International Programme

The Business Administration department boasts an offer of lectures given in English which can be picked either by its own students or by incoming exchange students. Language courses offered to non-French speaking students can be found at the end of this list.

PROGRAMME CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW !

Please contact international@heig-vd.ch in case of interest, thank you !

1. Intercultural Communication & Management Competences (5 ECTS)

This course aims at the development of students’ intercultural communication and management competences. We will study and practice intercultural communication in order to further develop our management skills. At the end of the course, the students will be more familiar with intercultural communication theories, models, practices and strategies. They will have:

-         experienced intercultural team management,

-         made field visits

-         practiced different languages (English, German, French...).

Prerequisites : Basic knowledge of communication sciences
Exam format : Individual tests & presentations of group assignments (based on field studies)
Semester of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Spring, 3rd year

Professor / Lecturer : Dr. P. Stalder


2. Advanced organizational behavior OB2 (2 ECTS)

This advanced organizational behavior course is addressed to anyone who wants to pursue a career in business. It requires a good understanding of theories and relevant research in the field of psychology applied to organizational behavior. Key emphasis will be placed on: well-being at work, power, leadership, innovation, change and group dynamics. On completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Implement the knowledge acquired from DHO1 and integrate it in this course
  • Identify the source and different forms of power and authority
  • Identify the forces that require organisations to change and choose practices for implementing the changes
  • Understand leadership theories and examine the key variables that determine the effectiveness of leadership in practice
  • Appreciate health and well-being in the workplace
  • Be capable of analysing work teams and interpersonal behaviour

Prerequisites : Basic knowledge of Organization/Management or Human Resources
Exam format : Continuous assessment (individual & group case study, oral presentation).
Year of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Autumn & Spring, 2nd year

Professor / Lecturer : Dr. A.-L. Wegener


3. International Business (Fribourg / Geneva) (9 ECTS)

Some options in English are given in our sister schools in Fribourg or Geneva for a total of 9 ECTS each (subject to availability).
In Fribourg, the topics should be : "Banking & Finance" (Thursday)  and "Competitivity & Sustainability in Digital Society" (Friday)
In Geneva, there are several minors from the bachelor International Business Management to which you might apply (Friday). More informations here (go to tab «Minors & Electives» ): https://www.hesge.ch/heg/en/education/bachelors/international-business-management.
Exchange students will receive financial support to pay for the weekly trip to and from our sister schools.

Prerequisites : Depending on the chosen option
Exam format : Depending on the chosen option
Year of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Autumn or Spring, 3rd year

Professor / Lecturer : Various


4. International Innovation Management (5 ECTS)

Innovation is increasingly the source of sustainable competitive advantage for firms around the world. However, building an organization to successfully and repeatedly bring innovations to market is a difficult managerial challenge. In this course we focus on the practices and processes that managers use to manage innovation effectively. It explores the role of innovation in corporate and business unit growth strategy as well as in start-up development. Different approaches to innovation are discussed, leveraging examples and cases in consumer product industries, SME’s and start-ups. Subsequently, the “state-of-the-art” internal innovation capabilities which are required to outperform competition are discussed. These capabilities include innovation processes, consumer/customer insights, portfolio management, organizational governance. The course uses a “learning-by-doing” approach and requires students to conduct a real project realized with a start-up or SME. 
NB : An optional trip to companies in the Silicon Valley will take place after the semester. Exchange students participating on the course are also welcome, although they will need to pay for it.

 

Prerequisites : General knowledge of management
Exam format : Written report and group presentation
Year of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Autumn, 3rd year

Professor / Lecturer : Dr. V. Pallotta


5. Principles of marketing I (3 ECTS)

The course explores the principal concepts and tools of contemporary marketing management. The course enables students to develop an effective marketing strategy by examining how organisations can reach their objectives through creating and delivering value to their target audience. Students learn by participating in classroom discussions, preparing mini-projects and case studies, including in-the-field activities.

Prerequisites : None
Exam format : Teamwork with a written and oral presentation as well as an individual written exam
Year of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Autumn, 1st year

Professor / Lecturer : Prof. D. Campisi


6. Principles of marketing II (3 ECTS)

The "Principles of Marketing II" focus is on designing integrated innovative strategic marketing plans which align companies with their customers and differentiate them from their competitors. The course uses a "learning-by-doing" approach to building basic marketing management skills. Students prepare a marketing plan for a company or a non-profit organisation.

Prerequisites : Basic knowledge of marketing
Exam format : A teamwork project to realize a marketing plan for a company
Year of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Spring, 1st year

Professor / Lecturer : Prof. D. Campisi


7. Human Resources Management (4 ECTS)

At the end of the course, the student must be able to:
1. Know the field, the objectives, the concepts, the tasks, the trends and the evolution of human resources management in the company, as well as the importance of HRM for the management of the company
2. Know the different roles and organizational modes of the human resources function in the company
3. Know the processes, instruments, tools and indicators of human resources management, to know how to apply them and master their interactions
4. Know the main components of the strategic and political steering of human resources management
5. Implement a human resources management policy and processes
6. Collaborate constructively with human resources managers
7. Know and criticize the current issues and constraints of the HR function

Prerequisites : -

Exam format : team work (90%), individual assessment (10%)

Year of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Autumn, 3rd year

Professor / Lecturer : Prof. J. Dima


8. Business English (2 ECTS)

The aim of this course is for students to develop competence and confidence to use both spoken and written English autonomously, strategically, and appropriately in a range of business-related contexts. The courses are based on a range of themes and communication activities. Classes involve hands-on learning in groups, in addition to textual analysis and input on effective language learning and strategic communication in the workplace. Themes covered include corporations, marketing, finance and human resources.

Prerequisites : Level of English : B2/C1
Semester of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Autumn & spring

 

9. Survival French (1 ECTS)

This course is designed to help students acquire basic French to be able to deal with everyday matters while studying in Switzerland and to get to know the local area and culture. It includes hands-on practical activities and all incoming students are encouraged to take this course.

Prerequisites : No prior knowledge of French necessary.
Exam format : There will be no formal exam. Credits are awarded for participation and completing a range of tasks successfully.
Semester of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Autumn & Spring

Professor / Lecturer : M. Blanc-Menoud


10. German for Business (2 ECTS)

Lernziele sind der mündliche und schriftliche Ausdruck sowie Hörverstehen über komplexere Themen aus den Bereichen Werbung, Messen, Handel. 

Die Kursform ist partizipativ, verbunden mit Arbeit in Kleingruppen und individuellen Übungen. Zusätzlich erlernen die Studierenden Werbeanzeigen zu analysieren.

Prerequisites : Von Niveau B1 bis C1
Semester of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Herbst & Frühling

 

11. Italian for Business (2 ECTS)

Gli alunni che vorranno frequentare questo corso otterranno il livello B2-C1 nel campo specifico dell'economia. È dunque consigliato loro di avere già un livello d'italiano B1-B2. I temi proposti porteranno sull'economia e sul mondo finanziario in legame con l’area dell'italofonia. Porgeremo un’attenzione particolare sullo sviluppo delle competenze linguistiche, focalizzandoci tanto sulle facoltà di comprensione, sia orali che scritte, come sulle facoltà di espressione, anche esse scritte e orali.

Prerequisites : De livellio A2 a C1
Semester of teaching for HEIG-VD students : Autunno & Primavera