Spring semester - Course list Global Business Exchange programme

Explore the role of strategical and operational marketing in today’s world of global business. Get an insight into those all-important concepts and techniques, which enable today’s managers to identify and capitalise on opportunities that arise. Find out how its benefits are increasingly sought-after by the public sector and other, not-for profit organisations.

Writing a bachelor thesis is challenging and this course will give you a head start. Settle on a topic you want to write about, develop a clear thesis statement, look up different types of sources and evaluate them, plan your work, structure your narrative, and fine tune your writing. The outcome is a well thought-through proposal for your thesis.

To succeed in the corporate world, you need a good understanding of the legislation that impacts on your business activities. Learn how to operate within a legal framework as you discover how to create legal ads, comply with competition rules, protect your intellectual property, and select the right contract for clients and contracting parties. You will also explore options for international mergers and acquisitions and learn how to process client data in line with privacy laws.

Before a client or consumer can benefit from purchased goods and services, a supply chain must run its course. Get an insight into a product’s  manufacturing, transportation far and wide, packing, storage, selection, and distribution to a shop – often just in time before it is sold and delivered. Join us on this fascinating journey along the supply chain.

Calculations and projections are important tools in business management. Learn how to work with statistics, market data and mathematical functions to develop simulations and forecasts in this hands-on seminar.

Delve into the inner workings of international trade. Develop your knowledge of documents in international trade, compare and evaluate payments and financing techniques such as documentary credit arrangements, and learn how to apply Incoterms ® to international trade transactions.

The advancement of technology and AI, climate crisis and Covid-19 have created an unpredictable and uncertain environment across business industries and society. Our VUCA world calls for a new approach to drive innovation and change, for organisations to remain competitive and relevant.

This course will help you gain insights about the importance of innovation today. We will focus on the following areas:

• Learning about change management and organisational change theories, tools and techniques
• Exploring the stages of the change process and the impact of change on the business environment
• Understanding the principles of Lean Change Management
• Analysing change in context: reasons of failure of no longer existing companies and companies being threatened now
• Discussing industry disruptions, megatrends, cross-industry evolutions and innovation principles & themes that companies need to stay relevant in the current environment and ensure the ongoing success of change
• Introducing Innovation Strategy frameworks for long-term relevance and success
• Applying and evaluating Innovation Strategy tools to set up a portfolio of innovative ideas for different business cases

Delve into the international corporate financial management. Explore the international financial markets and the sources for international companies to finance their business. Detect the financial risks and how to develop risk exposure management. Use this knowledge to perform investment analysis, working capital and cash management. Develop insight in international payment techniques and trade finance products.

This is where geography meets strategy. Explore the impact of geopolitics on globalized business and supply chains. What interests (e.a. natural resources) determine global politics? What are the current and  future geopolitical challenges of an international supply chain and what consequences will they have on global business?

Understanding and facing these challenges is key to supply chain flows.

Learn how to measure potential factors such as political instability, societal polarisation and environmental concerns.

This course will help you to develop your skills in Dutch, the language spoken in the Netherlands and in Flanders. The learning objective is to reach level A1 of the CEFR for languages: understand and use familiar everyday basic phrases, introduce yourself and others, interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. However, students who are fluent in German tend to learn Dutch very fast and can reach an A2 level in one semester and will have the chance to do so. You’ll learn about the culture of Antwerp and Belgium, you’ll  recognize grammatical structures (A1) and use them (A2), you’ll develop your vocabulary, listening and speaking skills and you can choose between a more interactive and fun approach or a more classical approach focusing on grammar and vocabulary.