Learning objectives

understand core political and socio-economic issues of the host country.
draw conclusions from the comparison of the local business and organisational culture with their home country.
increase their intercultural skills.

Students understand the historical trajectory and specific developments of state, economy and society in Eastern Europe.
They gain knowledge about the former communist political systems and state planned economies, as well as of the crucial elements and incidents of the transformation since 1989.
Students become familiar with the key facts and figures of the respective economy, as well as of the functional insertion of these countries in the international division of labour.
They develop an understanding for opportunities in trade, outsourcing and investment in these countries.
Students are aware of the major political, economic and societal challenges of the respective country.

Students gain familiarity with the culture and the way how to successfully conduct business in the respective Eastern European country.
They increase their ability to build relationships in an intercultural setting.
Students also acquire rudiments of the respective local language (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian, etc.)