International Business Communication – (M.A.)

Contents

Programme

Corporate strategy - 6 ECs

Research on corporate strategy in Nijmegen emphasises two sets of issues. First, what determines the scope of a firm: why are some companies highly specialised, while others embrace a wide range of products, markets and activities? Second, what are the links between scope and performance? Clearly, specialised firms will tend to be smaller than diversified firms, but what is the impact on profitability and shareholder returns?

To answer these questions, you will use various analytical frameworks that will help you identify the sources of corporate advantage. By focusing on what makes some corporate strategies strong and viable, while others remain weak and vulnerable, you will develop the ability to analyse the impact of change on opportunities for sustaining corporate advantage. In case studies and lecture/discussion sessions you will learn pragmatic, action-oriented general management skills as well as the theory of strategy, economics, finance, marketing, organisation theory and international business.

Data collection and analysis in intercultural contexts - 5 ECs

You will learn qualitative and quantitative research methods and how to analyse different types of data. As a consequence, you will be able to correctly interpret and report results (in accordance with APA conventions).

The course focuses on setting up, carrying out, analysing and reporting different types of communication research (experiments, corpus research and surveys) in a multi-cultural context. For example, how to select and instruct participants with different cultural backgrounds, make stimulus materials, operationalise constructs and adapt them to take cultural differences into account. You will work on data sets in the literature as well as data sets on those that you have gathered yourself. A basic knowledge of statistics is required.

Global Corporate Communication - 6 ECs

This course focuses on topical issues in multinationals' global corporate communication. By studying academic articles as well as reports of recent topics in business practice, you will learn about this fascinating field. You will be able to apply your theoretical and practical insights in a real-life case involving communication in a multinational company.

Corporate communication involves orchestrating internal and external communication instruments to create a favourable image among the company's most important stakeholders (Van Riel & Fombrun, 2007). Due to the internationalisation of markets and businesses, corporate communication is now global. Multinational companies need to take different business cultures and language backgrounds into account when designing their communication. Culture and language affect international communication on three levels: on the management level (e.g. when CEOs communicate with internal or external audiences), on the organisational level (e.g. when a company communicates about its CSR policy) and on the marketing level (e.g. when products are promoted in advertisements).

Research seminar: Mother tongue or Lingua Franca? - 10 ECs

One of the main consequences of economic globalization is that multinational organisations have to adopt a common corporate language (a lingua franca). The choice is usually English. However, multinationals realise that this does not always lead to the most effective and efficient communication; non-native speakers of English often feel uncomfortable since they cannot communicate as accurately or smoothly as in their own native tongue. The purpose of this course is to develop an instrument which will enable organisations to measure the effectiveness of a corporate language.

Stakeholder management (hands-on practice) - 8 ECs

Over the past two decades, economic globalisation and rapid developments in ICT have increased the scope of profit and nonprofit organisations worldwide. No longer constrained by time, geography or distance, their operations have taken on an international scale and as a result, they have had to rethink both their objectives and communication strategies.

'Stakeholder' is the term used to describe all those with a vested interest in a particular endeavor. They may include customers, suppliers, shareholders, government departments, ministries, bosses, peers, associates, other departments, boards of directors, and special interest groups. Sometimes, the interests of one or more of these parties conflict.

Because stakeholders (e.g. customers, business partners, employees and suppliers) have different cultural backgrounds, effective international communication has become crucial for achieving the organisation's strategic objectives. You take part in group internships involving 3 to 4 students working for half a year in a company with a communication or diversity problem. As naive outsiders you will be able to ask more challenging questions than those working in the company.

Elective course - 5 ECs

You may choose any other course at a Master's level within the Faculty of Arts (provided you have permission from the relevant exam board). If you wish to follow a course offered by another faculty or university, please contact the IBC coordinator for approval.

Thesis (Compulsory) - 20 ECs

On the basis of an approved research proposal you will carry out Master's thesis research in the field of international business communication under the guidance of a supervisor at the university. Your research will lead to an academic report (your Master's thesis), which should describe a theory-led, empirical research project focusing on a genuine practical problem.

Funding details

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University Nijmegen. Please check which scholarship is applicable in your case.

Radboud Scholarship Programme

Radboud University Nijmegen has its own Radboud Scholarship Programme. This programme offers a selected number of talented prospective non-EEA students the opportunity to receive a scholarship to pursue an English-taught Master´s degree programme at Radboud University Nijmegen.

Erasmus Mundus SAPIENT

The Erasmus Mundus programme (2009-2013) is an EU cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education. SAPIENT provides all South African students the possibility to study at one of the top universities of the International Research Universities Network (IRUN).

Programmes under the auspices of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

Netherlands Fellowship Programme: This Fellowship Programme offers scholarships for selected NFP programmes including selected programmes of Radboud University Nijmegen.

Dutch study grant system: EU/EEA students who wish to take a degree programme in the Netherlands can sometimes be eligible for a Dutch student grant.

STUNED: The Stuned programme is applicable to postgraduate students from Indonesia.

National scholarships

Please also check if there are scholarships or grants available in your own country for studying in the Netherlands. Below we have listed a number of scholarships that are available from specific countries.

Fulbright scholarships: Fulbright Scholarships are available for American graduate students and researchers.

Ford Foundation: Sometimes private foundations may be willing to fund your study period abroad. The international Fellowship Programme from the Ford Foundation is one example.

Soros Foundations: Grants, scholarships and fellowships are available for students and researchers coming from 23 countries, especially in Central and Eastern Europe.

HEC: The Higher Education Commission was set up by the Government of Pakistan and has created a scholarship programme for students from Pakistan.

Colfuturo: This programme is available for students from Colombia.

Nuffic Grantfinder

Please check also the grantfinder of the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC). This grantfinder enables you to find scholarships applicable to students from particular countries.