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Course Outline

IBS210 Introduction to International Business

Course Coordinator:Preston Teeter (Pteeter@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Semester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

UniSC Southbank

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Managers operating in the international business environment have to make effective business decisions that take into account differences in the economic, cultural, political, legislative and institutional environment of foreign markets. This course provides you with the opportunity to explore the international business environment and understand internationalisation strategies, modes of entry and the operational decisions facing managers of companies that operate beyond their domestic market.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Online – Pre-recorded concept videos and associated activity 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – In-class tutorial 2hrs Week 2 11 times
Online
Online – Pre-recorded concept videos and associated activity 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Interactive zoom tutorial 2hrs Week 2 11 times

Course Topics

Globalisation, cultural differences, international business strategy, foreign market entry mode, international production, outsourcing and logistics, theories of trade, political economy of trade, foreign exchange, the international monetary system, legal environments, economic business environments

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Apply selected international business theory to practical, real life international business situations and identify the drivers for globalisation. Empowered
Sustainability-focussed
2 Identify the forces that influence international business decisions. Knowledgeable
Sustainability-focussed
3 Analyse and apply strategies for foreign market participation. Creative and critical thinker
Sustainability-focussed

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

The first assessment task is due in Week 4 to get early feedback on your progress. Additionally, tutorial activities in all weeks allow for formative feedback on course concepts.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Oral Individual 25% 
5-minute presentation
 Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Portfolio Individual 25% 
1500 words
 Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Submission
All 3 Report Individual 50% 
2000 words
 Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Oral Presentation
Goal: 
To demonstrate understanding and application of international business fundamentals.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Acting as top-level management for an international firm, you will give a 5-minute professional presentation on an issue that you consider to be of great importance. The issue will be relevant to the topics covered in weeks 1-3. 

A detailed task description and rubric is provided on Blackboard.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of international business theories to practical, real life situations
 1
2 
Analysis and application of strategies for foreign market participation
 3
3 
Identification of the forces that influence international business decisions
 2
4 
Use of appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication
5 
Use of appropriate visual aids
6 
Structure of the presentation
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Portfolio
Goal: 
To demonstrate insight and understanding of international business concepts and environmental factors impacting decision making to arrive at a suitable business strategy.
Product: Portfolio
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
During weeks 6 through 10, you will complete a range of activities related to the weekly topics. For each tutorial, you will analyse a real-life business case and conclude with the most suitable strategy for the company. Each activity is due at the end of that weekly tutorial. 

A detailed task description is provided on Blackboard.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of international business theory to real-life business situations
 1
2 
Identification of the forces that influence international business decisions
 2
3 
Analysis and application of foreign market participation
 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Report
Goal: 
To demonstrate knowledge of international business issues and the ability to conduct
in-depth research and analysis of those issues.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will investigate the suitability of a foreign country for international expansion. By following course concepts and conducting extensive research, you will analyse the location and provide recommendations.

A detailed description and rubric are provided on Blackboard
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of international business theory to real life situations
 1
2 
Identification of the forces that influence international business decisions
 2
3 
Analysis and application of strategies for foreign market participation
 3
4 
Written communication (spelling, grammar, structure, formatting, design, etc.)
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Hill, Hult, Wickramasekera, Liesch & Mackenzie 2017 Global Business Today: Asia Pacific Edition 4th ed. McGraw-Hill Education Australia, North Ryde NSW

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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