Course content

Students will learn about the Global Financial Environment, Foreign Exchange Theory, Foreign Exchange Market and Derivatives, Financing the Global Firm, Foreign Investment Decisions, and Managing Multinational Operations. Furthermore, the financial sector has been identified as being instrumental in advancing the net-zero carbon energy transition, as acknowledged by the Paris Climate Agreement. To reach the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, global annual investment requirements have been estimated to be at least US$100 billion. In light of the central role of international finance and investment sectors in fostering sustainable development as well as managing climate-related and environmental risks, this course will employ among others a mix of talks, lectures, and MBA-style applied case method teaching to familiarise graduate-level students and professionals in a practical manner with the international challenges and the opportunities that arise through ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factor integration.

Learning outcome

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

• discuss key concepts and terminology related to international finance, including exchange rates, foreign direct investment (FDI), international financial markets, and ESG factors (Environmental, Social, Governance);
• explain the relationship between global financial markets, exchange rate dynamics, and ESG factors, and how they influence decision-making in international business;
• apply financial models and valuation techniques (such as discounted cash flow, CAPM, and risk assessment tools) to assess the financial performance of companies with strong ESG commitments, considering the impact of international market conditions;
• analyze the impact of international financial risk factors, such as currency risk and political risk, on investment decisions, and assess how ESG factors mitigate or exacerbate these risks for multinational companies;
• critically evaluate the financial performance of multinational corporations using performance metrics and valuation models, while considering the impact of foreign exchange exposure, financing decisions, and global market conditions.
• effectively communicate complex financial concepts and analyses to diverse audiences, both in written and oral formats.

Learning methods and activities

Teaching methods: Faculty lectures and guest lectures. Compulsory Activities: Compulsory assignments with oral presentations throughout the semester which also give access to a final exam.

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory attendance

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

As for the study programme / Bachelor in Business Administration or equivalent from an international degree.

Required previous knowledge

As for the study programme / Bachelor i Business Administration or equivalent international degree.

Course materials

Will be announced in the course Syllabus.