Department of Government & International Studies

EURO 3160

European Economic and Business Life:

travailler en contexte international

Prerequisites:EURO 3110 Contemporary European Societies II: questions d’actualitéand

FREN 3111 Language in Contextor equivalent

Duration/Frequency:
3 hours/week / Credits/Units:
3
Language of Tuition:
French / Number of Contact Hours:
42 (3 X 14 weeks)
Individual Study Time Required:
42 hours(3 X 14 weeks) / Total Assumed Work Load:
6 hours/week

Course Description/Aims and Objectives:

This is mainly a project-based course in which students will use Web resources to set up a simulated professional situation involving representatives from the French-speaking European countries and their international partners (from Hong Kong and/or the People’s Republic of China).

Students are expected to develop their knowledge about the business world and its environment and to acquire a “know-how” tool set in an occupational context. The course will also enhance the students’ communication and interpersonal skills in an international professional setting, with a special focus on the French-language work environment. These multi-faceted competencies will build a savoir d’action(“how to act”) transferable for successful transitions to work, and ultimately, careers within global companies/organizations.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) / Competencies:

Knowledge

By the end of this course, students will be able to

  1. Relate the concept of work culture to different environments;
  2. Define the main working mechanisms of a company and its socio-economic environment; and
  3. Appraise the key issues in trade relations between Hong Kong/China and Europe (mainly France, Belgium and/or Switzerland).

Skills

By the end of this course, students will be able to

  1. Identify the needs of European (mainly French-speaking) companies and organizations established in Hong Kong or willing to expand their trade business/activities in the Special Administrative Regions and/or the PRC;
  2. Workeffectively individually as well as part of a (French-speaking) team;
  3. Completeefficiently common oral and written tasks in various French-speaking professional situations; and
  4. Construct their own key skills set in terms of research, planning, communication, organization in order to answer the needs of a given company.

Attitudes

By the end of this course, students will be able to

  1. Develop thereceptivity to different ethical professional values and expectations;
  2. Employ adequate communication strategies by appraising the logic of professional contacts/relationship in their future professional occupation(s); and
  3. Use a self-reflective and initiative-driven approach to devising, developing and delivering project work in French.

Course Content:

  1. The company

  1. Its organization and operation: structure, legal form, functions, management, evolution, etc.

  1. The company and its people: hierarchy, recruitment, salaries, training, legislation, etc.

  1. The company and its partners

  1. The company and its customers: product launch, market research, advertising…

  1. Sale (offer, order, delivery, billing), claims, distribution, export, etc..

  1. The company and its suppliers (information on suppliers, supplier selection, etc.)

  1. The company and carriers: modes of transport, characteristics of transport modes, transport costs, etc.

  1. The company and bank: the bank account, banking, credit, etc.

  1. The company and the socio-economic environment

  1. The economic growth, inflation, unemployment, foreign trade, etc. in Hong Kong

  1. European companies in Hong Kong

  1. The business and professional communication

  1. Oral communication (face to face, with a group, by telephone)

  1. Written communication (notes, messages, letters…)

Teaching & Learning Activities (TLAs):

TLAs / ILOs addressed
1. Seminars
The seminars will enhance the students’ communication and interpersonal skills in an international professional setting, with a special focus on the French-language work environment. These multi-faceted competencies will build a savoir d’action (“how to act”) transferable for successful transitions to work, and ultimately, careers within global companies/organizations. / 1 to 10
2. Discussions/ Presentations
Discussions will be held to construct students’ own key skills set in terms of research, planning, communication, organization in order to answer the needs of a given company. / 4 to 9

Assessment Methods (AMs):

AMs / Weighting / ILOs addressed / Description of Assessment Tasks
Individual oral presentations / 30% / 1 to 10 / Individual oral presentations on one of the topics indicated or chosen.
Project-based tasks in written or oral forms / 70% / 1 to 10 / Students will demonstrate a sense of receptivity to different ethical professional values and expectations and construct their own key skills set in terms of research, planning, communication, organization in order to answer the needs of a given company

There will be no final written examination.

Selected Links:

Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris

Apprendreavecles données de l’INSEE

La vidéothèque numérique de l’enseignement supérieur

Agence pour la Creation d’Entreprises

Ministère de l’Economie, de l’Industrie et de l’Emploi and

French Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong:

French Trade Commission, Consulate General of France, Hong Kong & Macau

Français des Affaires

Comment vont les affaires?

Business and trade relations between France/Belgium/Switzerland and Hong Kong:

Walloon Export Agency

Les Echos

Capital

L’entreprise

Prepared by: Dr. Beatrice Cabau / September 2010

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