Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (IR)
Study relations among states, international organisations and other actors.
About the course
Study relations among states, international organisations and other actors. You will assess foreign-policy choices and regional cooperation through political theory, historical evidence and current international questions.
What you'll learn
Compare explanations of international political behaviour.
Analyse a foreign-policy decision in context.
Explain the roles and limits of international institutions.
Evaluate regional cooperation and conflict using evidence.
Present a balanced international-relations argument.
Requirements
Prepare with academic English, quantitative reasoning and digital study skills. Prior qualifications and any recognition of prior learning must be assessed against BMIT admission rules before enrolment.
Course content
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
3 learning stages 30 subjects
1Stage 1: Foundations10 subjects
2Stage 2: Core subjects10 subjects
- Diplomacy and International Relations
- African Politics and Governance
- Geopolitics and International Political Economy
- Regional Integration and SADC Governance
- Public International Law
- Peace, Conflict and Development
- International Trade Economics
- Development Economics
- Public Organisation and Management
- Public Policy Analysis
3Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application10 subjects
- International Human Rights Law
- International Finance and Exchange Rates
- Political and Development Communication
- Public Participation and Administrative Communication
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Programme Impact and Evaluation Methods
- International Business Environment
- Project Management Foundations
- Workplace Learning and Professional Portfolio
- Integrated Business Research Project
Subjects in this programme
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
30 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundations
- Academic Literacy and Study Practice. Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
- Digital Business Skills. Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.
- Business Communication. Prepare purposeful communication for colleagues, customers and decision makers. You will organise evidence, adjust tone for different audiences and check whether a message leads to the intended action. Examples include multilingual workplaces, professional correspondence and short management reports.
- Foundations of Public Administration. Examine how public institutions organise accountable services. You will examine public purpose, administrative systems, institutions. Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.
- Political Studies. Compare political institutions, ideas and participation. You will examine political authority, ideologies, political institutions. Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.
- Microeconomics. Study how households and firms make choices under scarcity. You will examine prices, incentives and market structures, then use diagrams and calculations to explain changes in behaviour. Examples include food markets, informal enterprises and access to essential services.
- Macroeconomics. Examine output, employment, inflation and external trade at economy level. You will connect household and business conditions to fiscal, monetary and exchange-rate decisions. Work with published indicators while distinguishing nominal values, real changes and differences between national contexts.
- Public Ethics and Accountability. Evaluate conduct through public duties and transparent reasoning. You will examine public interest, conflicts of interest, transparency. Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.
- Business Statistics. Summarise data and judge the strength of numerical evidence. You will distinguish a population from a sample, choose appropriate summaries and interpret uncertainty. Business examples cover demand, customer service, workforce information and variation in operating performance.
- Research Methods and Evidence Analysis. Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.
Stage 2: Core subjects
- Diplomacy and International Relations. Analyse relations among states and international actors. You will examine international systems, foreign policy, diplomatic institutions. Prepare a diplomatic briefing and classroom negotiation.
- African Politics and Governance. Examine African institutions through historical and contemporary evidence. You will examine state formation, colonial legacies, constitutional change. Prepare a comparative African governance study.
- Geopolitics and International Political Economy. Examine the interaction of geography, power and economic relations. You will examine territory, resources, trade networks. Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.
- Regional Integration and SADC Governance. Evaluate regional cooperation through institutional evidence. You will examine regionalism, sadc institutions, trade integration. Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
- Public International Law. Examine law between states and international actors. You will examine sources, statehood, jurisdiction. Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
- Peace, Conflict and Development. Analyse conflict and negotiated civilian responses. You will examine conflict analysis, structural causes, peace processes. Prepare a civilian peacebuilding proposal.
- International Trade Economics. Explain why economies trade and how trade policy affects producers and consumers. You will compare trade theories, analyse barriers and examine regional integration. Cases address commodity dependence, industrial development and the practical differences between an agreement's stated aims and observed trade outcomes.
