Business, Language and Culture - Business and Development Studies Copenhagen Business School (CBS)

Overview

More and more European firms are undertaking foreign direct investment in emerging markets and developing countries. The Business and Development Studies concentration focuses on managing activities in these areas, characterised by low living standards and income, as well as great economic potential and growing industries.

The concentration explores the interface between business economics and development studies. You learn to understand the complex relationship between the strategies of multinational corporations and the strategy of host country development with emphasis on investments of multinational corporations in emerging markets and developing countries. You also learn to analyse the particular conditions of formulating, implementing and managing strategy in developing countries and emerging markets, as well as assessing the role that companies and organisations play in economic development processes. 

The Business, Language and Culture - Business and Development Studies MSc course from the Copenhagen Business School (CBS) offers you knowledge within social, political, economic and cultural issues in developing countries. You learn about the complexity of working with projects and tasks in developing countries and emerging markets, and you get to understand market and private sector driven development, including aid interventions in support of local business development and poverty relief. You also learn about the social, infrastructural, economic, political and legislative conditions companies face when operating in emerging markets, since working in developing countries requires detailed knowledge of e.g. your dependence on factors, governments and legislative rules, in order to manage projects.

This concentration also provides you with knowledge of collaborations between the private and the public sector. You will dig into the strategic and cross-cultural challenges when working in developing and emerging markets, as well as into the possible ethical challenges and dilemmas you might meet in relation to such contexts.

The international focus of the concentration and the introduction into theoretical areas combined with actual real life cases exposes you to different companies and institutions. You are also introduced to working across cultures as part of your studies, which prepares you for work in an international environment. You will have the tools and methodologies for working with investments, projects and interventions in developing countries and emerging markets.

Career Opportunities

With a degree in Business and Development Studies you can work within different fields.

Examples of jobs held by graduates of this concentration:

• Employee at the UN and other international organisations
• Project manager in developing country subsidiaries of international firms
• Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility
• Marketing function related to emerging markets
• Project manager in NGO working with developing countries
• Civil servant in foreign affairs ministries
• Consultant in development oriented consultancies