2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5268M European Business

15 creditsClass Size: 150

Module manager: Prof. Jeremy Clegg
Email: ljc@lubs.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module takes international business principles and theory and applies them to regional economic integration (REI). This module is original in the sense that there is no other module taught anywhere in the world that takes this approach. The special case of the European Union is chosen as the module leader is a Jean Monnet chairholder. The European Union is the foremost example of regional economic integration in the world, and so therefore the principles at work here have particular power and application worldwide. The module covers how to analyse the challenges facing the EU and its member states, and issues for EU and non-EU businesses (welfare, growth, sovereignty, etc). It covers the purpose and background of the European Union; basic chronology of EU development; setting the scene of Europe in the world economy; current challenges facing the EU and its member states; issues for EU and non-EU businesses. The module sets out the analytical tools of regional integration theory and international business theory, to understand the founding principles of regional integration, and types of REI, and how these relate to the grand challenges for integration identified in the module. Knowledge covers: founding principles of regional integration; classification of REI types; detailed EU chronology; the Single European Market; the European business environment.

Objectives

The objective of this module is to give students knowledge of the theoretical principles of regional economic integration and its interaction with international business theory. Using the context of the European Union (EU) the module aims to enable students to learn how key developments in the European economy can be analysed using the dual lenses of integration and international business theory. The module then aims to demonstrate how the EU is relevant to business, through focusing on the implications of these developments for the European business strategy of firms (both European and foreign-owned), and for the international business strategy of European firms. The module also aims to convey knowledge and understanding of the place of the EU in the world system of international business.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will be able to critically assess:
- the European Union’s (EU) business dimension
- the motives for regional economic integration (REI) and its processes as applied to the EU and other parts of the world
- how REI theory interacts with International Business theory and how policy associated with REI interacts with private sector firms

Skills outcomes
On completion of this module students will be able to:
Transferable
- Identify and apply advanced and academic skills for employability, including those relevant to research, verbal presentation and group interactions

Subject Specific
- Apply critical thinking and a critical awareness of different views on the European Union
- Articulate, evaluate and critically interpret the controversies raised by the European Union and regional integration

Syllabus

Indicative content
(1) Introduction to European Business; (2) integrating Europe; (3) Firm Strategies in an Integrated Europe; (4) Business in the Wider Europe; (5) the EU and the Rise of the Emerging Economies (6) Europe in the Global Economy; (7) EU Industrial Policies; (8) FDI and the EU: Sector and Country Analyses; (9) European Monetary Issues; (10) European Integration – Industry Analyses; (11) Revision Lecture

The module includes special (additional) lectures by prominent external speakers. Those under discussion include a talk by the leader of the Conservative MEPs, and a talk by a former director in the (British) Government Economic Service on the subject of the EU. A senior serving European Commission Official and former advisor to President Barroso, may also be approached.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Tutorial	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			120.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

- Case study preparation 40 hours
- Background reading 30 hours
- Individual research and assignment preparation 50 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Formative feedback will be provided to students in weekly class discussions and as they work through practical exercises to test their understanding of module material.
- These exercises will be in the form of specially-written case studies.
- Students can also obtain feedback on a one-to-one basis from the module leader and class tutor outside the class setting.

To assist with exam preparation the class will be given the opportunity to attempt practice essays of an exam type from a specimen exam paper.

Students will be encouraged to discuss the answers to these practice questions with the module leader and class tutor in the final lecture of the module.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Case Study	Tutorial based assessment	15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		15.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	3 hr 00 mins	85.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		85.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/03/2015

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