Post-Graduate Diploma in International Business (E-learning)

To navigate and sail through the complex, tricky waters that form today’s global marketplace, managers need to be armed with a sound understanding of the fundamentals of international business management. With this in mind, the Post-Graduate Diploma in International Business (PGDIB) (E-learning) provides students with an in-depth training in key management disciplines, including Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations and Strategy. Using a variety of resources and teaching methodologies, practical management skills are developed through active learning, group projects and simulations.

Target Audience

• Aspiring global business executives looking to secure employment opportunities in transnational corporations
• Practising global business executives seeking to increase their employability through the acquisition of improved cross-cultural communication skills
• HR executives and managers working in companies that are expanding internationally

Entry Requirements

• Any undergraduate degree (taught in the English medium) from a recognised university
• English as 1st language or at tertiary level / IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 550 / BULATS C1 Level or equivalent
• Work experience, while optional, will be an added advantage

Duration

8 months (full-time) or 16 months (part-time)

Term 1

The Global Business Environment

Conducting business across national boundaries presents a unique set of challenges. Establishing and managing any business venture is challenging, and diverse cultures, laws, languages, and currencies only serve to add to the complexity. This module provides a broad introduction to the international business environment in its various dimensions. The key concepts and theories are covered within the context of contemporary issues and case studies, and the class discussions that take place around these cases.

Managing People Globally

This module seeks to provide a conceptual framework for the analysis of organisational structures and HR practices within global companies. Managing people in an increasingly dynamic and complex global marketplace presents many challenges and opportunities. It is important, therefore, to be familiar with the research and practice on recruiting, developing, and retaining the right talent to build a high performing, culturally diverse, and competitive global workforce.

International Marketing

In this module, students debate the challenges facing companies wishing to successfully market products across different countries and regions. The module looks at product development, positioning, promotion and pricing decisions as one would in a traditional marketing course, but also focuses on new Internet-based marketing distribution channels, and cross-cultural communication required in an international business environment.

Global Operations Management

In a challenging and complex global marketplace, managing business through functional silos can create a number of difficulties. In addition to providing an overview of the concepts and decision processes in effectively managing the flow of goods, services, and information in a global environment, students are exposed to the strategies and thinking skills required for designing products, the effective use of the firm’s resources, and the design of information systems that integrate the entire supply chain.

Term 2

Accounting from a Global Perspective

As business operations and financial markets have become increasingly globalised, the study of international accounting has taken on greater importance. While there has been steady progress towards the harmonisation of business reporting, there is still significant variance in practice, which presents a number of challenges for global corporations and those interested in their financial reports including, among others, financial controllers, accountants, investment analysts, auditors, regulators and citizens’ groups concerned with the impact of globalisation.

Principles of Global Finance

As businesses become more integrated with the global economy, effective decision-making requires an in-depth knowledge of global financial markets. There is a need to understand the role of global financial institutions, as well as the importance of foreign exchange markets, international bonds and equities. The module will also focus on funding strategies, foreign investment and production decisions, the associated issues of global risk management and policy challenges.

Strategic Management in a Global Context

As globalisation serves to intensify the competitive environment in which firms operate, it is imperative that firms develop offensive and defensive strategies to counter competitive threats. This module examines the foundations of strategic decision-making in the global business environment, and focuses on the requisite skills to deal with the distinctive problems that arise when firms compete across national borders.

Research Methods in International Business

In an information-rich international business environment, managers are frequently called upon to make informed decisions using the available data. In this module, students learn how to select and employ appropriate research methodologies in order to analyse, interpret and make inferences about this data to assist with business decision making.