Study Semester "International Business and Digital Transformation"

Here you will find every information you need in a compact summary at a glance.

Compulsory Foundation Modules
 

• Fundamentals of Entrepreneurial Management (5 ECTS)
  Good ideas need entrepreneurs: This module aims to raise fundamental elements of managerial competences needed in the field of entrepreneurship. Lessons will cover topics such as financing of ventures and funding alternatives, corporate financial modeling as well as areas such as marketing and cost accounting. We strive to improve the chances of entrepreneurial success for our students and their ideas for a sustainable future.
• Digitalization (5 ECTS)
  Thinking ahead of times: This module deals with in-depth aspects of digitization in national, international and intercultural contexts, how to address content to heterogeneous target groups, digital business and customer communication and the economic perspectives of companies in a global digital context. You will be able to analyze, classify and optimize various digital media in terms of language, content and economic use to design a differentiated digital business communication model in an intercultural context.
• Sustainable Development Goals (5 ECTS)
  A better and more sustainable future: The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. You will understand and reflect on the historicity and systematics as well as on the local application of these goals. In teams you will develop action portfolios as a local interpretation and implementation of a chosen SDG. Based on that concept a real or fictional application of the action portfolio in the local context of the Birkenfeld region will be conducted.
• German Language and International Business Culture (5 ECTS)
  Successful business is both global and local: As an introduction into German business culture and society, this course teaches about the 2000-year tradition of natural protection, why „quite good“ means „excellent“ and why management needs permission to let you work overtime. We will further look at intercultural perspectives and gain insights into neighboring cultures. This lays the groundwork for your visits to businesses and sites in the region where Germany, France and Luxemburg meet and where global and local business practices are forged. You will also attend a German language course according your current language level.

Elective Modules

• International Marketing and Digital Business (5 ECTS)
  Engage with the cultures of the target markets: With digitalization, the demands on marketing and its use of different media have changed fundamentally. Due to the increasing international and economic interdependencies, it is also important to open up markets with different cultures addressing the needs of the consumers living there. What impact do cultural differences have on the strategy and communication policy of a company? We examine how traditional international marketing activities relate to the global market, but sadly often ignore the diversity of people and the differences between cultures and languages.
• Strategic Marketing (5 ECTS)
  Companies want to ensure their survival and growth, medium- and long-term by using the approach of strategic marketing management. To fulfill these targets, companies have to make decisions about effective marketing strategies. This module illustrates step-by-step the development of strategic marketing decisions. Firstly, an analysis and outlook of the marketing environment and the company itself is conducted. Based on this, the different marketing strategies like product/market strategies, competitive strategies and regional market strategies are discussed.
• Accounting and Finance I (5 ECTS)
  Increasing the value of a firm: You will gain first insights to the importance in financial decision making as well as respective models concerning the firms’ capital structure. Different types of funding and financing instruments will be elaborated, enabling you to determine the specific financing needs of a company, with the aim to secure the financial balance and to minimize the cost of financing. Further topics include the concept of net present value, basic methods for optimal decision making, also under the presence of economic uncertainty as well as strategic concerns.
• Ethical and Legal Aspects of Artificial Intelligence (5 ECTS)
  You will have an overview of the complex structure that has arisen through the development and widespread use of artificial intelligence, in particular with regard to the ethical and legal aspects associated with it.

The elective modules from the study semester program "Principles of Sustainable Business" are also selectable.​

Compulsory Foundation Modules

• Fundamentals of Sustainable Business (10 ECTS)
  You can do well by doing good: A growing number of organizations are integrating sustainability into their business strategy. This module serves as a natural starting point by identifying and analyzing the structure of these modern enterprises. You will be able to demonstrate the influence of external environmental conditions on the entrepreneurial process as well as identify potential ethical conflicts and social responsibility issues involving different stakeholders of the firm.
• Management of Non-Governmental Organizations (5 ECTS)
  From service organizations to human-rights advocacy:You will reflect on the status-quo of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and learn about chosen tools to manage them. Via case studies, you will interpret the given and potential development of particular NGOs. In order to expand the professional, methodical and social competences in the area of NGOs, you will elaborate reports on particular (global or local) NGOs in regard to pre-defined historical, managerial and trend-based aspects and criteria.
• German Language and International Business Culture (5 ECTS)
  Successful business is both global and local: As an introduction into German business culture and society, this course teaches about the 2000-year tradition of natural protection, why „quite good“ means „excellent“ and why management needs permission to let you work overtime. We will further look at intercultural perspectives and gain insights into neighboring cultures. This lays the groundwork for your visits to businesses and sites in the region where Germany, France and Luxemburg meet and where global and local business practices are forged. You will also attend a German language course according your current language level.

