Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)

BA (Hons) in International Business Management

Program outline

This program is specifically designed to provide students with:

• An understanding of the context, nature, role, and significance of management activities as undertaken by managers in a range of organizations with a particular focus on the development in the global business arena.
• An opportunity to develop well-researched, logical, and integrated solutions to multi-faceted problems in uncertain and dynamic global contexts.
• Vocationally relevant exposure enabling students to become operationally effective in management either domestically or internationally.
• A wide range of employment skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and interpretive skills, effective written and oral communication, using IT in business applications, and the ability to conduct research into international business management issues.

Degree level 1

Students will learn fundamental skills required by every business management professional, and the basic understanding of the context within which businesses operate - Management, Law, Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, People Management, and Accounting. We will also expose you to business & communication skills, computing & IT skills and quantitative skills, independent learning. All Business Management programs have a common first year so that they will get a solid grounding in business management theories and practices.

Common modules

• Introduction to Management
• Accounting Skills
• Business and Communications Skills
• Business Economics
• Business Law
• Digital Thinking and Innovation
• Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• People Management
• Quantitative Skills

Degree level 2

A broader range of skills will be learned, in which students will gain a better understanding of functional management and international business management, such as international culture & communications, operations management, employee development, etc. They will gain further understanding of core business processes through the industry-leading software supported by SAP. We will further nurture their independent learning to prepare them for the workplace and for further researches.

Common modules

• Behavioural Science in Organisation
• Business Ethics and Governance
• Business Research Methods
• Delivering Customer Value
• Enterprise Resource Planning with SAP Platform
• Managing Finance

Specialized modules

• Commercial Law
• International Business
• International Culture & Communications
• Operations Management

Elective modules (choose 2)

• E-Business Management OR Interactive Marketing
• Critical Thinking in Management OR Regulatory Policy for Investment Markets

Internship (16 weeks)

Students will undertake an Internship/Industrial Training for a minimum period of 16 weeks to prepare them for a smooth transition from the classroom to the working environment.

Degree level 3

Students will make use of their previous studies and industrial experience to extend their familiarity in tackling more practical and modern issues of business management and managing for enterprise performance and problem-solving that are focused on the international context, with aims to groom them as an international business leader. A final year project requires them to explore a topic individually - they will demonstrate the academic and practical aspects of their ability in the chosen area of study.

Common modules

• Strategic Management

Specialized modules

• Asian Economics
• Global Marketing
• International Business Management Project
• International Human Resource Management
• International Strategic Management
• Investigations in International Business Management
• Leadership Theory and Practice
• Managing International Supply Chains

Elective modules (choose 2)

• Corporate Finance OR Global Finance
• Managing People and Performance OR International Banking & Investment

MQA compulsory subjects*

• Ethnic Relations (M’sian Students)
• Islamic & Asian Civilisation (M’sian Students)
• Malaysian Studies (Int’l Students)
• Malay Communication Language (Int’l Students)
• Workplace Professional Communication Skills
• Employee & Employment Trends
• Co-Curriculum

(*All students are required to successfully complete these modules as stipulated by the Malaysian Qualification Agency.)

Career options

• Corporate Strategist
• Global Purchasing Manager
• Global Retail Manager
• International Marketing Manager
• International Operations Manager
• Global Marketing Specialist
• Global Growth Manager
• Business Development Manager
• Logistic and Supply Chain Manager
• International Relations Manager
• Sales and Marketing Manager
• International Business Consultant
• Business Research Analyst
• Entrepreneur

Professional recognitions

Upon completion of BA (Hons) in International Business Management, students are eligible for exemptions in the below Professional Recognition of APU Degree programs.

• The Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (MAISCA) (10 papers exemptions out of 16 papers)
• Malaysian Association of Company Secretaries (MACS) (10 papers exemptions out of 16 papers)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) (4 papers exemptions out of 16 papers)

APU - Leading digital transformation in business, management, and marketing

The Future is Technology - Every Business needs Future-Ready Digital Talents for the Digital Economy

As the 4th Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) takes over the world, we are seeing an upward trend of the amalgamation of Digital Technology with Business. As businesses infuse digital technology within their operations, Digital Transformation elevates customer experience, and transforms business models and operating models within the organization.

For businesses to remain resilient and competitive, they need to innovate, adopt Digital Products, Digital Solutions, have a Digital Growth Strategy, use technology for expansion and growth, as well as equip their workforce with the necessary skill sets to embrace widespread transformation and the digital revolution in this Digital Age. The role of “Technology in Business” is vital and technology has challenged and changed every aspect of the way businesses operate at a fast pace. Rapid globalization has been possible because of technology. Anyone can now do business anywhere in the world with the use of high-speed internet, connectivity, and the presence of well-connected social media. Technology has boosted the development of E-Business, E-Commerce & Digital Marketing and it has brought new dynamics to the globalization of businesses.

Rise of e-commerce – Buying & selling without borders

As the global pandemic disrupted the world, internet shopping platforms became the dominant channel for consumers to shop for essential goods and services. It is forecasted that e-business and e-commerce will sustain this upward trend and continue to grow. As future e-business professionals, you will be trained to manage business beyond traditional borders, shaping you into professionals who are able to meet future business challenges.