Business Administration

This course, covering financial accounting, management accounting, and investment appraisal topics, enables students to understand and apply the basic techniques of accounting and investment appraisal that would serve them well in decision-making roles in their careers ahead. The first part (Financial Accounting) provides an introduction to the preparation and analysis of financial statements and evaluation of the financial well-being of a business. The second part (Management Accounting and Investment Appraisal) provides an introduction to the production and uses of financial information for the internal management of a business. Students learn how to apply and comment on a range of techniques for product costing and investment appraisal.

The course introduces students to selected areas of work psychology, including how organizations identify and select talent (personnel selection), individual differences, teamwork, motivation, leadership, stress in the workplace and career management. The course focuses on the application of psychological theory and research to help students from any discipline develop their future careers and to thrive in the modern world of work.

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of how financial technology is reshaping the landscape of wealth management. The course explores key innovations, including robo-advisors, algorithmic trading, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), and their applications in personal and corporate investing. 

Through this course, students will be able to master blockchain core principles (distributed ledgers, consensus mechanisms, smart contracts) and their reshaping of trust/value networks, valuate applications, business logic, and risks of digital currency, DeFi, CeFi, asset securitization, and cross-border payments,  understand China's "technology encouragement, financial prudence" framework and key policies while comparing global regulatory strategies, conduct multi-dimensional analyses of major events (FTX collapse, Ethereum Merge, digital RMB pilot) to develop independent judgment, gain hands-on experience creating and managing digital assets on Ethereum testnet, understanding private key custody, gas fees, smart contract interaction, and on-chain transparency.

In this course, students uncover the fascinating world of processes in businesses and daily lives. They explore how things get made, from the smallest gadget to the largest machines. It's not just about factories and assembly lines; it's everything from a coffee shop to the latest tech companies and the processes they use. Students explore how to design these processes, keep them running smoothly, and constantly improve them.

This class explores how technology is transforming banking and finance, with a focus on distributed ledger technology (DLT), blockchain, and innovations such as digital currencies, DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and decentralized exchanges. It also examines the rise of Regulatory Technology (RegTech) and the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in financial markets and services. The class reviews these developments through a legal and regulatory lens, highlighting key challenges and opportunities. No prior knowledge of FinTech or related fields is required.

Ecosystems are central to addressing business and societal challenges; they foster collaboration and the pooling of resources to drive innovation aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This course adopts a managerial perspective to create and manage ecosystems—physical, digital, or hybrid. Explore strategic, engineering, and technological intersections, stakeholder relationships, and real-world examples such as Brightlands campuses and global hubs like Silicon Valley. Through designing your own ecosystems, participants build practical skills in developing value propositions and collaboration structures, highlighting the practical relevance of ecosystem management.

The course develops students' professional communication skills. It enhances their vocal qualities and connection with the audience. It aids them in becoming fluent and confident speakers, and effective and efficient writers, who know how to state a clear main idea and provide clear and structured substantiation for their claims. The course focuses on projecting the voice, pronouncing clearly, breathing effectively, and relaxing the voice. Students give presentations throughout the course. 

The course examines contemporary developments and emerging challenges in business and commercial law. Students explore current legal issues related to contracts, corporate governance, and the legal structures used to establish and expand businesses. Through the analysis of real-world cases and legal advisory projects, the course develops students’ understanding of how legal frameworks shape business operations and decision-making. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, legal reasoning, oral communication, and the practical application of legal principles to modern business scenarios. Topics may include recent developments in contract law, company law, business formation and growth strategies, and legal problem-solving in commercial practice.

This course provides an introduction to climate change science for students of economics and business. It provides the basics to understand the physical challenges of sustainable development and the key role of businesses in tackling climate change.