Elective Modules

• Ethics and Society (5 ECTS)
  Harmonization of antagonistic targets: This module explains the need for modern ethical correct business modeling and sus-tainable management in companies in all major functional and managerial fields. Practical real business exercises as well as virtual examples set you into a manager role as decision maker or project leader. You identify the parallels between classical and business ethics and realize the positive outcome. Learning more about classical ethically desired and accepted behavior you understand how to change today’s established often-misleading production ways and rigid treatment of employees to a business that reduces systematically negative impacts.
• Intercultural Communication (5 ECTS)
  Verbal and nonverbal interaction: Guten Tag! Buongiorno! Nínhǎo! No matter where you are in the world, communication is important. This module presents and discusses key terms and theories of intercultural communication such as culture, communication, identities, stereotype, external perception, transnationality, politeness and hybridity. Up-to-date research findings from applied and job-related fields (business and economy, policy, international relations) serve to reflect and enhance your understanding of the complex context of both intra- and intercultural communication. 
• Scientific Methods and Concepts (5 ECTS)
  Write like a scientist:Gain profound insights into the field of scientific work. Learn how to structure essays, research papers and a thesis and how to present your ideas to an audience. Get experience in literature research and in reading and understanding scientific papers published in top-tier journals. Your ability in analytical thinking and working will surely be increased.
• International Law and International Economic Policy (5 ECTS)
  Monitoring the behavior between states:This module introduces you to basic rules of international civil law, which is an enormously complex topic, as most countries in the world have their “own” international civil law. Achieve a certain sensitivity which enables you to evaluate the legal risks going along with certain business actions and business problems. You will also get insights to certain basic principles of the European unification and international economic cooperation. Core economic issues behind the integration process on a European and on an international level will also be highlighted.
• Accounting and Finance II (5 ECTS)
  Central tasks in the management of companies: This module aims to provide you with an introduction to national and international financial reporting standards, and to develop a broad understanding of accounting proceedings, techniques, concepts and conventions as well as the links between the three financial statements. You will also learn some of the alternative technical methods and practices of accounting and  get an understanding of the role of management accounting in decision-making and how to manage an organization.
• Social Media and Crisis Communication (5 ECTS)
  Make the right decision:A social media communication crisis is rarely limited to a single social network, but spreads like wildfire across platforms. Often the digital outrage results in a major shitstorm and is also taken up by leading media. One of the main objectives of social media crisis management is to prevent a shitstorm from turning into a tangible communication crisis. Adequate social media crisis management curbs the digital wildfire and prevents greater damage to reputation.

The elective modules from the study semester program "Principles of Sustainable Business" are also selectable.​

Participants in the program will study on our modern campus with over 2,500 other students of environmental business, law, sustainable science, information and media technology.

There is also the possibility of living directly on campus in one of the dormitories. All student apartments are reasonably priced. They come fully equipped and provide high-speed internet access as well as being connected to our university intranet.

The university does not charge a tuition fee for the Study Semester. Students will have to pay a 500 Euros administration fee per semester that also covers excursion costs and a general admissions fee of approx. 200 Euros per semester that also allows free rail travel in the region.

Students will enjoy the benefits of our “buddy concept”, with German students providing individual help in getting orientated and integrated in campus life.

Applications should be submitted by

• December 1 for the summer semester
• July 1 for the winter semester

Please note that the application forms have to be signed personally by applicants and by the responsible university referees. They have to be sent back via e-mail to ibdt(at)umwelt-campus.de.

Which application documents do I have to hand in?

In addition to the application form, the following documents must be included with each application:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Statement of Motivation
3. Letter of Reference
4. Most Recent Grade Transcript
5. Certificate of English Language Proficiency or an equivalent
   • TOEFL® Test (internet-based: 79 / computer-based: 213 / paper-based: 550)
   • IELTS (band 6)
   • TOEIC® Test (Listening & Reading 750 points + Writing & Speaking 300 points)
     
     TOEFL and TOEIC are registered trademarks of ETS in the United States and other countries.

All forms have to be filled out on computer (not handwritten). Please send all applications forms together with the other documents as one single PDF document. Handwritten forms or an incomplete application will not be accepted.

Our Study Semester program addresses enrolled (Bachelor) students from partner universities all around the world. However, in exceptional cases foreign students may carry out a semester or a whole academic year at our university, even though they are not applying as part of a student exchange but voluntarily. This can be the case if applicants have already completed a Bachelor or Master study or have not yet started studying at all.

When applying as a free mover students will not be treated as guest students, but as regular students. Hence, they have to meet the academic admission requirements for studying at German universities. A higher education entrance qualification has to be proven.

Applications should be submitted by

• December 1 for the summer semester
• July 1 for the winter semester

Please note that the application forms have to be signed personally by applicants and by the responsible university referees. They have to be sent back via e-mail to ibdt(at)umwelt-campus.de. 

Which application documents do I have to hand in?

In addition to the application form and the learning agreement, the following documents must be included with each application:

1. High school/college and university leaving certificates officially translated into German or English
2. A detailed resumé with your complete academic and professional career (incl. annual details)
3. Statement of Motivation
4. Certificate of English Language Proficiency or an equivalent
   • TOEFL® Test (internet-based: 79 / computer-based: 213 / paper-based: 550)
   • IELTS (band 6)
   • TOEIC® Test (Listening & Reading 750 points + Writing & Speaking 300 points)
     
     TOEFL and TOEIC are registered trademarks of ETS in the United States and other countries.

Each document has to be sent as a PDF file named accordingly.

The revision of documents by our Registrars Office in order to check your higher education entrance qualification costs 70 Euros. After we have received your application, we will send you an invoice with all further details.