Master of Science in International Business Development

Presentation of the MSc in International Business Development (IBD)

Dr. Jérôme GALLO
Director of postgraduate programmes
jerome.gallo@escdijon.eu


Why add yet another international programme to the already lengthy list existing on the market?
Quite simply because we believe we can provide a quality complement to students wishing to pursue an international career. In point of fact, once we became aware of the appreciable difference between a non-specialist programme in general management, as proposed by all the Grandes Ecoles worthy of the name today, and a programme focusing on the training of business developers on world markets, the interest of a programme such as the MSc IBD became immediately apparent. We take as our point of departure the structural weakness consisting in the inability of some French companies to export whereas there are any number of mechanisms available today to help them develop in the international arena. Chief among these mechanisms is the celebrated International in-Company Voluntary Service (Volontariat International en Entreprise – VIE). There can be no doubting the commitment of the public authorities in this respect following the announced objective of doubling the number of VIEs to 10,000 in 2009 (Le Monde, 15 January 2008). All students of the European Union are eligible for this type of contract.
Thus, for students fully committed to a career in the challenging arena of the word economy, the MSc IBD organised by Burgundy School of Business provides a great opportunity to acquire the expertise necessary to conduct business on behalf of companies seeking to set up abroad. We provide multi-dimensional support, both academic and professional, in order to ensure that our students have the best possible chance of success as they start their career in international markets at the service of the exporting companies of Burgundy and France as a whole. Since a manager/developer’s value is built up “on site”, this programme is the ideal springboard for all those wishing to become key operators in tomorrow’s globalised economy.

Positions concerned

• Person in charge of development: he/she is responsible for steering and detecting opportunities for growth for the company and for advancing new projects/markets/clients/partners.
• Person in charge of export zone: his/her mission is to develop company sales over a geographical zone situated outside France.

These two positions can lead on to:

• Export Manager: his/her mission is to design, coordinate and supervise the employer’s development strategy on the “export” market(s).

Objectives of the training programme

The programme covers the skills linked to the development of the export business, namely:

• A sound economic culture, good knowledge of business law, a good financial culture, the practice of at least two foreign languages, a good knowledge of regulatory restrictions concerning the exchange of goods and services (transport, customs tariffs, taxes, etc.) as well as export markets
• An excellent knowledge of the sector of activity corresponding to the context of the International In-Company Voluntary Service (Volontariat International en Entreprise – VIE), the product and the technologies used by the host company
• A good strategic vision. Coordination and negotiating expertise in a multi-cultural context, the ability to mobilise a team around a project, plus what might be termed “operational intelligence”
• Relational skills and competence in handling internal and external negotiations
• Other key success factors: good physical condition (extensive travelling) and the ability to handle stress

Reasons for creating this diploma

The national context of chronic weakness in the export sector (which cannot be laid solely at the door of the euro when one looks at the situation in Germany) joins forces with the regional context here in Burgundy where absolute priority is accorded to the task of increasing exports. On top of this, the State has clearly stated the need to develop the International In-Company Voluntary Service (Volontariat International en Entreprise – VIE), a new mechanism in the international environment. A special feature of the Burgundy region is that it is in a position to finance a VIE (in addition to tax credits and Coface insurance) IN FULL, that is to say a job. In our view, this constitutes an additional reason for companies to employ students.

Level of recruitment

The academic level required is:

• Diploma corresponding to four years’ studies after the French Baccalauréat or equivalent
• Bachelor’s degree for students studying abroad

The training programme is deliberately made open to students from all academic backgrounds (scientific, economic, business and engineering schools, etc.)
We are looking for a psychological profile as much as, if not more than an academic background: the VIE is a work contract and recruits must therefore be capable of generating value for their company abroad.

Selection process

Selection by written application followed by interview (score of 750 on TOEIC or equivalent test). Proficiency in an “exotic” language is an additional asset.

General presentation of the programme

1) Foundations of Management (225h) :
- International Relations (geopolitics)
- Business Ethics
- Economic Environment of Business
- Social issues in business / Human Resource Management
- Business Law
- Accounting and Cost Analysis
- Strategic Management
- Finance
- Marketing Strategy and operations
- French or Foreign Language 1
- Foreign Language 2

2) Specialisation (225h) :
- International Marketing Management
- International Sales Management
- International Negotiation
- Cross-cultural Management
- Strategies for international business development
- Managing International Business Operations
- International Accounting Standards
- French or Foreign Language 1
- Foreign Language 2

Description of the work placement (internship) and organisation of the thesis

The work placements must last for at least 6 months.
The research thesis will take place in the special environment of the global VIE project which the student will then propose to the company.

 Download the application form

Contact

International Relations Manager for Asia
Bérengère MOINDROT
Tel : +33 (0)380 725 874 - Fax: +33 (0)380 725 988
berengere.moindrot@escdijon.eu

International Relations Manager for the rest of the World
Klaudia TWAROG
Tel : +33 (0)608 336 801 - Fax: +33 (0)380 725 988
klaudia.twarog@escdijon.eu