Minor content

Some say Napoleon lost the war against the Russians, because he was unable to supply his army far away in wintery and cold Russia. He did not bother about logistics. And undoubtedly the military background of logistic, also civil society nowadays appreciates the necessity of planning the flow of goods in order to cut costs, decrease throughput time and increase reliability. Especially today as we speak of truly global trade. Goods are shipped throughout the world and are built from parts coming from all over the world. For European companies with large incoming and outgoing flows of goods to and from the EU, it is important to organize these flows effectively and efficiently and according to customs law. When customs’ law is not met, the throughput time at the border will increase. And although inner boundaries within the EU have dissolved and we can move goods freely throughout the EU, customs still play an important role related to many goods being moved inside the EU. Furthermore sadly 9-11 happened. This act of terror changed current logistics. Worldwide security enhancing measures were taken. Very often customs play a part in supervising incoming flows of goods security related. And last the United Kingdom has left the EU. For the Netherlands this has huge consequences as the Netherlands distributes many goods into the EU, also into the UK. After the BREXIT, all these goods have to be declared for export in the EU and for import in the UK. Customs will then supervise these flows of goods.

So for companies involved in the international flow of goods, it has become extremely important to act compliantly. This means they carry out their processes which are related to this international flow of goods in line with customs law. If they fail to do so, customs supervision will increase the throughput time in the supply chain, making their throughput time also more unreliable: a nightmare for every logistic manager.

These challenges mentioned above illustrate the need for generalists, who not only are acquainted with logistics and global sourcing, but also in customs legislation and trade compliance. Therefore to put it shortly: the knowledge gained in this minor will yield a lot of opportunities on the labour market, whatever the branch or job will be.

The minor Customs Management in International Business has been based upon two following fundamental subjects:

1)         Customs procedures and regulations;

2)         Global Trade & information systems.

Students will be taught to think about the consequences of global sourcing, identifying the risks of global trade and take measurements to meet these risks to make sure the company is compliant.

This minor has the same structure as the master Customs and Supply Chain Compliance, offered by the Erasmus University in Rotterdam and has been developed in cooperation with the Erasmus University.

The minor has, unlike most minors, the unique combination and mix of learning and doing. A project will be carried out in a real company, so students can apply the theory in practice.

Goal

At the end of this minor students have broader knowledge about customs law and trade compliance and know how to apply this in practice.

Educational components

The work load for this minor 30 European Credits, duration is one semester. The minor is divided into two periods. During the first periode lectures are scheduled, the second focusses entirely on the execution of a project conducted in a project group of two students.

Enrolment in the education components

Students do not need to enrole for individual educational components in the minor.

Overview of tests and registration for tests

All educational components will be conducted with an individual written examination or assignment. The examinations will be scheduled during the examination period. Time of the examination will be presented in the timesheet.

The results of the project must be described in a report and its findings must be presented for the teachers and the company (if applicable). The findings will be discussed then. After that, the final project note will be given.

All examinations are scheduled twice. Hence all students have two possibilities to pass the examination. An examination is considered to be passed when the final score is at least a rounded 6.

The project is also passed when the final note is at least a rounded 6. If scored lower than a 6, it can be repaired (however after having it repaired, the final note can never be higher than a 6).

The final note for the minor will be calculated by the weighted average of all examinations, based upon the study load of each educational component.

Examination of the minor (see article 19, paragraph 3, general section TER)

For passing the minor, students must pass all exams and the project.

Validity period

This information remains valid for the duration of the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

Entry requirements minor

Students must have successfully completed their propaedeutic year from one of the studies that are suitable to follow the minor (see table below). If the propadeutic year is not (yet) completed, students have to get permission by the examination board to enrol in the minor.

Furthermore there are studies that will suit perfectly with this minor, based on content. These are (international) business related studies. Below you will find as an example a listing of possible Fontys studies which would match. Comparable studies from other universities would match as well.

Accessability

Not accessible for studies with no related business-related background (see also 10. Entry level background).

In terms of participation and completion of their minors, students will not be required to satisfy any other requirements than those as hereby determined in these Minor Regulations.

 

 

Minor regulation
The purpose of the minor regulation is to inform you about the subjects within the minor, how the testing is set up and when you have concluded the minor. Students can derive rights out of the text of the minor regulation.