Course Name: Theories and Research in International Business
Time and place: Autumn, 2025 (preliminarily 27.-30.10.2025), Oulu Business School, University of Oulu, Finland.
Learning goal and objectives: The course gives an overview of main theories and research traditions in the area of international business (IB). Students learn about key studies, the history and current situation of the field, as well as future trends in major streams of IB research will be discussed. The key themes discussed in the course will include internationalization process, international new ventures, entry modes especially FDIs including cross-border M&As, global value chains, sustainability in international business, migration and diaspora in international business, and international knowledge transfer. Participants develop their scientific argumentation and writing skills by reading, analyzing, and discussing relevant research, which in turn facilitates their work in designing and writing a doctoral thesis. The course gives a good basis for formulating research problems and conducting doctoral research in the field of international business.
Instruction and examination: The course includes 1) pre-course work with reading a package of research articles, 2) 4-day intensive instruction with lecturing and discussion and 3) writing of a final research paper. The course examination is based on active participation during the course and a written report on a chosen IB topic.
Credits: 6 ECTS
Grading: 1-5
Prerequisites: PhD Student
Admittance: 25 students are admitted to the course. To apply, send the application to the course coordinator by September 15th, 2025.
Instructors:
Zaheer Khan, Professor, Professor in Strategy & International Business at Business School, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK and Director Africa-Asia Centre for Sustainability, University of Aberdeen Scotland. Associate Editor: Critical Perspectives on in International Business. Editorial board member: British Journal of Management, Journal of World Business, Management International Review, International Studies of Management & Organization, Multinational Business Review, and Journal of Knowledge Management. Areas of research interests: Ambidexterity, capability development, international knowledge transfer, and sustainability, among others.
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/zaheer.khan
Maria Elo, Professor in International Business & Entrepreneurship, Southern Denmark University, Denmark & Distinguished Professor in International Business & Entrepreneurship, Shanghai University, China. Guest edited several journal special issues and books on the areas of research interests which include International business, -entrepreneurship and -migration especially internationalization, migrant and diaspora entrepreneurship, transnational and family businesses, and diaspora networks in international business.
https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/persons/melo
Ahmad Arslan, Adj. Professor in International Business, University of Oulu Finland & Honorary Professor, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. Associate Editor: International Journal of Entrepreneurship & Small Business. Editorial board member of British Journal of Management, Journal of International Management, Journal of Knowledge Management, International Journal of Emerging Markets, and Journal of East-West Business. Areas of research interests: Agility & Resilience, Entrepreneurship, FDI, M&As, and global value chains, among others. https://www.oulu.fi/oulubusinessschool/personnel/arslan-ahmad
Tuija Mainela, Professor, University of Oulu Business School, Finland, editorial board member of Industrial Marketing Management and Journal of International Entrepreneurship, research focus: international entrepreneurship, internationalization of firms, dynamics of business networks and interpersonal relationships https://www.oulu.fi/university/researcher/tuija-mainela
Instructors may be added or changed if a need arises.
Course coordinator and contact information: Anastasia Pojiltov, Anastasia.Pojiltov@oulu.fi