International Entrepreneurship

The course International Entrepreneurship is a course within the Master of Science programmes at the Graduate School, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg.

To be eligible for the course International Entrepreneurship, the participant must fulfil the entrance qualifications for one of the Master of Science programmes at the Graduate School.

The underlying ambition of the course is to develop an understanding of the critical challenges and opportunities met by internationally growth aspiring firms. By drawing on recent insights in International Entrepreneurship research, course participants will discuss and analyse factors central to sustainable international expansion of SMEs.

Central and critical issues explaining the rise of International Entrepreneurship research is covered and several aspects related to internationalisation is discussed, including the role of international opportunities and their characteristics, the influence on performance of time, temporality and speed of SME internationalisation, and internal explanations to successful internationalisation. Students are also trained in understanding the role of internationalisation capabilities and the process of capability development. In addition to internal explanations, the course covers external antecedents to successful internationalisation and covers areas such as the business network and social capital of the firm or manager. Finally, the course contain elements challenging a causal and planning based logic when seeking to scale operations internationally in favor of a more improvisational and agile view on internationalisation plans and strategies.

By developing an in-depth understanding of recent research developments in the field of firm internationalisation course participants will understand how and why resource constrained and inexperienced SMEs can develop sustainable international growth strategies compensating for their in liability of smallness. Emphasis will be given to newly started and inexperienced firms operating in developing industries and students will be trained for acting in key positions in such firms and in the innovation system.

After completion of the course, students will have developed and shown an enhanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities met by internationally growth aspiring Small- and Medium- sized Enterprises (SME). On successful completion of the
course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding
1. describe, explain and present the specific challenges and opportunities met by SMEs when identifying, evaluating and developing international opportunities
2. describe, explain and contrast various and sometimes conflicting theoretical explanations of the internationalisation of SMEs
3. give an account of, and explain, the role of internal (capability development) and external (network) factors in determining the internationalisation performance of SMEs
4. give an account of, and explain, the role and interest of the regional and national innovation system in catalysing internationalisation of SMEs

Competence and skills
5. design research anchored internationalisation strategies for SMEs with international growth ambitions
6. design research anchored SME internationalisation catalysing strategies for actors in the innovation system
7. analyze, evaluate and conclude on the meaning of well-developed plans in contrast to more improvisational and effectual strategies for SMEs aspiring to grow internationally

Judgement and approach
8. critically evaluate potential boundary conditions of international entrepreneurship research when designing internationalisation strategies
9. communicate insights from international entrepreneurship research to stakeholders in academia, industry and the innovation system.

Teaching takes place in the form of lectures, seminars and student presentations.

Language of instruction: English

Learning outcomes 1-4 are assessed through an individual report and seminars. Learning outcomes 5-9 are assessed through a group report and a group presentation.

Participation in the seminars is mandatory.

If a student fails on the group report and/or seminar(s) the student can supplement the group report and seminar(s) in order to receive a pass grade. Absence from compulsory elements could be replaced by assignments given by the examiner.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed.

The number of examinations is limited to five.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E) and Fail (F).

Pass is required on all examination forms.The grade (A-E) on the course corresponds to the total score a student obtains on the Individual Report (40%), Group Report (40%), and Seminar Performance (20%).To receive a pass grade (A-E) >= 50% points is
required.

The scale is tied to fixed score intervals:

A: 85-100%
B: 75-84%
C: 68-74%
D: 60-67%
E: 50-59%

The course will be evaluated upon completion. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.