GRA 6846 International Management: Sustainable Business in Africa - CANCELLED AUTUMN 2020

GRA 6846 International Management: Sustainable Business in Africa - CANCELLED AUTUMN 2020

Course code: 
GRA 6846
Department: 
Law and Governance
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Caroline Dale Ditlev-Simonsen
Course name in Norwegian: 
International Management: Sustainable Business in Africa - CANCELLED AUTUMN 2020
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Business - Elective course
Semester: 
2020 Autumn
Active status: 
Hold - temporarily
Level of study: 
Master
Deactivate term: 
2020 Autumn
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This course is unfortunately cancelled autumn 2020.

(Max. 22 students)

While population growth is slowing in many countries, it continues to rise in Africa, where the population is expected to quadruple in the 21st century. Africa is rich in natural resources, but for several reasons the continent is missing a balanced and sustainable growth. Due to climate change and inefficient agriculture about 50 million Africans face hunger. To ensure a sustainable development on this continent, it is crucial with knowledge and awareness related to corporate responsibility – from a social, environmental and economic perspective.

Tanzania is one of the most peaceful and stable countries in Africa, and at the same time its economy is growing. Today, the economy is mainly based on agriculture, but sectors like service, industry, mineral and energy are picking up. In 2014 the economic growth in Tanzania was 7 %, representing challenges and opportunities within environmental and social issues.

This course provides knowledge about Africa, with focus on Tanzania and its economic development, from a sustainability point of view through the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). We will look at what has worked and what has failed – and why – from a business and sustainability point of view. Cultural issues and public governance will also be addressed. Sustainable development is a complex and multidisciplinary field, and the course applies an eclectic approach. Different theories will be addressed as well as different teaching tools and approaches.

The course will include a one week study tour to Tanzania. The program will include visits to companies, organizations and academic institutions as well as a fieldtrip. The focus will be on Norwegian companies operating in Tanzania (for example Statoil, Yara and Green Resources ) and lectures through academic/research- and non-governmental organizations (for example Norwegian Church Aid, Save the Children and Plan International). Students will participate in workshops with local master students and meet local business entrepreneurs and visit business incubators.

The knowledge acquired through this course will contribute to a better understanding of key elements of development in the African region - both from a challenge and opportunity perspective. This knowledge is valuable for identifying and addressing sustainability and business development in a more global setting.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge
  • Knowledge about the current situation with regards to key challenges and opportuniteis in one of Africa’s leading counties, Tanzania, from a business, sustainability and political perspective.
  • Knowledge about business challenges and opportunities in Tanzania
  • Norwegian corporations' experience and advice for sustainable business in Africa
  • Cultural awareness and differences
Learning outcomes - Skills
  • Develop and evaluate business for a sustainability point of view
  • Analyze a business proposal for Tanzania from a sustainability point of view
  • Knowledge about key challenges, like corruption
  • Ability to identify opportunities and challenges associated with business development in Tanzania
  • Establish contacs with relevant industry network
General Competence
  • Reflect on sustainability in an African setting
  • Reflect on cultural differences
Course content
  1. The concept of sustainable development and corporate responsibility (CSR) in Africa
  2. This is Tanzania; history, culture, current situation and sustainable development prospects
  3. Tanzania environmental and social challenges and opportunities
  4. Testing different growth and development theories on Tanzania
  5. Visit Tanzania: Meetings with companies, organizations, entrepreneurs and learning institutions.
  6. Study international companies experience in doing business in Tanzania
  7. Cases on business development relative to environmental challenges (waste, emission and or efficiency related).
  8. Follow-up Tanzania visit
Teaching and learning activities

Prior to the Tanzania tour, there will be four 3-hour lectures, including guest lectures, groupwork, development of course paper, discussion and presentations. After the Tanzania tour there will be two 3-hour gatherings reflecting on the trip, work and presentation of the course papers.

Costs associated with the trip to Tanzania for the students will be for their own account, and will not be covered by BI Norwegian Business School. (Based on previous experience NOK 10 000 is a minimum for travel/flight, hotel and food.) 

For information about travelling to Tanzania, please see https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/utenrikssaker/reiseinformasjon/velg-land/reiseinfo_tanzania/id2415554/

During the Tanzania visit students must follow the program (including staying at assigned hotels) from Sunday at 18:00 to Friday 22:00. The Tanzania visit can be challenging and the students must be prepared for a buzy program, as well as local condition with regards to food and sanitation.

Short film about the course: https://youtu.be/P-g47lbqDI0  

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.

At resit, all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.

Qualifications

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Activity
Form of assessment:
Class participation
Exam code:
GRA68461
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
25No 1 Semester(s)Group/Individual ( 1 - 5)
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
GRA68461
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
65No 1 Semester(s)Group/Individual (1 - 2)Course paper
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
GRA68461
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
10No3 Week(s)Group/Individual (1 - 2)Course paper proposal
Exams:
Exam category:Activity
Form of assessment:Class participation
Weight:25
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-5)
Duration: 1 Semester(s)
Comment:
Exam code: GRA68461
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:65
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-2)
Duration: 1 Semester(s)
Comment:Course paper
Exam code: GRA68461
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:10
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-2)
Duration:3 Week(s)
Comment:Course paper proposal
Exam code: GRA68461
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.