Award Handbook BA (Hons) International Business Management

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Contents Welcome to the Business School ................................................................................................................................ 3

1. The Business School Team ........................................................................... 4

2. Educational Aims of the Programme ............................................................ 4

Educational Aims – International Business Management ............................................................................. 4 2.1.

Programme .................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

3. The Staffordshire Graduate .......................................................................... 5

Staffordshire Graduate Skills .................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.

Staffordshire Graduate - Attributes ........................................................................................................................ 6 3.2.

4. Programme Outcomes .................................................................................. 6

5. Programme Structure.................................................................................... 7

6. Award Structures .......................................................................................... 8

BA (Hons) International Business Management ............................................................................................... 8 6.1.

6.1.1. Level C (Certificate) ................................................................................... 8

6.1.2. Level I (Intermediate) ................................................................................. 8

6.1.3. Level H (Honours) ....................................................................................... 8

7. Learning Outcomes ....................................................................................... 9

8. Final Year Project ....................................................................................... 11

General Requirements and Expectations .......................................................................................................... 11 8.1.

Intellectual Demand .................................................................................................................................................. 11 8.2.

9. University Undergraduate Modular Framework ......................................... 12

Minimum Threshold Marks ..................................................................................................................................... 12 9.1.

10. Transfer within the Scheme ....................................................................... 12

Transfer between award titles within the Scheme ........................................................................................ 12 10.1.

Appendix – Glossary of Terms ........................................................................... 14

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Welcome to the Business School

Welcome to the School of Business of APIIT Sri Lanka. You are now part of the

Business Degree programme, and we are delighted that you are one of our students.

APIIT Lanka offers its degrees from Staffordshire University. Your course of study will

therefore be internationally recognized, up to date and appropriate, will be serviced by

well qualified staff, and will also be geared to preparing you for life and employment

after your undergraduate study.

While we provide you with a range of support services and access to well qualified staff

and excellent facilities, as one of our students we expect you to work diligently and set

high standards for yourself. Besides your faculty members the academic, administration

and technical staff that you come across as part of your studies will also be delighted to

advise and support you. Your part is to take your study seriously, to set appropriate time

aside for your study, and to make full use of lectures and other scheduled class contact. It

is important to us that you are successful and that you go on to be a good ambassador for

APIIT Lanka.

You are now part of the APIIT ‘family’, and we look forward to working with you to

help you achieve your dreams.

Very best wishes,

S C Kaluarachchi

Programme Leader

Business School

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1. The Business School Team

Name E-mail

Programme Leader S C Kaluarachchi kaluarachchi@apiit.lk

Module Leaders

Shurmara Fernando shurmara@apiit.lk

Nilusha Gallage nilusha@apiit.lk

Nazeefa Fawzer nazeefa@apiit.lk

Indeevari Dodantenna indeevari@apiit.lk

Vindhya Nettikumara vindhya@apiit.lk

2. Educational Aims of the Programme

Educational Aims – International Business Management 2.1.

Programme

The BA (Hons) International Business Management award builds upon the business

management curriculum by focusing on the globalisation of business. The award

examines management functions and the business environment from the dynamics and

complexities of an international perspective. This course will give the students a solid

understanding of the issues that globalisation brings to management practice. It’s ideal if

a student wants to develop a management career in a global organisation, or if a student

wants to work in an international environment.

Students will start by studying the same modules as other business students and then

specialise by taking modules with a specific international dimension. Students will

continue to study international topics, alongside general business modules throughout the

course. Students will gain the intercultural, analytical and personal skills needed within

the global business environments.

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3. The Staffordshire Graduate

The Staffordshire Graduate is our commitment, both to potential students and

prospective employers that everyone graduating from Staffordshire University will

possess more than academic knowledge. They'll have an understanding of the real world

and how they can have an impact on it.

As a graduate of Staffordshire University you'll have the key skills of

Employability, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship – and the ability to stand out in the

job market.

As a student you'll get a whole lot more from University than just an understanding

of your subject, you'll leave with a set of attributes that prospective employers not only

look for but will value and respect.

Staffordshire Graduate Skills 3.1.

‘The Three Es’ – Employability, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship – play an

important part in our courses. Key attributes of The Staffordshire Graduate, the skills

you will gain include:

Employability

We will help you develop the talents, knowledge and personal qualities

necessary to be more likely to gain employment, have the capacity to be effective in the

workplace and successful in your chosen career.

Enterprise

Employers value enterprising people. Being enterprising involves having the

skills and ability to identify opportunities and even find new solutions to old problems.

With enterprising skills, you will be creative in your approach and understand both risk-

taking and innovation.

