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10 weeks Study Abroad  & 10 weeks International Business

*Limited availability  / ** Application was only possible via Study Abroad application (January 2024)

Brazil, Indonesia and India belong to the largest emerging markets in the world and Japan is a gateway to the large emerging markets in Asia. In the minor Doing Business in High Growth Markets in Japan, India, Indonesia or Brazil you will study in one of those countries at our partner universities during one block (approx. 10 weeks), followed by 3 courses related to International Business at the HU for the remainder of the semester. This is an excellent way to gain understanding of the local economy, the culture and the language. You will be enrolled in a tailor-made programme for the HU, but you will also be in contact with local students. 

This minor has been created for students who are interested in learning more about high growth markets and international business and who want to broaden their horizons outside Europe for a shorter period, rather than a whole semester. At the same time participation in this minor will certainly have a positive effect on your CV and will definitely increase your employability as many Dutch companies are interested in people with experience in these large, fast growing economies and experience with international collaboration.

All courses in Japan, India, Indonesia and Brazil, as well as the courses at the HU Institute for International Business Studies will be taught in English.  

Content

International business continues to grow. Companies often start in neighbouring countries, but through technology the world has become smaller and companies are looking for opportunities all over the globe. After completing this programme, you will be able to assist them in this process. As part of this minor you will actually study and live in countries that experience high economic growth, allowing for an immersive experience that will boost your knowledge, confidence and personal growth! During your time at our partner university abroad, you will study local business, culture and language, so that once you return, you know how business is done in these countries, and are able to reflect on your experiences and of course build upon them.  

In Term A you will study for about 10 weeks at one of our partner universities: Kyoto Sangyo University (Japan), Facamp, Faculdades de Campinas in Campinas near Sao Paulo (Brazil), Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) in Surabaya, Indonesia or Manipal University in Manipal (India). At this university you will follow courses about economy, culture, characteristics of doing business, and you will take an intensive introductory course in Japanese, Portuguese, Bahasa or Hindi. For completion of the courses (Language, Culture, Business) at our partner university you will get in total 15 ECTS. Since academic grading systems differ per country and per university, the grades from our partner universities will not be transferred into HU grades.

During your stay abroad you will also work on some research assignments in preparation of the courses of Term B. In Term B you will be back in Utrecht following 3 courses of 5 ECTS provided by our HU International Business programme. 

The first course is Foreign Market Entry, in which you will learn how to build internationalisation plans for companies aiming to export. This course Foreign Entry Strategy (FES) will give you practical insights, and tools and strategies to internationalize safely, in a strategic, sensible manner. 

In Business & Culture you will gain a deeper understanding of the influence of differences in culture on behaviour, values and communication in the respective countries India, Japan, Indonesia and Brazil and gain insights in current issues in these societies. An in-depth research project about behaviour, values and culture in one of the countries will be carried out, resulting in recommendations for people doing business over there. Next to that, you will explore your own cultural programming and be able to reflect on and illustrate your own global competence.

The third course is Business Project. During this module you will dive into organizational behavioural topics; Organizational Culture, HR, Leadership and Ethics. You will learn more about how companies can make their choices, deal with cultural differences and the challenges of the globalized 21st century. You will be asked to combine your experience abroad with the new obtained knowledge and will dive into challenging, interactive presentations and assignments in group and individual form.

We expect you to actively participate in class (both abroad and at HU); if your active presence in any course is lower than 80% this will influence credits/grades. A tailor-made program is not possible as you will study partially abroad.

Courses

You will study 10 weeks abroad – in India, Japan or Brazil – and 10 weeks at HU.

1. Doing Business in India, Indonesia, Japan or Brazil*
Cultural Studies - Abroad, 5 ECTS

2. Language: Hindi, Bahasa, Japanese or Portuguese
Language Acquisition - Abroad, 5 ECTS 

3. The Economy of India, Indonesia, Japan or Brazil*
Economics, International Relations - Abroad,  5 ECTS

*The course offer might slightly differ per partner

4. Foreign Entry Strategy (FES) 
Preparing a product launch abroad - HU 5 ETCS

5. Business Project: Organisational Behaviour
Organisational structure, Culture, HRM, Leadership and Business Ethics - HU, 5 ETCS. 

