BA Chinese and International Business

Year 4

(Award available for year: Bachelor of Arts)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme, students should have provided evidence of being able to:

- communicate fluently and appropriately, maintaining a high degree of grammatical accuracy, in Chinese, with native or other competent speakers
- demonstrate sophisticated receptive and productive language skills, and show some practice in mediation language skills (such as translation, interpreting, and presentation in the target language), in a variety of contexts
- demonstrate a consolidated and extended knowledge and understanding of complex structures and registers of Chinese
- demonstrate an ability to evaluate critically one or more aspects of the literatures, cultures, linguistic contexts, history, politics, social and economic structures of the societies of China
- demonstrate global and cultural awareness and a particular understanding of Chinese speaking cultures and societies, that will normally have been significantly enhanced by a period of residence in China
- demonstrate cultural sensitivity and an awareness of and ability to engage with and respond to the ethical issues raised by the programme of study
- demonstrate a familiarity with the main concepts, information, practical competencies and techniques which are standard features of International Business and Chinese and effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of media, including undertaking extended pieces of work or projects, demonstrating independent research skills, making appropriate use of primary sources and showing knowledge of different aspects of the disciplines, and of recent research and scholarship in the field
- work autonomously within a structured environment
- describe and comment on particular aspects of recent research and/or scholarship, appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of knowledge in the subject and make appropriate use of scholarly reviews and primary sources
- deploy accurately standard techniques of analysis and enquiry within the subject
- conform to professional boundaries and norms where applicable
- understand and demonstrate coherent and detailed knowledge of international business studies and professional competencies, some of which will be informed by recent research/scholarship in the discipline;
- demonstrate the understanding of more extensive knowledge in specialist areas of international business;
- accurately and effectively deploy standard techniques of analysis and enquiry within the discipline;
- demonstrate a conceptual understanding which enables the development and sustaining of an argument;
- describe and comment on particular aspects of recent research and/or scholarship;
- appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of knowledge in international business studies;
- apply their knowledge and understanding in order to initiate and carry out a significant piece of work;
- collect and analyse quantitative and/or qualitative data derived from a range of sources, making use of scholarly reviews and primary sources;
- show a capacity for critical thinking and an ability to evaluate the value and relevance of data within the framework provided by available theory and practice;
- demonstrate strategic thinking through an understanding of strategic management concepts, theories and research, and -ow these inform decision-taking in an international context;
- analyse and criticise contemporary theories on how companies design, implement and manage international expansion strategies;
- understand how cross-cultural issues impact upon the management of business functions across national borders;
- understand the growth and spread of multinational enterprises in the context of the changing structure and organisation of the world economy, and their impact on host and home country economies.

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire, as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- qualities and transferable skills related to the subject area(s) studied, valuable for employment, eg. be able to gather and critically evaluate information from a variety of paper, audio-visual and electronic sources in English and Chinese, be able to use IT effectively both as a means of communication and as an aid to learning;
- the ability to appreciate their strengths and weaknesses as learners;
- skills necessary for the communication of information;
- skills necessary for the exercising of personal responsibility and decision making;

- the key transferable skills and professionalism appropriate for managers;
- the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility;
- information synthesis skills;
- the deployment of decision making skills in complex and unpredictable situations;
- the communication of information, ideas, problems and solutions in a variety of ways to a variety of audiences;
- the ability to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature;
- the ability to undertake a research project in a chosen area relating to international business, making appropriate choices concerning research method and approach; and
- lifelong learning skills such as time-management, group working, communication, planning, commercial awareness, creative problem solving, and leadership.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:

- demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects of the discipline;
- work that draws on a wide variety of material;
- the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion and produce a reasoned argument on a topic confirmed in consultation with tutor(s);
- demonstrating a broad knowledge base;
- evidence of an ability to conduct independent, in depth enquiry within the discipline;
- work that is typically both evaluative and analytical.