Course concept
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The English-taught semesters Global Business Management (GBM) are aimed at both bachelor students and graduates. Since there is the possibility for an individual itinerary, the English-taught semesters are interesting for students from a broad range of different study programmes such as commercial sciences, business and management, computer sciences, social & human sciences and other. This semester will surely add value to your degree and your career opportunities as your entrepreneurial, team-working and communication skills will definitely improve!
English-taught semesters, what are they?

An English-taught semester is a coherent package of course units which a Howest Bachelor programme offers in English, as an option for semester exchange , to incoming students from its partner universities abroad, and as a study abroad option to other international students.
Course overview: Global Business Management I: Autumn
GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT I - COMPULSORY MODULES [27 ECTS compulsory (only 24 ECTS compulsory when Chinese Language and Culture is chosen)] | HTC | n-TC | SL |
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS - 6 ECTS | |||
Cultural & Socio-economic Introduction to Belgium - survival course Dutch |
20 | 55 | 75 |
Cross-cultural communication |
20 | 55 | 75 |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS - 3 ECTS | |||
International Business aims to introduce you to the basic concepts necessary for a broad understanding of the international business environment. You will be able to understand concepts relevant to International Business and the differences between the business systems of the world’s leading economies. |
20 | 55 | 75 |
CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR - 3 ECTS | |||
A comprehensive introduction to the behaviour of consumers in Europe and around the world.
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20 | 55 | 75 |
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT - 6 ECTS | |||
CRM Students will learn to work with CRM-software, using the Salesforce Trailhead self learning platform. Badges and points need to be collected by the students at the end of each module. Supporting CRM & MKT tools. Next to the CRM-software students will also look into supporting tools:Â
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50 | 100 | 150 |
CHANGE MANAGEMENT – 3 ECTS | |||
When the rate of external change exceeds the rate of internal change, an organisation is in trouble. Although the implementation of any change in a company is not an easy task, companies cannot afford a status quo. As students, you will achieve the competences needed to establish changes in your future professional environment. | 20 | 55 | 75 |
PROJECT ENTREPRENEURSHIP - 3 ECTS | |||
Within only one intensive week and with the help of your team you will develop and present a business plan: you come up with the best possible business idea and learn how to develop this into a business plan. | 40 | 35 | 75 |
INNOVATION MANAGEMENT – 3 ECTS | |||
Nowadays companies make the difference, not (only) by keeping costs low, but by renewing products, processes or markets. You will learn why innovation is so important, how it can be triggered in a company, and which are the necessary ingredients in the innovation process. Furthermore, the topic of managing innovation is also covered. | 20 | 55 | 75 |
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ELECTIVE COURSE(S): MAX. 3 ECTS FROM THE MODULES BELOW. Note! The student who chooses Chinese Language and Culture (6 ECTS) OR Personal Development and Group processes (6 ECTS) Â may drop Change Management (3 ECTS) |
HTC | n-TC | SL |
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROUP PROCESSES – 6 ECTS |
48 | 102 | 150 |
HRM - 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
NEW SUPPLY CHAIN AND BLOCKCHAIN – 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE - 6 ECTS |
60 | 90 | 150 |
GLOBAL TRENDS - 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
ENGLISH FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTSÂ - evening course (optional) - 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
ECTS = European Credit Transfer System
HTC = Hours of teaching and coaching during the semester
n-TC = non-teaching and coaching hours per semester
SL = total study load in number of hours
Note: courses listed in the same cell cannot be taken separately
Note: courses marked with an asterisk are taught by means of self study. The course tutor will be available at predetermined timeslots for individual feedback and questions.
Course Unit Descriptions for All English-taught semester programmes (if not available yet for the upcoming academic year please select the current year)
Next to ‘Taal’ select ‘English’
Next to ‘Opleiding’ select ‘Global Business Management 1 – ETS GBM1’ for Autumn semester or ‘Global Business Management 2 – ETS GBM2’ for Spring semester.