6. Business and Culture
Knowledge on behaviour, values and culture and be able to turn it into recommendations Intercultural personal development - HU, 5 ECTS. 

Practicalities and costs

Students will not have to pay the program fee, however administration costs may be charged for field trips and course material (Brazil, Indonesia around €200). 

Students will have to pay and book their own ticket for outbound and home-bound travel (but can of course plan to travel together with other HU participants).   

The host institution will assist students with visa applications (not needed for Brazil).

Housing can be easily arranged via the partner university, costs differ per destination. Accommodation costs shall be paid by the students themselves.  

Students are required to have a comprehensive health insurance policy which also provides emergency travel insurance.   

Students selected must have adequate funds for transportation to and from the host university and for subsistence during their stay. Miscellaneous fees such as key deposits, books, etc. will be paid directly by each student.  

There are no costs for books at the partner universities abroad.  

On the partner portal more information about the partner universities can be found. 

The student will be able to: 

• Show insight in macro-economic factors and policies in the respective countries;
• Develop an internationalisation plan using demarcated steps, applying relevant knowledge from various business disciplines;  
• Analyse group dynamics (knowledge) and work effectively in teams(skills) (collaborate with a variety of other people using elements of effective team dynamics to effectively and appropriately structure teamwork);
• Show an in-depth knowledge and understanding of behaviour, values and business culture in contemporary India, Indonesia, Japan and Brazil; 
• Mitigate the pitfalls of cultural differences in business and social contexts;  
• Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication in an intercultural setting;
• Illustrate his own cultural behaviour and his personal and professional intercultural development (global competence), based on concrete practical examples and theories.

An intake interview with the minor coordinator to assess your motivation, attitude, expectations and English language skills, is part of the admission process. As all courses are taught in English, you are expected to have attained English language skills at CEFR level B2. If you are unsure about your level, you can do a (free) written and spoken assessment.

Also you will be asked to consider a top 2 or 3 of preferred destinations in the intake interview. Acceptance for the minor depends on the available places at the partner university. Please note that limited spots are available because registration was already possible via the Study Abroad application (January 2024). For Indonesia there is 1 spot left, Japan is not available anymore.

Please contact eline.hofman@hu.nl to make an appointment for an intake interview or in case you have questions. Due to the deadlines of some partners, it’s recommendable to contact her at an early stage (February, March). An internship is not part of this minor, but you will be studying abroad for approximately 10 weeks. 

The following literature will be discussed during the minor. You will receive a definite reading list before the start of the minor.  

Foreign Entry Strategy: J. Leeman, Export Planning  

Business Project: Articles  

Business and Culture: Nunez, Nunez, Popma, Intercultural Sensitivity, (3rd edition, 2014)  

Teaching days abroad may vary. In Term B courses will be taught in 3 days (Mo – Thu, not on Friday).

With the exception of the first teaching period of the academic year (starting September), the lesson and test schedules are always posted on Mijn Rooster four weeks before the start of each teaching period. The schedule for the first teaching period of the academic year can be found on the site three weeks before the start. The most up-to-date schedule is always visible on Mijn Rooster. 

At HU, full-time education may be scheduled between 08:30 and 19:00. 

1. Doing business in India, Indonesia, Japan or Brazil 
Depending on the country, there will be an exam or a report to hand in

2. Language: Hindi, Bahasa, Japanese or Portuguese 
Depending on the country, there will be an exam or a report to hand in

3. Economy of India, Indonesia, Japan or Brazil 
Depending on the country, there will be an exam or a report to hand in

4. Foreign Entry Strategy (FES)
Report

5. Business Project: Organisational Behaviour 
Portfolio consisting of several assignments + presentation

6. Business and Culture 
Final assignment + presentation

Signed learning agreements can be uploaded up to and including 23 June 2023 in Osiris Registration, see the instructions on the learning agreement. Learning agreements that are received after 23 June will not be processed.

Please note: Learning Agreements will be considered in order of entry in Osiris Application (first come, first serve). A submitted learning agreement will not entitle you to a spot within a minor unless the following is the case: 
* the minor is not yet full: each minor has a maximum number of places per perio;
* the student has submitted the learning agreement in full (including his/her own details and signature and the stamp of the examination board);
* HU has signed and stamped the learning agreement.