Summer School modules are designed to be intensive, intellectually-stimulating short courses. They are taught by King’s academics in academic disciplines where King's has expertise. Classes are very international with students from all around the globe learning together.
Each module is 150 study hours comprising intensive teaching, independent study and group work and is examined to university standards. Comparable to an in-semester 15-credit King’s undergraduate module and therefore typically awarded 3-4 US credits or 7.5 ECTS, many summer students ask their home institution to award them external credit for their King's summer module to use towards their degree programme when they return home.
The explosion of international business activities has had a marked impact on our lifestyles, income and on the economic environment in general. Companies are forced to seek international trade and investment opportunities in distant markets. Doing business overseas is, however, still considered to be a difficult task.
Often we hear stories about unsuccessful encounters between business executives from different cultures mainly because they are not able to communicate and negotiate effectively with each other. Treating negotiations as a technique that can be learned and adapted to international business relations, this module deals with four main inter-related themes: conflict resolution, business negotiations skills, the cross-cultural communication and management of cultural differences in international business deals.
By the end of the module, the students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practicable skills appropriate to a Level 4 module and in particular will be able to demonstrate the following subject specific skills:
The syllabus includes the following; Conflict management and how conflicts can be resolved, negotiation strategies, the impact of culture on buyer-seller interactions, business ethics in negotiations, contract and relationship management, performance measurement during negotiations, negotiation tactics and non-verbal.
By the end of the module, students will also be able to demonstrate the following generic skills at Level 4:
Cognitive/Intellectual skills
Analysis: can analyse texts, evidence, etc. with guidance using given approaches/techniques/principles
Synthesis: can collect and categorise ideas and information in a predictable and standard format
Evaluation: can critically evaluate material following guidance from the course teachers
Application: can apply given methods carefully to a well defined problem and begin to appreciate the complexity of the issues.
Key/transferable skills
Group working: can work effectively with others as a member of a group and meet obligations to others (for example, teachers and peers)
Learning resources: can work within an appropriate ethos and can use and access a range of learning resources
Self evaluation: can evaluate own strengths and weaknesses within criteria largely set by others
Management of information: can manage information, collect appropriate material from a range of sources and undertake simple research tasks with external guidance
Autonomy: can take responsibility for own learning with appropriate support
Communications: can communicate effectively in a format appropriate to the discipline(s)
Problem solving: can apply given methods carefully to a well defined problem and begin to appreciate the complexity of the issues in the discipline.
Practical skills
Application: can operate in predictable, defined contexts that require use of a specified range of methods and activities
Autonomy in skill use: is able to act with limited autonomy, under direction or supervision, within defined guidelines.