Business at the heart of the BSc in International Business – IFI

The International Business Panel

Businessmen and women from the international business network, representatives of foreign universities and other guests, coming from more than twenty countries, all make their way to the BSc in International Business to evaluate the 4th year students’ presentations on their internships. The students develop an analysis of their 6-month internship in a foreign country. They are judged on the basis of the quality of expression, their ability to interest the jury and the appropriateness of their replies to the jury’s questions. This test is crucial to their obtention of the BSc in International Business diploma.

The Grand Oral Challenge

To prepare students for professional life, the ‘Grand Oral Challenge’ (in English) gives third year students the opportunity to experience a real-life situation via a case study exercise. In groups of 5 students, and over a period of two days, they must analyse, develop and be able to present strategic solutions. The case study is chosen very carefully to allow students to apply all the skills they have learned and all the knowledge they have accumulated since the 1st year. At the end of the competition, they must present their project in front of a jury of business professionals. The winning team, each year, receives the Grand Oral Challenge Cup.

Training through action

As we are convinced that project management allows students to develop those qualities which will prove essential in business (creativity, autonomy, sense of responsibility), the BSc in International Businessincludes as part of its teaching activities : participation in the School’s associations, the organisation of an event, the management of a project, etc. These activities are a source of personal enrichment and another way of developing a professional approach.

Objective : career plan

So as to prepare for the analytical component of their study programme (3rd and 4th years), students are required to write a dissertation during their 2nd year in a foreign university. After 2 years of study in France and abroad, and having carried out an internship at the end of their 1st year, they are asked to think about their future professional activity and imagine what their career might be. The dissertation is based on a study involving contacting foreign companies and comparing different cultures with regard to learning and in-company application. This dissertation should thereby help them to better understand the different functions within a company and to better appreciate their 3rd year work. The students have time to think about their future and are more at ease when it comes to searching for an internship abroad for the first semester of their 4th year.