The topics provided are designed to give students an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the characteristics (history, culture, negotiation) of East Asia (here: China, South Korea, Japan), their companies and internationlization strategies. This course delivers research-led, contemporary discussions and analyses of these markets and their actors.

Students will get an understanding of the peculiarities of East Asia, their challenges and future outlook. In addition, we look at how companies from abroad behave when entering East Asian markets and the other way around, i.e. East Asian market firms entering foreign countries.

The course format is interactive. Students will be trained on a theoretical and practical level by engaging in in-class discussions, solving cases and presenting their analyses.

The course design comprises the following teaching methods: lectures, in-class discussions, presentations of academic papers and case analyses/presentations. Students are asked to be prepared for each class which should act as a basis. Thus, they are expected to do required readings which are specified for each session as well as apply theoretical frameworks discussed in class to real-life examples of firms in different countries/institutional settings.

• individual participation (40%). Participation is assessed based on the attendance, quality of preparation and active contribution in class (incl. short in-class presentations). Attendance is required and students are allowed to miss (no more than) one session. In cases of illness or emergency students are kindly asked to send an e-mail to the lecturer.
• reflection paper (5%). A reflection paper of each student has to be handed in a week after the last session (500 words). It should highlight the main take-aways from a theoretical and practical perspective.
• peer rating (10%). Due to counter free-riding problems, every group member evaluates contributions of the other group members.

• case study presentations (40%). Group of max. 5 people are pre-assigned. They are required to do two presentations. A report of the two presentations has to be handed in a week after the last session.
• commentary by groups (5%). Each group has to comment on another group’s presentations (max. 1 page, no bullet-points, full sentences).