Master
2020/2021
Research Workshop "Contemporary Issues in International Business"
Type:
Compulsory course (Master of International Business)
Area of studies:
Management
Delivered by:
Магистерская программа "Международный бизнес", направление подготовки "Менеджмент"
When:
1 year, 1-4 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Дынко Алла Дмитриевна,
Адян Людмила Олеговна,
Дынко Алла Дмитриевна,
Irina Kratko,
Maya K. Likhtina
Master’s programme:
International Business
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
8
Contact hours:
126
Course Syllabus
Abstract
Helping students acquire analytical, research and practical skills is an essential and integral part of the Master of International Business Program. Apart from having students develop the competencies necessary for their professional life, this seminar will facilitate the process of master thesis preparation and increase the quality of the master thesis. The Scientific and research seminar is the ultimate form of instruction for this kind of academic work. From the very beginning it is aimed at the master thesis preparation. The intermediary stage of thesis preparation takes form of the final course paper at the end of the first year of study. The course paper is a very important step in the preparation of a master thesis and usually represents a part of the thesis.
Learning Objectives
- Professional guidance for students in choosing the area and the topic of their research (taught in the MIB classes and specialized lectures given by supervisor of the Seminar and other instructors).
- Instruction on the academic work, including how to prepare for and conduct research and how to write academic papers (taught in the first stage of the Seminar).
- Development of skills in the area of information analytics, information search and library culture using modern technology (taught in the first stage of the Seminar).
- Teaching correct approaches to information search and analysis technologies: collecting, processing and analyzing statistical and empirical data (taught in the first and second stages of the Seminar).
- Organization of brain-storming sessions and situation analysis (taught in the second stage of the Seminar).
- Discussion of students’ projects and research papers (taught throughout the Seminar).
- Introduction to the specifics of leading academic discussions (expert discussions) and presenting research and information analysis results (taught throughout the Seminar).
- Presenting research outcome in the form of reports, analytical notes and summaries, expert recommendations, articles and short papers written following the latest standards (taught throughout the Seminar).
Expected Learning Outcomes
- get acquainted with contents, stages, methods and tools of conducting a research project
- learn research methodology and different analytical methods used in data analysis in international business
- get all the necessary knowledge and skills to write a course paper at the end of the first academic year
Course Contents
- Information and Library CultureStudents learn to work with electronic information resources and databases, especially with the media resources of the HSE electronic library. The course reviews a wide range of information sources containing statistics, analytical data in the area of international business; students also learn how to correctly form an information query using the Internet search engines.
- General research methodology• Definition and structure of academic research. The following is covered: research relevancy and research problem, scientific hypothesis and methods of its validation, purpose of study, study goals. Students are offered a list of topics to discuss, work on and write reports on. As a result students should understand the essence of scientific research and learn the above mentioned methods and concepts. • Contents, stages, methods and tools of conducting a research project. The research project is the backbone of the master thesis. The goal of the seminar at this point is to methodologically discuss the significant points of the research project as a form of scientific work, to define the stages of the project development, the criteria of writing and defending the project report. Special attention will be given to the selection of specific academic and analytical literature and the preparation of the written overview of the problem. The focus will also be on the research part itself, such as learning different aspects of the international business environment, plant inspections, interviewing specialists etc. when analyzing the existing research material special attention will be given to theoretical approaches and the examples of empirical research examples. In the seminar students should review and discuss different versions of thesis structuring, contents and separate parts of the master thesis. • Modern technology used in information search and analysis and its application in the process of researching, collecting, processing and analyzing statistical and empirical data
- Introduction to quantitative methodsIn this class student learn research methodology and different analytical methods used in data analysis in international business. In addition, students conduct individual field studies and classroom studies on the chosen subjects offered by the supervisor of the seminar and other instructors. This course provides an overview of the statistical methods used in economic and business research. The focus is on teaching the skills necessary to perform simple analysis and interpret results. The methods are explained in an intuitive fashion, giving students an understanding of the tools without going into the mathematical theory behind them. At the conclusion of the course, students should understand how these tools are employed and what information can be gained from them.
- Preparation of the course paperThe learning and preparation stage of the seminar aims at helping students to acquire all the necessary knowledge and skills to write a course paper at the end of the first academic year (which is the introduction to the master thesis). Preparation of the course paper follows this timeline: • module 2 – choosing the academic supervisor and the topic of the course paper. Making an outline of the course paper. • module 3 – preparing the course paper annotation that should not exceed 5 standard pages and discussing it at the project seminar. • module 4 – preparation of the course paper and presentation of the rough draft. Discussion of the initial draft of the course paper at the seminar. During the final two seminar sessions students present their course papers to the class and the supervisor of the seminar, which enables them to receive the initial assessment of their course paper. When writing and discussing the course paper the students pick the topic and define the structure of their future master thesis. By the end of the first month of the second year of study students should have found their academic supervisor and completed the outline of the master thesis.
- Preparation of the master thesisThe schedule for thesis preparation in modules 1-2 of the second year of study is as follows: • first month of module 1 – students chose the topic of the master thesis and the academic supervisor. • end of module 1 – detailed plan of the master thesis. • module 2 – students prepare a brief of the master thesis of no more than 10 standard pages. The stages/schedule of thesis preparation for modules 3-4 of the second year of study is as follows: • first month of module 3 – discussion of the outline and brief of the master thesis during the project seminar • module 3 – collection and initial analysis of data • module 4 – presentation of the rough draft of the master thesis; discussion and editing of the rough draft during the seminar; preparation of the final draft of the master thesis and thesis defense.
Assessment Elements
- Online Attendance
- Student participation in discussions and presentations
- "Information and library culture" course grade
- Course paper outline
- "Introduction to quantitative methods" course grade
- Course paper annotation
- Short paper
- Initial evaluation of course paper
- Online Attendance
- Student participation in discussions and presentations
- "Information and library culture" course grade
- Course paper outline
- "Introduction to quantitative methods" course grade
- Course paper annotation
- Short paper
- Initial evaluation of course paper
Interim Assessment
- Interim assessment (4 module)0.2 * "Information and library culture" course grade + 0.2 * "Introduction to quantitative methods" course grade + 0.1 * Course paper annotation + 0.1 * Course paper outline + 0.1 * Initial evaluation of course paper + 0.1 * Online Attendance + 0.1 * Short paper + 0.1 * Student participation in discussions and presentations