- Development Economics. Compare explanations of poverty, growth and structural change. You will examine how institutions, markets and public decisions affect livelihoods, then analyse development interventions using evidence. Southern African cases connect household experience with employment, productive capacity and unequal access to resources and services.
- Public Organisation and Management. Analyse coordination in public organisations. You will examine structures, delegation, coordination. Evaluate an organisation and propose a specific administrative improvement.
- Public Policy Analysis. Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
- International Human Rights Law. Examine international rights systems and domestic interaction. You will examine rights instruments, regional systems, state duties. Prepare a comparative human-rights briefing.
- International Finance and Exchange Rates. Examine financial transactions between economies and the forces affecting exchange rates. You will connect the balance of payments, capital flows and policy choices with business and public-sector exposure. Activities distinguish market relationships from policy assumptions and consider vulnerability to external shocks.
- Political and Development Communication. Plan public communication around participation and evidence. You will examine public audiences, campaigns, development communication. Produce a civic communication plan.
- Public Participation and Administrative Communication. Design accessible participation with accountable follow-up. You will examine stakeholders, consultation methods, accessible communication. Prepare a consultation plan and response-to-submissions report.
- Monitoring and Evaluation. Build evidence systems for programme decisions. You will examine theory of change, indicators, baselines. Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.
- Programme Impact and Evaluation Methods. Assess the evidence supporting claims about programme change. You will examine causal questions, comparison strategies, mixed methods. Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.
- International Business Environment. Explore how firms operate across national boundaries. You will analyse differences in institutions, markets and culture, then examine the effects of trade arrangements and international competition. Regional cases address the practical choices facing firms entering neighbouring markets with limited information and resources.
- Project Management Foundations. Organise a defined piece of work with a clear objective, scope and responsibilities. You will distinguish projects from continuing operations and prepare basic plans for time, resources and communication. The module develops practical records for monitoring progress and recording agreed changes.
- Workplace Learning and Professional Portfolio. Connect taught subjects with supervised or carefully designed simulated professional work. You will agree learning objectives, record tasks and evaluate your decisions against evidence. The portfolio makes your individual contribution visible and identifies areas requiring further practice or specialist supervision.
- Integrated Business Research Project. Investigate a defined business problem by combining knowledge from several management subjects. You will frame a useful question, gather appropriate evidence and compare feasible responses. The final report explains the recommendation, implementation implications and limitations of the enquiry rather than claiming certainty.
Assessment and practical learning
- Theory and foreign-policy essays.
- Evidence-based country or organisation briefs.
- An independent research paper and negotiation reflection.
Practical application
Prepare a proposed diplomatic briefing on a regional issue. Distinguish the positions of participating actors, evaluate evidence and develop reasoned negotiation options without claiming to represent an actual government.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Stage 1: Foundations
Academic Literacy and Study Practice
Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain reading strategies in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between argument structure and academic paragraphs.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing referencing, information checking and study planning.
Main topics
- Reading strategies
- Argument structure
- Academic paragraphs
- Referencing
- Information checking
- Study planning
Practical task
Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Digital Business Skills
Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.
Learning outcomes
- Build a checked spreadsheet
- Organise retrievable business documents
- Apply appropriate access permissions
Main topics
- File organisation
- Word processing
- Spreadsheet formulas
- Presentations
- Collaborative working
- Privacy and access
Practical task
Create a shared office information pack with formulas, document versions and access instructions.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Business Communication
Prepare purposeful communication for colleagues, customers and decision makers. You will organise evidence, adjust tone for different audiences and check whether a message leads to the intended action. Examples include multilingual workplaces, professional correspondence and short management reports.
Learning outcomes
- Write a concise business report
- Record decisions and assigned actions
- Present evidence for a defined audience
Main topics
- Audience and purpose
- Professional correspondence
- Report structure
- Meeting records
- Presentations
- Intercultural communication
Practical task
Produce a report, meeting record and five-minute briefing about a service problem.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Foundations of Public Administration
Examine how public institutions organise accountable services. You will examine public purpose, administrative systems, institutions. Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain public purpose in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between administrative systems and institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing public servants, service delivery and accountability.
