We all know that Asia is hugely important as the producer of more and more of the world’s consumer goods and that the Asian markets are rapidly growing in size and importance. We can also read about the increasing global economic and political influence of China. However, from a business perspective Asia is much more than just big markets, high growth rates and economic power. It is about understanding a part of the world that is fundamentally and very quickly rewriting the rules of global competition and business.

Understanding new rules and a different playing field
Companies need international business specialists that understand and can adapt business activities to the very different playing field that applies in an Asian business context. The Western approach to commerce is no longer dominant – now the East is doing business on its own terms. One example would be how Asian state intervention and state subsidies shift the competitiveness of industries and companies. Another would be how very large Asian state- or family-owned business conglomerates create a highly complex business environment where you need to understand the whole network that a company is part of in order to do business. Yet another example would be how historical and cultural patterns create a very different setting for negotiations, communication and relationships with Asian partners. Asian business understanding is not an “add-on” to a traditional business education. It is a specialisation in itself.

Managing complexity across borders and cultures
To create Asia business specialists who can successfully navigate this complexity, the IBA focuses on three key areas:

• You must understand business conditions through traditional management courses such as finance, accounting, marketing and organization. You will learn the fundamental concepts of international business and gain insights into topics of international management.
• You must understand the special conditions of Asian business, economics and markets.
• You must understand the cultural traits and traditions that shape Asian societies and Asian business and management cultures. These three key areas are of equal importance. It is the integrated understanding you will gain from working with all three together that will allow you to understand and analyse Asian business challenges, risks and opportunities – and develop and implement relevant solutions.

The programme also includes a significant language component where you will learn both written and spoken Mandarin Chinese. Understanding Chinese is an important key to gaining a deeper understanding of Asian culture. At the same time, your language skills will allow you to access information and form personal relationships that are important for doing business in Asia and which non-Chinese speakers cannot. Of course, Chinese is just one of many Asian languages, but it is increasingly becoming the principal Asian business language along with English.

Hands-on experience in Asia
The unique four-year structure of the programme allow students to spend two full semesters in Asia. All students spend the fourth semester at Beijing International Studies University. In addition, you can spend the seventh semester on exchange in China or another Asian country. This allows you to gain practical intercultural experience while also improving your Chinese language proficiency and further developing your international business skills.

Hear it from the students

Click below and hear why Freja chose BSc in Business, Asian Language and Culture - International Business in Asia and get her advise in regards to studying at CBS: