International Education Office: Early Start Semester in Management and Marketing in the European Union
Duration: Late August - Mid-December
What is the Early Start Semester in Management and Marketing in the European Union?
MG2200 Early Start Semester in Management and Marketing in the European Union
The Early Start Semester in Management and Marketing in the European Union provides visiting students with a comprehensive introduction to doing business in Europe.
The programme utilises a combination of classroom sessions, visits to local companies, and guest speakers from industry and government, to provide participants with an informed perspective on key areas of Irish and European industry.
Participants can expect to spend four mornings per week in the seminar room, covering the conceptual material which will allow them to analyse the strategies of a number of diverse businesses. Most of the teaching on the programme is delivered by lecturers within the Department of Management and Marketing. Participants can expect to benefit from the expertise of members of staff in key areas including Strategy, Operations Management, Consumer Behaviour, Innovation, Tourism and Food Marketing.
Guest lecturers will be present to deliver their specialist knowledge in other related areas of the programme. Guest speakers in the past have included Mr. Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament, who lectured on the topic of European integration, and Mr. Mark Fielding, CEO of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, who spoke about the opportunities and challenges faced by Irish entrepreneurs.
What will I be Studying?
Introduction to the European Union
The programme begins with an intensive study of the social, historical, and political background to the formation and institutions of the EU. This is essential if participants are to understand how fundamental the EU has been to the development of Irish society and the Irish economy. The first week of the programme includes a three day field trip in the Cork/Kerry region to visit local companies who operate locally and globally such as and Skelligs Chocolates, who export gourmet chocolates all over the world from their base in Co. Kerry.
Small Enterprise Management/Operations Management
During the second week of the programme students are given the opportunity to experience two sectors of the Irish economy at first hand – the small enterprise sector and the multinational sector. As an English speaking country within the EU, Ireland has long offered an excellent location to US businesses wishing to locate their manufacturing here. Visits to companies such as Pfizer provide a great opportunity to gain an understanding of Operations Management outside the classroom environment.
With regard to the small enterprise sector, students will have the opportunity to meet with guest lecturers and other senior figures with a great depth of personal experience and knowledge of the issues and challenges facing the small enterprise sector in a European context.
Marketing/Innovation
Week three of the programme takes an in-depth look at European Marketing and Consumer Behaviour. We examine case studies in online marketing, trends in European food consumption, and the issues faced by organisations trying to foster an innovative culture.
Tourism and Marketing/Conclusion of Group Research Project
During the final week of the programme students will return to the classroom, to reflect critically on the observations gathered over the course of their fieldtrips. Particular attention is paid to the tourism and leisure sector. In the second half of the week the students give presentations on the research projects they have carried out over the four week period of the programme. Students are encouraged to make use of multimedia and training is provided to facilitate this. This group project and presentation exercise is seen as an integral part of the programme.
Field Trips
A series of field trips will take place throughout the programme. These have been designed to provide first-hand experience of the topics discussed in class and will give students the opportunity to study different forms of enterprise in different parts of the country. In addition, the field trips will allow participants to experience something of the history and culture of the country. Updated information on field trips will be available from the Department of Management and Marketing and the International Education Office.
Entry Requirements
The minimum G.P.A. requirement for admission to the Early Start Semester in Management and Marketing in the European Union is normally 3.0 out of 4.0
Further Information
For further information contact the International Education Office
Email: isoffice@ucc.ie