Main topics
- Public purpose
- Administrative systems
- Institutions
- Public servants
- Service delivery
- Accountability
Practical task
Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Political Studies
Compare political institutions, ideas and participation. You will examine political authority, ideologies, political institutions. Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.
Learning outcomes
- Explain political authority in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between ideologies and political institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing representation, participation and power.
Main topics
- Political authority
- Ideologies
- Political institutions
- Representation
- Participation
- Power
Practical task
Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Microeconomics
Study how households and firms make choices under scarcity. You will examine prices, incentives and market structures, then use diagrams and calculations to explain changes in behaviour. Examples include food markets, informal enterprises and access to essential services.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse a market change
- Calculate and interpret elasticity
- Compare competitive and concentrated markets
Main topics
- Scarcity and choice
- Demand and supply
- Elasticity
- Consumer choice
- Production and costs
- Market structures
Practical task
Explain a local price change using data, diagrams and alternative explanations.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Macroeconomics
Examine output, employment, inflation and external trade at economy level. You will connect household and business conditions to fiscal, monetary and exchange-rate decisions. Work with published indicators while distinguishing nominal values, real changes and differences between national contexts.
Learning outcomes
- Interpret a macroeconomic indicator
- Explain a policy transmission process
- Distinguish nominal and real changes
Main topics
- National accounts
- Growth and employment
- Inflation
- Fiscal policy
- Money and banking
- External balance
Practical task
Prepare an economic conditions briefing comparing two Southern African economies.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Public Ethics and Accountability
Evaluate conduct through public duties and transparent reasoning. You will examine public interest, conflicts of interest, transparency. Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.
Learning outcomes
- Explain public interest in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between conflicts of interest and transparency.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing integrity controls, complaints and accountability.
Main topics
- Public interest
- Conflicts of interest
- Transparency
- Integrity controls
- Complaints
- Accountability
Practical task
Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Business Statistics
Summarise data and judge the strength of numerical evidence. You will distinguish a population from a sample, choose appropriate summaries and interpret uncertainty. Business examples cover demand, customer service, workforce information and variation in operating performance.
Learning outcomes
- Select an appropriate data summary
- Interpret a confidence interval
- Explain limits of a correlation
Main topics
- Sampling
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability distributions
- Confidence intervals
- Hypothesis testing
- Correlation and regression
Practical task
Analyse an anonymised service dataset and write a short evidence report.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Research Methods and Evidence Analysis
Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.
Learning outcomes
- Formulate a research question
- Select a defensible research design
- Prepare an ethical data collection plan
Main topics
- Research questions
- Literature review
- Design choices
- Sampling
- Ethics
- Data analysis
Practical task
Submit a research proposal, instruments and a worked analysis of a pilot dataset.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Stage 2: Core subjects
Diplomacy and International Relations
Analyse relations among states and international actors. You will examine international systems, foreign policy, diplomatic institutions. Prepare a diplomatic briefing and classroom negotiation.
Learning outcomes
- Explain international systems in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between foreign policy and diplomatic institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing negotiation, international organisations and cooperation.
Main topics
- International systems
- Foreign policy
- Diplomatic institutions
- Negotiation
- International organisations
- Cooperation
Practical task
Prepare a diplomatic briefing and classroom negotiation.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
African Politics and Governance
Examine African institutions through historical and contemporary evidence. You will examine state formation, colonial legacies, constitutional change. Prepare a comparative African governance study.
Learning outcomes
- Explain state formation in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between colonial legacies and constitutional change.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing political parties, civil society and regional governance.
Main topics
- State formation
- Colonial legacies
- Constitutional change
- Political parties
- Civil society
- Regional governance
Practical task
Prepare a comparative African governance study.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Geopolitics and International Political Economy
Examine the interaction of geography, power and economic relations. You will examine territory, resources, trade networks. Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.
Learning outcomes
- Explain territory in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between resources and trade networks.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing global institutions, strategic interests and regional choices.
Main topics
- Territory
- Resources
- Trade networks
- Global institutions
- Strategic interests
- Regional choices
Practical task
Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Regional Integration and SADC Governance
Evaluate regional cooperation through institutional evidence. You will examine regionalism, sadc institutions, trade integration. Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
Learning outcomes
- Explain regionalism in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between sadc institutions and trade integration.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing mobility, shared resources and implementation.
Main topics
- Regionalism
- SADC institutions
- Trade integration
- Mobility
- Shared resources
- Implementation
Practical task
Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public International Law
Examine law between states and international actors. You will examine sources, statehood, jurisdiction. Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
Learning outcomes
- Explain sources in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between statehood and jurisdiction.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing treaties, responsibility and dispute settlement.
Main topics
- Sources
- Statehood
- Jurisdiction
- Treaties
- Responsibility
- Dispute settlement
Practical task
Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Peace, Conflict and Development
Analyse conflict and negotiated civilian responses. You will examine conflict analysis, structural causes, peace processes. Prepare a civilian peacebuilding proposal.
Learning outcomes
- Explain conflict analysis in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between structural causes and peace processes.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing mediation, reconstruction and development.
Main topics
- Conflict analysis
- Structural causes
- Peace processes
- Mediation
- Reconstruction
- Development
Practical task
Prepare a civilian peacebuilding proposal.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
International Trade Economics
Explain why economies trade and how trade policy affects producers and consumers. You will compare trade theories, analyse barriers and examine regional integration. Cases address commodity dependence, industrial development and the practical differences between an agreement's stated aims and observed trade outcomes.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse a trade barrier
- Compare trade policy arguments
- Evaluate an integration outcome
Main topics
- Trade theories
- Comparative advantage
- Tariffs and quotas
- Trade policy
- Regional integration
- Trade and development
Practical task
Prepare a trade policy analysis for a selected Southern African sector.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Development Economics
Compare explanations of poverty, growth and structural change. You will examine how institutions, markets and public decisions affect livelihoods, then analyse development interventions using evidence. Southern African cases connect household experience with employment, productive capacity and unequal access to resources and services.
Learning outcomes
- Compare development explanations
- Interpret an inequality measure
- Evaluate a development intervention
Main topics
- Development theories
- Poverty and inequality
- Institutions
- Structural change
- Human development
- Policy interventions
Practical task
Prepare a development policy appraisal using a clearly defined community or sector case.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Public Organisation and Management
Analyse coordination in public organisations. You will examine structures, delegation, coordination. Evaluate an organisation and propose a specific administrative improvement.
Learning outcomes
- Explain structures in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between delegation and coordination.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing organisational culture, performance and administrative reform.
Main topics
- Structures
- Delegation
- Coordination
- Organisational culture
- Performance
- Administrative reform
Practical task
Evaluate an organisation and propose a specific administrative improvement.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public Policy Analysis
Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem framing in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between policy actors and options.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing policy instruments, implementation and evaluation.
Main topics
- Problem framing
- Policy actors
- Options
- Policy instruments
- Implementation
- Evaluation
Practical task
Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
International Human Rights Law
Examine international rights systems and domestic interaction. You will examine rights instruments, regional systems, state duties. Prepare a comparative human-rights briefing.
Learning outcomes
- Explain rights instruments in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between regional systems and state duties.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing monitoring, complaints and implementation.
Main topics
- Rights instruments
- Regional systems
- State duties
- Monitoring
- Complaints
- Implementation
Practical task
Prepare a comparative human-rights briefing.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
International Finance and Exchange Rates
Examine financial transactions between economies and the forces affecting exchange rates. You will connect the balance of payments, capital flows and policy choices with business and public-sector exposure. Activities distinguish market relationships from policy assumptions and consider vulnerability to external shocks.
Learning outcomes
- Interpret external accounts
- Analyse exchange-rate exposure
- Evaluate an external adjustment option
Main topics
- Balance of payments
- Exchange-rate regimes
- Parity conditions
- Capital flows
- External debt
- Financial crises
Practical task
Write an external-sector risk briefing with a currency scenario analysis.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Political and Development Communication
Plan public communication around participation and evidence. You will examine public audiences, campaigns, development communication. Produce a civic communication plan.
Learning outcomes
- Explain public audiences in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between campaigns and development communication.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing political narratives, participation and evaluation.
Main topics
- Public audiences
- Campaigns
- Development communication
- Political narratives
- Participation
- Evaluation
Practical task
Produce a civic communication plan.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public Participation and Administrative Communication
Design accessible participation with accountable follow-up. You will examine stakeholders, consultation methods, accessible communication. Prepare a consultation plan and response-to-submissions report.
Learning outcomes
- Explain stakeholders in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between consultation methods and accessible communication.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing meeting practice, feedback and decision records.
Main topics
- Stakeholders
- Consultation methods
- Accessible communication
- Meeting practice
- Feedback
- Decision records
Practical task
Prepare a consultation plan and response-to-submissions report.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Build evidence systems for programme decisions. You will examine theory of change, indicators, baselines. Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain theory of change in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between indicators and baselines.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing data collection, analysis and use of findings.
Main topics
- Theory of change
- Indicators
- Baselines
- Data collection
- Analysis
- Use of findings
Practical task
Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Programme Impact and Evaluation Methods
Assess the evidence supporting claims about programme change. You will examine causal questions, comparison strategies, mixed methods. Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.
Learning outcomes
- Explain causal questions in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between comparison strategies and mixed methods.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing contribution, bias and interpretation.
Main topics
- Causal questions
- Comparison strategies
- Mixed methods
- Contribution
- Bias
- Interpretation
Practical task
Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
International Business Environment
Explore how firms operate across national boundaries. You will analyse differences in institutions, markets and culture, then examine the effects of trade arrangements and international competition. Regional cases address the practical choices facing firms entering neighbouring markets with limited information and resources.
Learning outcomes
- Assess a foreign market
- Explain institutional differences
- Compare international entry conditions
Main topics
- Internationalisation
- Institutions
- Trade arrangements
- Cultural context
- Country risk
- Market screening
Practical task
Prepare a country and market screening report for a Southern African enterprise.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Project Management Foundations
Organise a defined piece of work with a clear objective, scope and responsibilities. You will distinguish projects from continuing operations and prepare basic plans for time, resources and communication. The module develops practical records for monitoring progress and recording agreed changes.
Learning outcomes
- Define a project scope
- Build a work breakdown structure
- Report project progress
Main topics
- Project purpose
- Life cycle
- Scope
- Work breakdown
- Responsibilities
- Progress reporting
Practical task
Prepare a project charter, work breakdown and progress report for a small initiative.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Workplace Learning and Professional Portfolio
Connect taught subjects with supervised or carefully designed simulated professional work. You will agree learning objectives, record tasks and evaluate your decisions against evidence. The portfolio makes your individual contribution visible and identifies areas requiring further practice or specialist supervision.
Learning outcomes
- Set assessable workplace objectives
- Document your contribution
- Evaluate professional learning needs
Main topics
- Learning agreement
- Professional conduct
- Work evidence
- Supervisor feedback
- Reflective analysis
- Improvement planning
Practical task
Compile a verified or simulated workplace portfolio with supervisor or facilitator feedback.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Integrated Business Research Project
Investigate a defined business problem by combining knowledge from several management subjects. You will frame a useful question, gather appropriate evidence and compare feasible responses. The final report explains the recommendation, implementation implications and limitations of the enquiry rather than claiming certainty.
Learning outcomes
- Frame a researchable business problem
- Analyse relevant evidence
- Defend a feasible recommendation
Main topics
- Problem definition
- Research ethics
- Evidence collection
- Analysis
- Recommendations
- Implementation evaluation
Practical task
Complete an individual business investigation and present the resulting improvement proposal.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Instructors
