International Business

Do you have a science background and now stepping into a role that touches international business?
This course is crafted for science participants who aspire to master the theories and concepts essential for managing the complexities of multinational firms. Our vision is to empower you to navigate the intricate global landscape of the life sciences industry by understanding and addressing the multifaceted challenges that come with international operations.

We will explore firm-specific advantages and host country advantages and challenges, examining how these factors intertwine to impact multinational strategies. By learning how to effectively combine firm and location advantages, you gain the strategic insight needed to manage complexity and drive success on the international stage.

The course offers an in-depth examination of three distinct entry modes: utilizing foreign distributors, forming strategic alliances, and executing mergers and acquisitions. We analyze these by applying a wide array of sociological, psychological, and economic theory lenses to develop actionable insights into real world challenges.

This course is part of the master Science & Business Management and specifically designed for participants without a background in the subject matter and with a focus on organizations that operate in (life) science sectors. Participant will be in a mixed classroom with master students.

On completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Critically appraise the complexity of international strategic decision-making: Analyze how multinational firms navigate diverse challenges and leverage firm-specific and host country advantages in a global landscape.
• Integrate interdisciplinary theories to understand global business challenges: Explore sociological, psychological, and economic perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing international operations.
• Develop innovative strategic solutions for sustainable international success: Formulate and implement strategies that create long-term value in international markets.

This course is aimed at professionals working in healthcare science, with a bachelor’s/master’s degree (or even PhD) in the science field and with an interest in the business side of organizations.

6 weeks, 2 contact moments of 2 hours + 14 hours of work in between per week

Exam / final assessment in week 7

This face-to-face course is offered via lectures and tutorials on-campus, which require your physical attendance (mandatory). Only 1 seminar needs to be attended, either choose Seminar 1 or Seminar 2 from the schedule.

Alongside these, participants are expected to dedicate approximately 14 hours per week to self-study, individual assignments and groupwork on projects. Questions on theory and exercises can be posted on the appropriate forum on the university digital learning environment (Brightspace) or asked during the lectures or tutorials. The exam will be on location (i.e. not online).

To enroll in this course, you need to have:

• Dutch residency
• Master Degree in Life Sciences or Natural Sciences, with graduation date <10 years
• No previous formal education or work experience in the course topic

Harvard Business School Publishing (HBSP) cases, through link provided by instructor: participants pay a fee.

Please note that this course is part of an existing program within the Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) in collaboration with the Graduate School of Life Sciences. Tuitition fees may alter during the year.

General questions

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Content questions

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