BMGT30420 Understanding the Host country

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module aims to develop the capabilities of BComm International students to reflect upon their year abroad professionally, academically, culturally and personally. Undertaking business studies in a different language is about more than just learning business subjects in a different language. It is also about understanding the characteristics of the local business environment, developing an awareness of the national and local cultural context, and understanding oneself and how one reacts and adapts when taken out of one’s `comfort zone'. In this module students will reflect upon their experiences drawing on prescribed readings. The module will cover topics such as: adjusting to living in a different cultural context; understanding the nature of culture and socio-cultural values and assumptions; understanding intercultural communication; and understanding the socio-economic and business context of the host country. The module will be delivered on-line through Brightspace. Assessment will involve a mix of individual guided `learning journal' reflections, on-line discussions, and a group project. The module will form part of the bundle of academic requirements on their ERASMUS year abroad.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module students will be able to:
• Understand and reflect on the stages of adjustment to living in a different country.
• Identify a set of relevant survival skills for dealing with situations that are out of one’s ‘comfort zone’.
• Explain the concept of culture and how it affects how individuals view the world.
• Identify and reflect on key socio-cultural values and assumptions of the host culture, and compare and contrast these with some of the socio-cultural values and assumptions of their own cultural framework.
• Demonstrate a high degree of self-awareness and sensitivity towards others of a different cultural background.
• Analyse some of the key business and socio-economic issues facing the host economy and compare and contrast these with the Irish economy.

Indicative Module Content:

Key Topics:
• the concept of culture and how it affects how individuals view the world
• examine and describe how culture works based on cross-cultural interaction in terms of social cognition, cultural norms and scripts, selective perception, stereotypical expectations, differential attributions, the cross-cultural interaction model and finally the nature of motivation across culture
• the culture shock and its impact on international assignments
• the key socio-cultural values and assumptions of the host culture and compare and contrast these with some of the socio-cultural values and assumptions of their own cultural framework
• the organization culture dimensions and management practice of the host country and compare and contrast these with the Irish organization culture.





Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

60
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be delivered online through Brightspace. A range of online resources will be provided, though the students will also be expected to source additional information via the UCD electronic library databases and their host University library. In addition, the lecturer will be available to answer individual student e-mails throughout the year abroad in relation to the module and will provide individual student feedback on some assessments. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

There are no specific learning requirements for this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Understanding the Host Country (SBUS30040)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Continuous Assessment Unspecified n/a Graded Yes

100

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The official final grade will be a Pass or Fail grade. You will get letter grades for all individual components. You will get individual feedback on most of your assignments. Please check Grading Canter for your grading results through the academic year. Please note that the grading structure of BMGT 30420 will be amended to allow recognition of the achievement of excellent outcomes. Module outcomes for 2015/2016 onwards will be returned as Distinction (equivalent to a grade of A- or higher (or ≥70%)), Pass (equivalent to a grade between D- to B+ or in the range [40%, 69%], or Fail (equivalent to a failure grade or mark less than 40%). You are then free to put this on your C.V. We would also suggest that if you aim to do the bare minimum to pass you may end up failing the module and will have to pick up an additional module in your final year. More importantly, based on the experience of last year’s students, if you put some effort into this module you will find it most stimulating and very rewarding – ask some of last year’s group if you don’t believe us!