Entrepreneurship

Being entrepreneurial often involves calling on enterprising skills to create

new businesses and ideas and bring them to market. Being entrepreneurial also involves

thinking and behaving in a way that enables you to come up with new methods of doing

things well - and having the foresight to change career direction.

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Staffordshire Graduate - Attributes 3.2.

Discipline Expert - Have an understanding of the forefront of knowledge in

your chosen field

Professional - Be prepared to be work-ready and employable, and understand

the importance of being enterprising and entrepreneurial

Global Citizen - Have an understanding of global issues – and their place in a

globalised economy

Communication & Teamwork- Be an effective communicator and presenter

and be able to interact appropriately and confidently with a range of colleagues as well as

develop the skills of independence of thought and, where appropriate, social interaction

through teamwork

Reflective & Critical - Have the ability to carry out inquiry-based learning

and critical analysis and be a problem solver and creator of opportunities

Life Long Learner Be technologically, digitally and information literate and

be able to apply Staffordshire Graduate attributes to a range of life experiences – to

facilitate life-long learning and life-long success

4. Programme Outcomes

Knowledge & Understanding: Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key areas

of BA (Hons) International Business Management and acquisition of coherent and

detailed knowledge from its forefront of the discipline.

Learning: Demonstrate an understanding of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of

knowledge.

Enquiry: Deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry and

initiate and carry out projects appropriate to BA (Hons) International Business

Management.

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Analysis:Describe and comment on current research and practice in BA (Hons)

International Business Management. and critically evaluate arguments, assumptions,

concepts and data (including incomplete data) to make judgments.

Problem Solving: Develop appropriate questions to achieve a solution, or identify a

range of possible solutions, to a problem and use decision making in complex and

unpredictable contexts.

Communication: Communicate and analyse information, ideas, problems and

solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Application: Apply the methods and techniques learned to review, consolidate

extend and develop BA (Hons) International Business Management solutions.

Reflection: Manage their own learning, exercise initiative, personal responsibility

and demonstrate the learning ability, qualities and transferable skills necessary for

employment or further study of a professional or equivalent nature.

Team Working

Manage and organise team working effectively.

5. Programme Structure

The International Business Management Award is offered on a full-time basis. The

course takes three years to reach BA (Hons) level. Intermediate awards of Certificate of

Higher Education and Diploma in Higher Education are available to you if you do not

wish to proceed beyond levels C (Certificate) and I (Intermediate) respectively, provided

you meet the qualification requirements. An ordinary degree is offered in the event of

difficulty in completing the Honours degree due to academic or other difficulties. The

ordinary degrees are unclassified. You need to be aware, however, that an ordinary

degree is a lower award than an Honours degree, although it is a higher award than a

Diploma of Higher Education. An ordinary degree will require the study of 60 level H

credits.

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6. Award Structures

BA (Hons) International Business Management 6.1.

6.1.1. Level C (Certificate)

Business

Skills 1

BLB10114-1

Legal Environment of

Business

BLL50000-1

Managing People and

Performance

BLB10109-1

Introduction to Business

Accounting

BSB00117-1

Business

Skills 2

BLB10115-1

Business Environment 1

BSB00118-1

Marketing Principles

BLB10153-1

General Option

(Prescribed Module

Personnel Management

in Practice)

BSB10248-1

6.1.2. Level I (Intermediate)

Critical Reasoning

BSB10177-2

Business Environment 2

BSB00119-2

Operations Management

BSB10192-2

Marketing in Practice

BLB10151-2

Managing Organisations

BSB10185-2

Learning Knowledge &

Effective Performance

BLB10050-2

International Business

BLB00005-2

General Option

(Prescribed Modules

Business Project

Management / Interactive

E-Marketing)

BSB10194-2/BLB10069-2

6.1.3. Level H (Honours)

Research Methods

BLB00015-3

Strategic Management

BLB10089-3

International HRM

BLB10025-3

Globalisation and

International Institutions

BLB00012-3

Risk Management

BSB00115-3

International Marketing

BSB10186-3

Project

BSB10183-3

General Option

(Prescribed Module

Employment Relations

and the management of

Conflict)

BLB10022-3

7. Learning Outcomes The following table gives the learning outcomes for levels one, two and three for the BA (Hons) International Business Management (Certificate,

Intermediate and Honours). On completion of each level of study, BA (Hons) International Business Management students will be able to:

Common

learning

outcome

headings

CERTIFICATE INTERMEDIATE HONOURS

Knowledge and

Understanding

Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the

underlying business functions,

concepts and principles associated with

the environments in which

organisations operate.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

the well-established principles and concepts

of international business management, and

their contemporary development with an

international dimension.

Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical

evaluation of key aspects of globalisation encountered by

international institutions. This will include strategic and risk

management concepts to inform decision making from an

international marketing and/or HRM perspective; and an

understanding and evaluation of the characteristics and

recognised attributes necessary in developing innovative

and/or enterprising business ideas.

Learning Begin to develop lines of argument and

suggested solutions to simple business

scenarios.

Develop and exercise higher order reasoning

and thinking abilities and apply these within

the context of topics critical to the

management and marketing of international

organisations.

Analyse and critically evaluate the key theories and

developing concepts that have a pervasive influence on the

practice of international business management, especially in

a global context.

Enquiry Present, evaluate, and interpret

qualitative and quantitative business

and financial data.

Develop knowledge of quantitative and

qualitative data. Demonstrate knowledge of

the main cognitive skills and techniques of

enquiry, retrieval and organisation of

information used by international business

organisations.

Justify appropriate research methods; deploy appropriate

techniques of enquiry and conduct an investigation into a

global or functional aspect of business with a clear

international focus, or alternatively, apply knowledge and

techniques in the creation of a business.

Analysis Interpret and evaluate basic concepts

and principles of business and

management.

Demonstrate the ability to analyse and

evaluate theoretical concepts from a range of

learning knowledge, operations management

and marketing perspectives within

international organisations.

Critically evaluate strategic and risk management theories

and concepts. Analyse and critically evaluate aspects of

global institutions or international business management in

the Project module, or critically assess business processes

and the level of business success.

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Problem

Solving

Demonstrate the ability to select and

apply relevant skills to use and justify

basic concepts and theories of business

and management for solving simulated

business problems.

Demonstrate the ability to use advanced

theories and concepts, and negotiation skills,

for solving real and simulated problems

relative to international business.

Demonstrate the ability to use, analyse and appraise different

perspectives and approaches to solving complex and

interrelated business problems set in an international context.

Communication Communicate clearly in written and

oral work, and develop an appropriate

use of business and employability

terminology.

Communicate ideas effectively. Develop and

communicate reasoned arguments and

informed judgements mainly, but not solely,

in written form.

Communicate and analyse information, ideas, problems, and

solutions using appropriate forms. Demonstrate the ability to

communicate complex issues coherently.

Application Display an ability to use knowledge,

understanding and skills gained

through the core modules from a

international business management and

employability perspective.

Apply business and management knowledge

and utilise a range of transferable skills in

relation to business scenarios set in different

international contexts.

Apply, with sound justification, a range of skills, problem

solving techniques and globalisation knowledge learned

appropriately to relevant international business and decision

making scenarios.

Reflection Begin to develop independent learning

and transferable skills and take some

responsibility for learning and personal

development planning.

Develop more responsibility for learning and

demonstrate independent learning and

reflective skills. Maintain and develop a

personal development plan.

Demonstrate a high level of competence in personal

development, employability, independent learning and study

skills.

8. Final Year Project As an undergraduate student you are required to complete an individual project

comprising of a critical literature review. The purpose of this module is to allow you to

extend and deepen your knowledge of an aspect of a business-related subject area

appropriate to your award reviewing a common problem faced and the tried and tested

solutions practiced. Students will apply a range of secondary research skills

covered in Research Methods. One of the most important tasks in research is a critical

review of literature relating to a certain research issue. For a student submitting work for

assessment, there is a secondary function of a critical literature review; it is a way of

claiming credit for what you have read, and showing that you understand the broad

shape of your subject. It should validate the research that you are doing, and show

how it fits the work being done more widely in your subject area. In order to show that you deserve credit for your reading, the literature review is far more than a book list or bibliography. It is a review - in other words; a critical assessment of relevant material in the public domain, or at least as much of it is appropriate to your level of study.

General Requirements and Expectations 8.1.

A project is a study of a problem, issue, opportunity, technique or procedure or some combination of these aspects. Your project will be presented in a form of a ‘critical literature review’.

You are responsible for choosing an area to study for your critical literature review, which should be of genuine interest to you. The chosen topic / subject area may be based around your academic / professional / personal interest, but must be of relevance to your award. As a huge amount of relevant literature may be available, reviewing the literature ought to follow a systematic process, characterized by perceptive reading and an attention to detail. Be selective in your review of the literature and ensure you have a well-defined / narrow focus. Select literature relating directly to your work, as it is impossible for you to review all texts. The critical literature review should contain a discussion and critical analysis of existing literature written in your chosen topic area.

Intellectual Demand 8.2.

