Business Projects is a capstone-style course designed for students specializing in International Business. The course focuses on developing a comprehensive international marketing plan, requiring students to apply and integrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their studies. Each semester, students work on a project that mirrors real-world challenges faced by companies operating across borders. At the core of the course are marketing and marketing research. Students are expected to systematically investigate international markets, gathering and interpreting data to evaluate opportunities and risks. This involves identifying customer needs, analyzing competitors, and examining cultural, economic, and regulatory environments. Research findings provide the basis for strategic decision-making and the design of a marketing plan that is both realistic and innovative. The course emphasizes critical thinking, project management, and teamwork in a multicultural context. Students strengthen their ability to translate theory into practice by combining marketing concepts with evidence-based insights. Collaboration, creativity, and structured analysis are essential elements. By the end of the course, students will deliver a structured international marketing plan and demonstrate the ability to use marketing research as a foundation for strategic recommendations—skills directly transferable to careers in international business.

The learning objectives of this course combine analytical, methodological, and practical competencies that are essential for careers in international business and marketing. Students will not only deepen their understanding of marketing concepts and research methods but also gain experience in applying them to complex, real-world contexts. By the end of the course, they will have developed both the technical expertise and the soft skills necessary to operate effectively in global environments. In detail, the learning objectives of the course are as follows:

• Design and present a structured international marketing plan based on systematic analysis and research
• Apply marketing concepts in an international context and evaluate opportunities and risks across markets
• Conduct and interpret marketing research to support evidence-based strategic decision-making
• Analyze competition, customer needs, and cultural influences in global business environments
• Strengthening skills in teamwork, project management, and intercultural collaboration
• Communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively in both written and oral formats
• Develop creativity and problem-solving abilities to propose innovative and feasible strategies
• Integrate analytical, methodological, and practical competencies relevant to international business and marketing

The course follows a flipped classroom approach designed to foster active learning and critical engagement. Students are expected to prepare before class by conducting independent research on key concepts and methods. Classroom time is then dedicated to discussion, application, and peer feedback, ensuring that theoretical insights are directly connected to the project task. This method emphasizes teamwork, self-directed learning, and the practical application of marketing and research tools in an international business context.

The assessment strategy for this course is designed to reflect the applied and project-based nature of the learning experience. Students are evaluated through a combination of group work and individual contributions, ensuring that both teamwork and personal development are taken into account.

Over the semester, students will deliver three structured presentations. The first is a content presentation (15 minutes) in which students introduce key concepts, frameworks, or methods relevant to their project. This task emphasizes preparation, research, and the ability to explain complex ideas clearly. The second is a mid-term presentation (20 minutes), where teams present the results of their production location analysis and demonstrate how marketing research supports their findings. This stage tests students’ analytical abilities and their capacity to translate data into meaningful insights. The third is a final presentation (25 minutes), in which students propose a concrete action plan, combining market analysis, strategic reasoning, and marketing recommendations. This capstone presentation highlights their ability to design a coherent, evidence-based international marketing plan.

 In addition to group work, each student must submit a one-page self-reflection on their learning process, focusing on how they applied marketing and research skills in practice. To encourage accountability and fair collaboration, students also complete a peer review, evaluating the engagement and contributions of their group members. This multifaceted assessment ensures that students are recognized for both their collective achievements and their individual growth.

Grades are distributed as follows:

• Group presentation 1: Content presentation (20 %)
• Group presentation 2: Analysis (30 %)
• Group presentation 3: Action plan (30 %
• Self-Reflection (10 %)
• Peer Review (10 %)

Grading scale: 

• 1 (90-100 %)
• 2 (80-89 %)
• 3 (70-79%)
• 4 (51-69%)
• 5 (0-50%)

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