completing. The recognition of prior learning is possible. More precise info: JAMK Degree Regulations, section 17.

Student workload

Students typically meet once per week in a three hour block typically in the classroom. One credit corresponds to an average of 27 hours of work, which means that the total workload of five credits is approximately 135 hours, suggesting that the bulk of the course work takes place outside the classroom. Much of the out-of-class will relate to the the X-Culture team project.

Content scheduling

By design, students are not provided with a syllabus for the course; the course proceeds with information only a week or two in advance. Among other skills this perspective provides is tolerance for ambiguity, an essential intercultural skill in which people must operate in environments and contexts where not everything is apparent. But the X-Culture project dates will be scheduled prior to the start of the course and the content of the course revolves around those firm dates.

Further information for students

Individual tasks typically are graded proportionately based on a total of 100 points for the class. Each assignment (as well as portion of the points awarded for engaged participation and attendance) is allotted specific points (accompanying the assignment description in Moodle). At the end of the course, the points accumulated by each student will be translated into the university's scale of 0-5. In this point system, students must earn 45 points to pass the course with a 1; students earning 85 points or more will be awarded a 5.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Due to the active nature of the course, your attendance is essential and your attendance is sufficient. Your participation in group-work and project-based components and outcomes are minimally sufficient.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

3. You have contributed fairly and with good effort in all course activities, including classroom and individual and group activities 4. You have done everything included above for a grade of 3, and you have also made clear contributions and helped to ensure that group activities are completed on time and with good quality. Competences targeted: IBCRI: Skills in Critical and Analytical Understanding; IBCOM: Communication Skills; IBCOL: Intercultural Collaboration Skills; IBETH: Ethical Conduct; IBPER: Skills for Personal Career Development.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

You have fulfilled all of the criteria above for a grade of 4, and you have produced excellent results, individually and in your group work projects. Your project results and reporting meet the requirements of JAMK's project reporting guidelines.

Prerequisites

None