The following are demanded by you:

Display a keen awareness of the literature in the chosen field.

Demonstrate to the reader how your writing fits into the established research and

scholarship in your chosen subject area.

Display alternative views, so that the reader realizes that there are other ways of

looking at your material, hence the ability to think laterally and review

contributions from both within and beyond the immediate field of study.

Justify why you are researching the precise topic chosen.

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9. University Undergraduate Modular Framework

All Awards at APIIT Lanka are regulated by a set of rules, common across all

Faculties in Staffordshire University. The rules are set out in the Staffordshire University

Undergraduate Modular Framework.

Minimum Threshold Marks 9.1.

In order to achieve a pass in an undergraduate module, a minimum of 30% is

required in each component of assessment (separate components being those identified in

the weighting between assessments shown in the module descriptor). If less than 30% is

achieved in a given component of assessment and an aggregate mark is achieved, for over

all assessments, of >= 40%, then the grade point given for the module is a 3. Where the

aggregated mark is less than 40%, then the grade point given for the module is that

normally associated with the given mark. Failure of a module due to failure to achieve >=

30% in each component of assessment may still be subject to compensation and

condonement. If less than 20% is achieved in any component, then the grade point given

for the module is restricted to 1.

10. Transfer within the Scheme

If you wish to transfer from one award to another within the Scheme or between

honours and ordinary degrees, then you should talk to your Program Leader for guidance

and he/she will take you through the process involved. The following section sets out the

award specific rules governing such transfers.

Transfer between award titles within the Scheme 10.1.

You may transfer between different awards within the Scheme provided that

the set of modules that you have passed match the award structure of the award onto

which you wish to transfer and provided that you are able to demonstrate that you will be

able to study at the level required by your new award. Transfers between awards are

subject to the approval of the Program Leader. Where your set of modules does not match

the requirements of your new award then your Program Leader will advise you which

modules you will be required to pass in order to qualify for the award to which you wish

to transfer. You may be allowed to transfer onto the new award before you have a

complete set of modules that map onto the new award structure. However, any such

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transfer is strictly on the condition that you should complete such modules as are

necessary in order to make your set of modules conform to the requirements of the award

structure of the award you have transferred onto.

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Appendix – Glossary of Terms

Module A unit of study with defined learning outcomes, curriculum and assessment. The

module definition is to be found in the module specification for the module. Each

module has a number of Credits, associated with it. A single module is worth 15

Credits and notionally requires 150 hours of learning activity to complete. This

learning activity being divided between time for class contact hours with staff,

independent study and assessment. The number of allocated learning hours rises in

proportion to the number of Credits attributed to a module at the rate of 10 hour per

credit. All modules are multiples of the basic unit of 15 Credits. So, for example, a

double module will be worth 30 Credits and will have a learning time of 300 hours.

Core module This is a module that you must take and pass to qualify for a given award title or range

of titles.

Specific Option This is a module chosen from a list of Award Specific Option modules. Award Option

modules are studied in conjunction with the core modules and form the prescribed set

of modules for a particular named award.

General option This is a slot where modules can be chosen from the full list of Business modules at

the relevant level offered at APIIT Lanka (See Error! Reference source not found.),

provided the modules have not already been taken and any module specific admission

requirements are met.

Curriculum The subject content of your studies. This may refer to the content of a single module or

to the content of a package of modules.

Grade ( Point ) On completion of the assessment of a module, you will be assigned a grade for that

module in the range 0 to 15. In considering your performance at the end of a Level,

grades will be averaged to produce a grade point average for the Level (weighted by

the size of the modules).

Level This indicates the academic level at which study is to be undertaken – Certificate level

(module level 1), Intermediate level (module level 2) and Honours level (module level

3). Normally it corresponds to one year of study for full-time students. However,

students may take modules from different levels at the same time, provided that they

meet the requirements for their award.

Learning Time The total time needed to complete the classes, private study and assessments for a

module.

Programme of

Study

This refers to the collection of core and option modules which make up your Award.

Pre-requisites A pre-requisite is defined as a specific requirement that you must meet before you can

take a module. In a similar way as entry to an Award was dependent on your achieving

A-Level passes for example, for some modules you will have to be ‘qualified’ to take

them. This will normally mean studying for a module at an earlier level in the Award.

Pre-requisites are specified to make sure that you have the knowledge and skills you

will need to be successful in your chosen modules.

Scheme The term Scheme is used to refer to a collection of awards that belong together

academically. Schemes define a structure of study which ensures coverage of

fundamental knowledge and skills within a particular academic area, while permitting

some specialisation within the area.