International Business Economics
The corner stones of the courses in Venlo are Internationalisation, the concept of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility in Globalisation. To offer all-round Bachelor degrees we also include Communication, Social and Intercultural Competences Information Technology and Professional Orientation in all our courses.
Not only our courses but also our appearance is different. If you are looking for crammed college halls, stuffy classrooms or terribly dry theory, we have to disappoint you. Our teaching staff orientates itself on all fields of modern didactical principles. We focus less on studying separate subjects, but far more on achieving professional competences which form the centre of our study and learning processes by groupwork and independent problem solving. We advocate Competence-based Learning, Life-long Learning, Knowledge Management and above all a profound intercultural education.
Our education profile for your future
International Business Economics contains all professional skills and experience areas, which are of a great business value in the international economical process. Students learn the theory, but also how to apply it. Simultaneously, they learn how to improve their skills continuously. The assignments contain for example drawing up a balance sheet and economical tests in a national and international context, enterprise estimation, strategic planning or the managing of a department with an economical and ethnical responsibility.
To be able to learn and experience these competences as realistic and as practical as possible, every semester will cover a specific feature of your later profession. The students get to know one or more typical professional functions, which they will be able to apply in their future job.
During the first year they function as an assistant controller and a responsible advisor. Also during the main phase of the study course do these positions belong to the assignment areas, additionally they will come across functions as costs and accounting, tax and due diligence manager. They learn to become a consultant or analyst and they are responsible for risk management, organisation and internal communication.
Key topics
The main points of IBE are business administration, finance, organisation, budgeting, tax, controlling, calculation, investment analysis, logistics, management techniques and much more. Informatics and data management will complete your economical knowledge. Parallel to these topics you will receive a clear insight in basics of marketing and you will be exposed to relevant soft skills.
Structure
All our courses have a duration of four years. Each year is made up of two semesters. The first course year is called Foundation Year or Propaedeutic Phase. After the first year you enter the two-year Main Phase. In the second course year this Main Phase consists of the acquisition of professional competences in the Young Enterprise Project. International groups of students start their own mini-businesses. You choose a product or a service and run your real-life business until the end of the academic year. The lingua franca is English.
During the Work Placement in the third course year all students go to companies for a 5-month traineeship. After this you return to ‘the Learning Community’ for feedback and additional subjects.
During the last year of the course you will write your Graduation Assignment. Once again this takes place within the framework of a 5-month traineeship in a company.
Both projects are evaluated on the basis of a written report and a performance assessment. During the projects you receive individual supervision by one of our teachers.
Competences
Fontys Internationale Hogeschool Economie orientates itself on all fields of modern didactical principles. We focus less on studying of separate subjects, but far more on achieving professional competences, which form the centre of our study and learning processes. The assignments contain for example drawing up a balance sheet and economical tests in a national and international context, enterprise estimation, strategic planning or the managing of a department with an economical and ethnical responsibility. To be able to learn and experience these competences as realistic and as practical as possible, every semester will cover a specific feature of your later profession. The students get to know one or more typical professional functions, which they will be able to apply in their future job.
Study methods and Media Centre
Due to the innovative study methods we use in Venlo our courses do not solely depend on traditional lectures. Therefore it is important that you do not only attend lectures and seminars, but that you also bring the necessary motivation to further train and develop yourself independently. At Fontys Internationale Hogeschool Economie you study independently, but at the same time you also work on assignments in groups. You prepare for presentations, you conduct a literature study using books and the internet and learn how to use computer systems and software applications. The Media Centre offers you all facilities needed to perform your tasks: the Service Desk, multi-media rooms, project and computer rooms (with fax, E-mail, worldwide web and telephone), our library, but also “silent” rooms to work and study individually.
Counselling and guiding
Similar to the American tutoring system our teachers are available for counselling and guidance throughout your studies. A study career supervisor will advise you. In a personal development plan, you will together chart out which competences (knowledge, attitudes and skills required for your future profession) you will work on, and how you aim to do so. On that basis, you will make your own personal minor choice.
Quality is our recipe
To meet the high demands of the Dutch Government Board of Education, a Validation Board checks every Dutch university at regular intervals. We have introduced two supervisory bodies to ensure quality. A body of external economics experts (Board of Advice) monitors the structure and contents of our courses to ensure that the courses meet all requirements set by our economic environment. A further body of external experts (Board of External Examiners) supervises the examinations. Our own internal Quality Management System continually monitors the execution of the curriculum units.