ORIENTATION WEEK

BA (Hons) International Business

Dear Student
As the Course Leader of the BA (Hons) International Business degree course I am very happy to welcome you to
the University of Westminster.
BAIB, as the programme is known, is an exciting, stimulating and challenging business degree. It will give you a
strong foundation in many aspects of business life, allowing you to develop your own knowledge and skills as well
as allowing you to improve your language skills if you wish. An important and exciting element of this course is the
third year experience of a year of study - and possibly also a work placement - in another country at one of our
Partner Institutions.
To help you to settle into Westminster Business School we have arranged a programme of activities that will help
you get to know other students on the course, meet the teaching staff, find your way around the site and have your
questions answered. During this week all new first year undergraduate students are allocated a FAN (Friend of
Arriving New students). Your FAN is a BAIB student who will be there for you through your first week to show you
around the University and to answer any questions you may have.
The welcome programme commences on Monday 21September 2015 at 10.00-11.30 in the Cayley Lecture
Theatre with an introduction to the Westminster Business School. Full details of the welcome programme are
available on this site and to ensure a good start on your course it is vital that you attend all the activities.
We will visit the V&A museum on the morning of Tuesday 22 September 2015, where you will have an opportunity
to appreciate global cultural influences. As you all know, the V&A is located in South Kensington, London and we
will travel there together from the Marylebone Campus of the University of Westminster using public transport.
Please be prepared to pay for the journey so remember to bring your Oyster card if you have one. Entrance to the
V&A is free of charge. If you have any disability, please inform me in advance as the museum is not step-free.
I hope you enjoy reading some of the texts on the pre-sessional reading list dont worry you wont be tested on
this material when you arrive.
The Course team looks forward to welcoming you when you arrive and, in the meantime, should you have any
queries, please do not hesitate to contact the University.
Best wishes,

Deborah
Dr Deborah Knowles
BAIB Course Leader
d.s.knowles@wmin.ac.uk
Tel: 020 3506 6526 (direct line)

ORIENTATION SCHEDULE
Monday 21 September Friday 25 September 2015
Monday 21 September 2015
10.00am -11.30am

1.00pm 2.00pm

2.00pm 3.00pm

3.00pm - 4.30pm

5.00pm - 6.30pm

Westminster Business School orientation

Find out about Student Services, the
Library & the Student Union
Welcome from Course Leader: Dr Deborah Knowles
And meet some key members of staff
All the key information you need to know about your course
Refreshments and meet fellow students
Local treasure trail
A fun activity to help you to get to know the university campus, the local
area and your fellow students.
Enrolment
This is where you formally join the
University, receive your ID card, etc

Cayley Lecture
Theatre
M323

M323

Chiltern Hall
Marylebone

Tuesday 22 September 2015

11am onwards

CULTURAL EVENT:
Trip to the V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museum, South Kensington

th

Thursday 24 September 2015

10-4pm

Students Union Freshers Fair

Learning Platform
Marylebone

3.00pm 4.00pm

Meeting with FANS

Meeting with your FAN (Friend of Arriving New Student)

C176 & C178

4.00pm 5.00pm

Blackboard and SRS taster session

This session will introduce you to Blackboard our virtual learning
environment. It is a key source of information for you about your course,
your modules, assessment and other activities.
In this session you will also have an opportunity to meet your Personal
Professional Development Tutor (PPDT)

B16
Computer Labs

Friday 25 September 2015

12.30pm -1.30pm

1.30pm - 2.30pm

An opportunity to hear about level 6 students experiences on

their year abroad
Social Event
An opportunity to meet BAIB students in Levels 5 & 6 and to hear
about level 6 students experiences on their year abroad

Cayley Lecture
Theatre
tbc

th

Monday 28 September 2015

Teaching starts on Monday, 28 September. You should familiarise yourself with your timetable and where your classes
are being held before Monday. If you are not sure please ask your PPDT or your FAN.
NB: Elements of the programme may be subject to minor modification

BOOKLIST
Recommended pre-course reading for BA International Business students
Select from these publications to prepare for your degree level studies in International Business.
Note that there is no need to buy these books at this stage they should be available from libraries
Branson, R (2009) Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur. London: Virgin books. (or
you could choose the autobiography of a different entrepreneur who interests you)

Cutts, M (2013) Oxford Guide to Plain English. Oxford: Oxford University Press
(useful for all written assignments, buy this one, read carefully and keep it by you)

Dick P, and Ellis, S (2006). Introduction to Organizational Behaviour (3rd ed) Berkshire: McGraw-Hill Higher
Education
(The set text for the core module BBUS404 Behavioural Aspects of International Business)

Gallagher, K (2013) Skills Development for Business & Management Students (2nd Edition) Oxford: Oxford
University Press
(The set text for the first year core module BKEY401)

Perks R, and Leiwy D (2013). Accounting: Understanding and Practice, and

Vaitilingham R (2010) FT Guide to Using the Financial Pages, FT Prentice Hall
(Key texts for core module BBUS403 Financial Information)
Smith, M (2011) Fundamentals of Management (2nd Edition) London: McGraw Hill
(not set for any particular module, but an interesting overview of many areas of management)
http://www.londontown.com/London/London_Survival_Guide
(an invaluable insight into student life in our city, with lots of links to associated information)

A selection of sources relating to international business environments

Crane, R (Ed) (2000). European Business Cultures, Harlow: Pearson.
Kerr, A (2001) Dogs and Demons the fall of modern Japan. London: Penguin.
Marsh, D (2010), The Middle East Unveiled: A cultural and practical guide for all Western
business professionals, London: Little Brown.

The following pocket study guides are easy to read, not expensive and will be very helpful to you:
Godfrey, J (2011) Writing for University. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan