During the course students will learn to conduct a professional market study and market entry plan for an internationalizing client SME. While working with a client company, students will enhance their skills to understand the client needs, communicate with them and respond to their feedback; as well as reporting and project management.

This is the first project module of Global Markets and Trade specialization. The students will work and learn in a real-life assignment on the internationalization efforts of an SME. The project will be tailored for the needs of the client company but the key elements are relatively constant:
- Researching and identifying business opportunities in a new foreign market
- Creating a practical level plan for a market entry
- Making justified recommendations

The module requires strong and goal-oriented commitment on behalf of the student to team work and the contact sessions in the module. The grade will be based partly on the output and the value of the project deliverables to the client company (50%) and partly on the students own commitment, activity and demonstrated professional attitude (50%).

Students will work in teams to implement a real life client project related to the internationalization efforts of an SME as part of this module. Students are expected to show entrepreneurial responsibility for the client projects from start to finish. Teachers will act as coaches in the student's learning processes.

RPL: If the student has acquired the required competence in previous work tasks, recreational activities or on another course, she/he can show the competence with a demonstration and progress faster through the studies.

Strong focus is placed on the student’s ability to search for relevant material. Other materials will be announced by the teachers.

This module is part of the Specialisation Studies, Global Markets and Trade.

Before taking this module, the student has successfully completed the basic modules 1-6 and core module ‘The foundations of growing a global business’ GLO3LH101.

• The student participates in creating a plan based on client company's requirements using various analysis and research. The plan includes justified recommendations with practical and value adding content for the client.
• The student shows a little responsibility for the client project including communication.
• The student follows the given project schedule.

• The student creates a plan based on client company's requirements using various analysis and research. The plan includes justified recommendations with practical and value adding content for the client.
• The student takes responsibility for the client project including communication, alterations to the project based on client demands, incorporating client needs in the project and reporting to the client
• The student uses project management tools to keep the project on schedule

• A student creates an executable plan based client company's requirements including extensive analysis and research. The plan includes well justified recommendations with practical and value adding content for the client.
• The student takes full responsibility and active role in the client project including communication with the client, alterations to the project based on client demands, incorporating client needs in the project and reporting to the client.
• The student can proficiently apply project management tools and skills to keep the project on schedule and on target.

• The student can create a plan based on client company's requirements using various analysis and research. The plan includes justified recommendations with practical and value adding content for the client.
• The student takes responsibility for the client project including communication, alterations to the project based on client demands, incorporating client needs in the project and reporting to the client
• The student can use project management tools to keep the project on schedule