COURSE SYLLABUS
Communication in a Cross-Cultural Context, 7.5 credits
Communication in a Cross-Cultural Context, 7,5 högskolepoäng
Course Syllabus for students Autumn 2024
Course Code: JCCG19
Confirmed by: Council for Undergraduate and Masters Education May 3, 2018
Revised by: Examiner Oct 11, 2023
Valid From: Jan 15, 2024
Version: 4
Education Cycle: First-cycle level
Disciplinary domain: Social sciences
Subject group: FE1
Specialised in: G1N
Main field of study: Business Administration

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

On completion of the course, the students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

1. account for relevant concepts, models, and theories related to communication in a cross-cultural context
2. account for basic academic research on intercultural communication
3. describe challenges of communicating in an intercultural world

Skills and abilities

4. craft academic papers and reports, using appropriate layout and referencing style
5. formulate a relevant question related to intercultural communication in business and discuss it by applying relevant theory
6. conduct oral presentation in front of peers
7. work effectively in a cross-cultural team

Judgement and approach

8. reflect on the role of your own intercultural competence in intercultural interactions
9. reflect on the role of cross-cultural communication for supporting inclusion and ethical practices in businesses

Contents

Drawing on perspectives and theories from business administration and communication, the course ”Communication in a cross-cultural context” provides a broad understanding of communication in intercultural settings. The course provides students basics concepts and theories and introduces them to the practice of oral, written and non-verbal communication in the context of international management studies. To enable participants to be effective as business students and subsequently as business practitioners, the course also provides basic skills in understanding and producing academic texts and oral presentation. Finally, to develop each participant's ability to function effectively in a cross-cultural environment, the course offers this kind of practice.

Relevant aspects in the course include:

• cultural differences in communication
• reflecting on the role of intercultural communications in business settings
• cultural identity, cultural biases and social stressors
• the use of verbal and nonverbal communication
• understanding and producing academic texts, including relating to conventions on writing style and referencing,
• delivering oral presentations
• effectiveness of communication for different contexts
• conflicts and cross-cultural communication
• acculturation and cultural change
• intercultural communication competence development

Type of instruction

The course includes lectures, seminars, group work, and oral as well as written examination. Compulsory and active participation required on the sessions.

The teaching is conducted in English.

Prerequisites

General entry requirements and Mathematics 3b or 3c, Civics 1b or 1a1+1a2 with required grades E (or the equivalent).

Examination and grades

The course is graded A, B, C, D, E, FX or F.

The intended learning outcomes are mainly assessed as follows:
Individual reflection ILOs: 4, 5, 8
Individual case submission: 3, 4, 9
Group assignment ILOs: 4, 5, 6, 7
Individual written exam ILOs: 1-3

Registration of examination:
All parts of compulsory examination in the course must be passed with a passing grade (A-E) before a final grade can be set. The final grade of the course is determined by the sum total of points for all parts of examination in the course (0-100 points). Grade is set in accordance to JIBS grading policy.

Registration of examination:
Name of the TestValueGrading
Individual reflection11.5 creditsA/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Individual case submission11.5 creditsA/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Group assignment13 creditsA/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Individual written exam11.5 creditsA/B/C/D/E/FX/F
1 All parts of compulsory examination in the course must be passed with a passing grade (A-E) before a final grade can be set. The final grade of the course is determined by the sum total of points for all parts of examination in the course (0-100 points). Grade is set in accordance to JIBS grading policy.

Course evaluation

It is the responsibility of the examiner to ensure that each course is evaluated. At the outset of the course, the programme evaluators in the course must be contacted. In the middle of the course, the examiner should meet the programme evaluators to identify strengths/weaknesses in the first half of the course.
At the end of the course, the examiner should remind students to fill in the survey. The examiner should also call a meeting with the programme evaluators to debrief the course, based on course evaluation data and comments. The next time the course runs, students should be informed of any measures taken to improve the course based on the previous course evaluations.
At the end of each study period, JIBS’ Director of Quality and Accreditation crafts a “Course Evaluation Quarter Report”, presenting the quantitative results from course evaluation surveys. The Associate Dean of Education, The Associate Deans of Faculty, Programme Directors, and JSA President and Quality receive the report.

Other information

Academic Integrity
JIBS students are expected to maintain a strong academic integrity. This implies to behave within the boundaries of academic rules and expectations relating to all types of teaching and examination.
Copying someone else’s work is a particularly serious offence and can lead to disciplinary action. When you copy someone else’s work, you are plagiarizing. You must not copy sections of work (such as paragraphs, diagrams, tables and words) from any other person, including another student or any other author. Cutting and pasting is a clear example of plagiarism. There is a workshop and online resources to assist you in not plagiarizing called the Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide.
Other forms of breaking academic integrity include (but are not limited to) adding your name to a project you did not work on (or allowing someone to add their name), cheating on an examination, helping other students to cheat and submitting other students work as your own, and using non-allowed electronic equipment during an examination. All of these make you liable to disciplinary action.

Course literature

Liu, S., Volcic, Z., and Gallois, C. (2023). Introducing Intercultural Communication. Global Cultures and Contexts.
4th ed., London. Sage Pub.

A list of articles will be supplied at the course introduction.