Course overview: Global Business Management II: Spring
GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT II - COMPULSORY MODULES (27 ECTS but only 24 ECTS when staying a full year) | HTC | n-TC | SL |
CULTURAL & SOCIO-ECONOMIC INTRODUCTION TO BELGIUMÂ - 3 ECTS (this module cannot be chosen by students staying a full year) | |||
In this module you will learn about Belgian and Flemish culture and socio-economic data, all in comparison to the socio-economic data of your home country. This module includes a survival course Dutch and visits to several important cities in Belgium. |
20 | 55 | 75 |
AI FUNDAMENTALS - 6 ECTS | |||
GOOD ICT background is recommended. Make sure your laptop runs on Windows Operating System otherwise you can’t install the required software. Turning data into knowledge. Data Visualisation and machine learning
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50 | 100 | 150 |
INTERNATIONAL MARKETING - 3 ECTS | |||
International marketing is the application of marketing principles in more than one country, by companies overseas or across national borders. International marketing is based on an extension of a company’s local marketing strategy, with special attention paid to marketing identification, targeting, and decisions internationally. | 30 | 45 | 75 |
WEBSITE MANAGEMENT - 3 ECTS | |||
The objective of this course is to obtain insight in analogue and/or digital tools (e.g. UX Design and Customer/Buyer Journey) to gather and analyse quantitative and qualitative marketing data. You will come across the typical jargon in the field and the legal framework concerning privacy, intellectual property and e-commerce. You will be able to build a commercial website taking into account a specific target audience. | 20 | 55 | 75 |
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: BUSINESS GAME - 3 ECTS | |||
Students will play an international business game in teams. The game consists of different rounds with increasing degree of difficulty in the team decisions. | 20 | 55 | 75 |
PROJECT CONSUMER AWARENESS – 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
INCLUSIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION - 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT - 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
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ELECTIVE COURSES (3 or 6 ECTS FROM THE MODULES BELOW) | HTC | n-TC | SL |
EVENT & PROJECT MANAGEMENT – 3 ECTS Focus on SMART, teamwork, phases of project management, after-action review. |
20 | 55 | 75 |
CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE - 6 ECTS |
60 | 90 | 150 |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW – 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT - 3 ECTS |
20 | 55 | 75 |
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH – 3 ECTS |
6 | 69 | 75 |
ENGLISH FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS – 3 ECTS (evening course) |
20 | 55 | 75 |
INTERNSHIP – 12 ECTS |
10 | 290 | 300 |
ECTS = European Credit Transfer System
HTC = Hours of teaching and coaching during the semester
n-TC = non-teaching and coaching hours per semester
SL = total study load in number of hours
Note: courses listed in the same cell cannot be taken separately
Note: courses marked with an asterisk are taught by means of self study. The course tutor will be available at predetermined timeslots for individual feedback and questions.
Course Unit Descriptions for All English-taught semester programmes (if not available yet for the upcoming academic year please select the current year)
Next to ‘Taal’ select ‘English’
Next to ‘Opleiding’ select ‘Global Business Management 1 – ETS GBM1’ for Autumn semester or ‘Global Business Management 2 – ETS GBM2’ for Spring semester.
Attending this programme as a (non-exchange) Postgraduate Certificate student
This English-taught semester can be taken as a Postgraduate Certificate Programme.
Here you will find more general information on our English-taught semesters as Postgraduate Certificate programmes, such as eligibility, selection and application.
The tuition fee for this specific Postgraduate Certificate semester is €1000 per semester (30 ECTS), which is non-refundable.
Please also refer to the specific Prerequisite information linked to this Postgraduate Certificate Programme to be sure you have all of the needed requirements.
Prerequisites
Minimum 2 successfully completed semesters in a Bachelor Business programme or an equivalent of 60 ECTS. This will need to be confirmed by means of an official certificate, a survey of completed courses, or a signed letter from the sending university.
Click here for Howest language expectations.
All students should bring their own laptop, with all necessary and officially licensed software. The course overview above mentions any further specific software necessary for the course unit. Howest applies a very strict policy on the use of legal software.
Non-exchange students can only attend the English-taught semester as a Postgraduate course and need to have completed at least a full Bachelor degree programme at the time they start the English-taught semester course at Howest.