LFU:online

IMPORTANT: This module (VO and PS) will contain both online and offline sessions. Please note that it is mandatory to attend the first VO session and the last PS session, as well as the final exam session. Please note that students must pass the PS to be eligible to take the final exam that will be based on the material covered in the VO. It is not recommended to participate only in the PS, as the project worked on during the PS is based on the understanding of the material covered during the VO.

Students who are interested in this module but did not succeed in entering the module in the first enrollment cycle are very much encouraged to show up to the first session.

At the end of the module students will be expected to:

• Appreciate the importance of integrating ESG considerations into multinational companies' decision making processes.
• Appreciate the overall financial environment in which multinational companies operate.
• Know the basics of the market for foreign exchange and how exchange rates are determined.
• Become acquainted with financial derivatives, including currency forwards, futures, and options.
• Recognize the need to measure and manage exchange rate exposures of multinational companies including economic, transaction, and translation exposures.
• Become acquainted with the basics of sustainable finance.
• Chart ‘real-life’ practices of international and sustainable financial management decisions as well as learn from real world examples and cases.
• Develop the skills to analyze a problem and to find solutions relevant to the implementation of (sustainable) financial management decisions in the international context.

Multinational companies (MNCs) evolve in complex environments. This course, which has a managerial focus and is made up of a VO part followed by a PS part, focuses on the decisions that MNCs make, taking into account the environments in which they operate. It starts by introducing the importance of integrating ESG into the decision making processes of MNCs. Keeping in mind the basic understanding of the importance of integrating ESG for MSCs, students will learn about the overall financial environment in which MNCs operate, including the risks of doing business abroad and the tools available to minimize those risks. Finally, given the growing and increasingly mainstream role of sustainable finance, students will learn about what sustainable finance is and the importance of integrating ESG factors and considerations into financial decision making.

This module is divided into two parts.
The first part (VO) is characterized by engaging students in active learning based on theoretical foundations and highly interactive lectures. The second part (PS) is dedicated to an in-depth group project, to be developed by students, resulting in a short paper, a poster, and a presentation. Groups can expect to receive ongoing feedback on their work throughout the second part of the module from peers and the instructor.
It is important that students prepare all sessions according to the syllabus.

Evaluation:

First part (VO):

Type of evaluation: Individual evaluation
What is being evaluated: Final exam at the end of the course based on the material covered during the VO
Weight: 100%

Second part (PS):

Type of evaluation: Group evaluation
What is being evaluated: Quality of the group assignment based on the paper, poster, presentation slides
Weight: 70%

Type of evaluation: Individual evaluation
What is being evaluated: Quality of the oral presentation and participation in subsequent Q&A discussion
Weight: 30%

The final module grade will be determined based on the grades obtained for the first part (VO) and the second part (PS) of the module.

Students need to obtain a minimum of 60% in the first and second parts of the module to pass the module.

Please note that students must pass the PS to be eligible to take the final exam that will be based on the material covered in the VO.

It is important that students come prepared to all sessions in accordance with the syllabus (see required pre-readings), as the grade depends significantly on the level of understanding of the material covered. The syllabus and required readings will be available on OLAT before the module starts.

Please note that, depending on the progress in the module, the content structure (see syllabus) may be subject to change. 

Very good English language skills. 

Please make sure that you check your university email account. All communication will be done via your uibk.ac.at email addresses only.