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BMGT30330

Academic Year 2026/2027

Governing International Trade, Finance, Climate and the Internet (BMGT30330)

Subject:
Business Management
College:
Business
School:
Business
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Ms Mary Browne
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Regardless of business type, size or degree of internationalisation, strategic decisions and daily activities are impacted upon by the policies, treaties, regulations, norms and standards set by public, private and other forms of governing institutions/bodies. The globalization of commerce in goods and services through trade, foreign direct investment and outsourcing; facilitated by technological change and the liberalization of financial markets highlighted the challenges of single nation legal jurisdiction and political impartiality. Over several decades groups of nation states, business federations, private and public companies and non-governmental organizations have come together in a variety of forums to cooperate in the establishment and oversight of governance measures of varying legal form and none. Examples include
- multilateral, megaregional, regional and bilateral trade bodies - the World Trade Organisation, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the European Union, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, ASEAN and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA);
- international financial networks - the G groups (e.g. G20, G7) of finance ministers and central bank governors, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic, Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Basel Committee on Banking and Regulation and Supervisory Practices;
- environmental/climate bodies - United Nations Environment Programme, Environmental Protection Agencies; and
- bodies addressing internet governance - International Telecommunications Union (ITU); along with
- sector specific bodies including, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), credit rating agencies, the Institute of International Finance, the International Accounting Standards Board, the International Chamber of Commerce, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
The structures, power and membership of these organisations and forums varies considerably; influenced by the policy area, membership (governments, business stakeholders, experts etc.), geographical spread, politics, and key events.

Notably over the last few years significant developments in policy approaches and negotiating styles of the United States, the United Kingdom, China and India ,for example, are challenging the structures, principles and processes of the long established aforementioned public private and hybrid bodies of international governance at a time of heightened public awareness and stakeholder activity. Globalisation and multilateralism are subject to challenge as government statements and media headlines feature the details of tariffs and non tariff barriers to trade involving the United States, European Union, China, Russia, Asia and Africa; the emerging details the consequences of the the agreements reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom following Brexit, the stark findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2021-25), the lack of consensus on the development of economic policy and associated oversight and the place of regulation over the digital world with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence.

The debate around the future forms of institutional structures and types of governance across trade, finance, climate and the internet predated the Covid 19 pandemic, but it is proving central to the management of the future economy and associated business activity nationally and globally. Most recently the war in Ukraine, Gaza, Middle East along with energy crisis and uncertain economic times have further intensified the debate about the future of international governance. This module goes behind the headlines by reviewing the evolution of the public, private and hybrid governing institutions and debating their place at a time of critical change when the western world is being challenged from within and by north, south and east. For business stakeholders this period of uncertainty challenges established business models, practices, supply chains designed around globalisation and questions the suitability of strategic plans based on compliance with existing instruments of governance including treaties, standards, regulations and principles.

The module examines the governing institutions and the instruments of governance along with considering their future through four key topic areas
a. trade,
b. finance,
c. climate change and
d. the internet.







About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completing this module, participants will be expected to be able to

1. identify and describe key institutions and organisations responsible for the governance of various aspects of the international business environment with particular reference to policy areas of trade, finance, climate change and the internet;
2. distinguish and categorise the different types of governing institutions, organisations and forums e.g in respect to their structures, membership (public, private, hybrid), remit, instruments of governance, decision making, power, relationships and geographical spread using methods of mapping governance and creating frameworks of analysis;
3. critically select from recommended and self researched primary, academic and complementary sources to support mapping of institutions based on their respective roles and instruments as applied to trade, finance, climate change and the internet;
4. research, prepare and write an academic critique assessing the interplay between institutional and business stakeholders in the governance of the international business environment in a specific policy area or interrelated areas (trade, finance, climate change or the internet) while the world experiences developmental changes involving economic, political, social and commercial relationships; and
5. trace and critically justify the research process, selection among academic, primary and complementary sources associated with the assignment and study undertaken as part of the modules assessment.
6. Bring together a range of information and critical analysis in a learning/knowledge portfolio in preparation for the module's final examination.

Indicative Module Content:

The module examines the Governing of the International Business Environment in respect to trade, finance, climate and the internet by

i) reviewing the literature on the development of the international 'governance' (eg. types of institutions and associated treaties, regulations, standards, regulations, best practice) and the current academic frameworks to capture complexity and accommodate the the understanding of change;

ii). identifying the different types of governing organisations, forums and networks (public, private and hybrid) noting their structures, membership, remits, decision making, powers and geographical spread;

iii). reviewing the structure and evolution of these key organisations and forums (public, private and hybrid) associated with the governance of a. trade, b. finance, c. climate change and d. the internet along with the forms of governance in light of challenging events; and

iv). analysing business stakeholders (companies, federations, networks etc.) involvement with governing bodies and the processes of governance (public, private and hybrid), from the nation state level through regional/megaregional to multilateral, in the design and implementation of the instruments of governance (treaties, principles, regulations and standards, good practice).

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Competent

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 4

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 3
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

60
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Lectures

25
Total

145

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is delivered through blended learning - combining

i). Overview presentations and sources released in a staged approach over the semester through Brightspace, reflecting the module's parts addressing I. the key features of governance, types of institutions, academic mapping and frameworks of analysis, research paths and instruments into academic, primary and complementary sources, along with an outline of assessment, II. The institutions and bodies governing trade, finance, climate and the internet and III. meeting the challenges of geopolitics, Covid 19 pandemic, , climate change, disrupted business models, Artificial Intelligence, through the design of governance institutions and instruments and the relationship with business stakeholders;

ii). face to face sessions in the Quinn School as timetabled - these sessions will draw on the overview presentations and sources/materials to develop illustrations and discussions which will facilitate progressive critical engagement with the subject matter and independent research in preparation for the assignments.

The module is organised through Brightspace and the timetabled sessions in the Quinn School.

Details of all of the learning materials are provided through Brightspace for the UCD Library Online Resources (e-books and e-journals), open access academic resources (as books or ejournals) and specified web links for primary (the key materials from institutional and business stakeholders) resources and complementary resources (media style resources incorporating video, audio and text styles).

The design of the module and assessment, with the range of the recommended resources seeks to encourage and develop students' independent learning skills to critically research and select from an array of primary and interdisciplinary academic sources, and complementary topical sources to meet the modules learning outcomes through this engagement and assignment/assessement

AI Permitted for Limited Support

Students may use AI tools for limited support in this module for research purposes. Students remain fully responsible for the accuracy and reliability of their work. Any use of AI must be cited appropriately in keeping with the UCD ethically requirements. The module research assignment requires clear identification of the types of resources drawn upon distinguishing between primary, academic and complementary sources.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Formative consultations with the lecturer on preparation of the research assignment - (via scrapbook of ideas with small group, or individual meeting (in person or via Zoom). Week 6, Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
5
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Research report utilising analytical frameworks identifying the roles of stakeholders in the governance of a selected module policy area (trade, finance, climate change, the internet). Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
35
 No
Exam (In-person): From the selection of questions/tasks 3 must be attempted. These questions/tasks reflect the research skills, knowledge of governance and business interaction progressively developed during the module End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
60
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Research Assignment Details of subject and title choices, guidelines and grading criteria for the research assignment will be provided through lectures and Brightspace. Students are invited to consult with the module co-ordinator/teacher/lecturer to discuss the specific assignment guidelines, choice of subject and/or title and general outline for the assignment. In respect to the research assignment there is a formative consultation with the lecturer/teacher via the preparation of an individual scrapbook of ideas by each student and a meeting with the lecturer in small self selected groups or individually (in person or via Zoom) to be arranged during weeks 6 and 7. Research Assignment Feedback Collective and individual feedback will be provided. Examination Preparation Prior to the final in person examination (Examination Centre) there will be the opportunity for preparatory discussions with the lecturer/teacher via appointment (in person and online). Final In-Person Examination (Examination Centre) Feedback will be provided on request via the Script viewing process

Introductory Reading

Weiss, T. and Wilkinson, R. (2023) (Eds.) International Organisation and Global Governance (3rd Edition. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.

This edited volume is available as an eBook through the UCD Library online facilities - enter the book title into OneSearch and click on Full Text Online. This volume provides an overview on governance along with an general introduction to governance respect to international trade, finance, climate change and the internet.

Additional up dated academic reading material, primary sources and multimedia resources will be introduced in the lecture sessions in order to ensure that the significant developments in governance and associated institutions, capturing the roles of states, businesses and societal stakeholders are critically considered in this time of significant development and change across the four module topic areas. Details of the references and access points are provided via the lecture slides and dedicated sections on Brightspace.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 11:00 - 12:50
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