Course syllabus - Nordic-Baltic Perspectives on Marketing

Objectives

This is a unique course in marketing (Bachelor's-level in Business Studies) which is a joint course in the NordBiz network of universities. The aim of the course is to introduce a Nordic perspective into marketing and to give the students the possibility to work in a multicultural environment and create their own Nordic business network of future business people during the course. More specific objectives for the students are:
* to give knowledge of differences and similarities between marketing in the Nordic and Baltic countries
* to understand the growth and development of marketing in the Nordic countries
* to get knowledge about the growth and development of marketing in the Nordic and Baltic states
* to get knowledge about service and relationship marketing
* to provide knowledge of decision processes of industrial marketing from a network point of view
* to provide knowledge of how to handle and evaluate industrial relations, stability and changes in networks

Learning outcomes

After this course the student should be able to:
* demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and handle complexity when evaluating different alternatives concerning a company's strategy in certain context;
* demonstrate an understanding and awareness about culture and communication between people from different backgrounds
* demonstrate an integrated knowledge of marketing in The Nordic and Baltic countries from a cross culture perspective
* apply theories and models from the course literature - and other collected and scrutinized material - to an organization in order to describe and analyze their strategy
* formulate judgments with incomplete data concerning strategy;
* communicate and present (both orally and in writing) his/her conclusions and underpinnings (on the above mentioned learning outcomes), to specialist and non-specialist international audiences clearly and unambiguously;
* peer-review the work of fellow students as well as argue for and discuss about his/her own contribution in each learning activity, and;
* study in a manner that is largely self-directed and autonomous, which means that the student is expected to take responsibility for his/her own studies, and also indirectly for other students' learning and development by taking an active part in different course activities.

Course content

The course is different from other marketing courses in three aspects:
1. It has a Nordic perspective on marketing theory in contrast to the dominant Anglo-American perspective.
2. It deals explicitly with cultural and other differences between the Baltic/Nordic countries.
3. It brings together students from six countries for firsthand experience of working together with students from the other countries.
At the beginning of the course students prepare different tasks as a group work at their home university (an industry report on a chosen (yearly changing) field of industry; a cultural assignment; and literature studies).
This is the data used during the intensive course at the institution responsible for organizing the course. The duration of the Intensive Course is eight days. During these eight days students are working in multicultural groups preparing a Nordic report about the area of industry that is yearly chosen to be examined.

Tuition

Lectures, seminars, presentations and tutoring. In this course there is an extensive use of Internet - as a place to communicate and discuss between students and teachers. During one intensive week 30 students and 6 teachers from 6 different countries/universities meet for seminars, presentations, company visits, guest lectures.

Specific requirements

Business Administration 60 credits with progression. At least 45 credits must be completed by course start. At least 30 credits must be on level G1N, including at least 5 credits of management accounting, and at least 15 credits on level G1F.

Examination

Literature task (GRU3), 1.5 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)
Cultural report (GRU4), 1.5 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)
Country report (GRU5), 1.5 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)
Multi cultural report (GRU6), 3 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

Grades are also given according to the ECTS grading system.
This course replaces the former course with the same title, FÖA301.