ACI EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Courses taught in English at ACI during the spring semester, 1998:

1. THE CONSTRUCTION OF EUROPE

This course offers an overview of past and future stages in the development of Europe. The economic, political, and social issues at stake will be examined from the point of view of the EU members, the bordering countries (Central Europe) and the World Powers (United States, Japan, Asia). The common market and its influence on businesses (free access to the market, common rules, single currency) will be analyzed in order to measure the impact of the creation of the common market on their strategies. [Three credits, no prerequisite]

2. INTERCULTURAL MANAGEMENT: EUROPEAN VALUES AND BEHAVIORS

This course is designed to provide a strong basis for in-depth understanding of European cultural differences, as well as of what unites the European nations. Key elements in the history and culture of each European countyr will be studied in order to understand prevalent behaviors in the fields of communications and business organization (power, decision-making, styles of management). Teaching is done in a living, practical way, through case studies and discussions and includes a synthetic analysis of European styles of management compared with another and compared with the US style. [Three credits, no prerequisite]

3. INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATION

This course is intended to give a global presentation of international negotiation approaches. It will provide students with basic skills in negotiation and conflict resolution, critically reexamine existing views on negotiation, and present a cross-cultural perspective on international negotiations. The goals of the course are: 1. to help students better understand how to negotiate (processes followed, behavior employed, and implicit assumptions underlying both); 2. to present and assess negotiation based on joint problem-solving as stated in Roger Fisher's "Getting to Yes" through exercises drawn from many different contexts; 3. to enable students to review their negotiating skills, to broaden their repetoire, to practice unused/unusual ways of negotiating, and; 4. to increase students' awareness of cross-cultural differences. [Three credits, requires an introductory business background]

4. INTERNATIONAL MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

This course offers a practical view of the development of foreign markets. Particular emphasis is given to strategic decisions of international development and analysis of company expertise regarding preferences and entrance into the market place. Coursework will examine the problems pertaining to the implementation of international sales policy: organization of sales structuresand partnerships. An in-depth analysis of the evolution of product distribution in Europe and around the world is also covered. [Three credits, no prerequisite although basic knowledge of marketing is helpful]

5. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW

This course is divided into three units and allows future business executives to become familiar with the legal framework necessary for all types of international business transactions and to anticipate the risks that arise from the meeting of two national legal systems (buyer's and seller's). The first unit explores the evolution of international law, its sources and methods, the overlap of different national legal systems, examples of supremacy of international treaties over national law, and the definition of contract law. Unit two deals with the settlement of disputes in international law, international sales, and distribution and exclusive concessions contracts. The third unit studies franchise contracts, commercial agency contracts, and technology transfer contracts (patents, trademarks, drawings and models). Class meetings present a theoretical approach, combined with thematic case studies, or a concrete problem to solve. [Three credits, requires a basic foundation in business law]

In addition, two advanced level Mass Communication courses will be offered in English, and students proficient in French may choose from a wide variety of Business and Communications/Mass Communication courses taught in that language.

Back to ACI EXCHANGE page.

Back to regional maps.

This page last updated by Scott Boll on April 9th, 1998
If you have and questions or comments on this page, please contact Barb Breed-Heidt at
joheidt@uwm.edu