Core Competencies

The Faculty of Business aims to ensure that students master the following core competencies, which are identified as essential for all programs within the faculty. In addition to these core competencies, specific programs also strive to provide additional program-specific competencies.

We require that each competency be first introduced and then reinforced at least once with all its dimensions during the initial years through core courses. Multiple courses may serve to introduce, reinforce, and master different dimensions of a competency.

Faculty of Business Core Competencies

1. General Business Knowledge: Our students will explain the fundamental concepts from the core business domains.
2. Integration: Our students will explain how knowledge and information interact across business domains.
   Our graduates should be able to:
   • interpret how information and decision(s) with regard to one functional area affect other functional areas, and
   • recognize the interdependencies between different functional areas in decision making.
3. Statistical Reasoning: Our students will use statistical techniques to analyze business problems.
   Our graduates should be able to apply statistical methods and interpret statistical results, which include:
   • interpreting the main statistical terms and concepts,
   • applying appropriate inferential tools, and
   • explaining the implications of statistical analysis for business problems (i.e., relating the conclusion of statistical analysis to a business/research problem).
4. Data - Information Acquisition: Our students will carry out the process of identifying, gathering, and managing the data/information needed to analyze the situation at hand.
   Our graduates should be able to obtain the data/information that is needed to analyze the situation at hand, which requires
   • identifying relevant data/information,
   • ensuring the quality and reliability of that data/information, and
   • preparing (cleaning /formatting, etc.) that data/information by utilizing relevant tools.
5. Critical Thinking: Our students will evaluate business problems from various perspectives.
   Our graduates should be able to engage in reflective and independent thinking, which entails
   • questioning the evidence from different perspectives,
   • evaluating the underlying assumptions,
   • identifying logical connections between ideas (connecting the dots), and
   • constructing arguments.
6. Analytical Thinking: Our students will analyze business problems and opportunities.
   Our graduates should be able to
   • combine the data/information and concepts,
   • break the problem or the situation at hand into parts, and
   • apply a relevant methodology to arrive at a conclusion.
7. Problem Solving: Our students will construct solutions to business problems.
   Our graduates should be able to
   • identify a business problem,
   • propose alternative solutions,
   • define selection criteria,
   • assess the feasibility of the alternatives, and
   • select among these alternatives using the predefined criteria.
8. Entrepreneurial / Innovative Perspective: Our students will design novel combinations to address business challenges.
   Our graduates should be able to
   • recognize new opportunities, and
   • propose novel responses to challenges.
9. Ethical Judgment: Our students will discuss the ethical implications and consequences of business conduct
   Our graduates should be able to:
   • recognize the ethical aspects of a business case and the relevant decisions,
   • interpret business ethics problems in their social contexts, and
   • explain the ethical consequences of business decisions.
10. Stakeholder Analysis and Sustainability: Our students will explain stakeholder interests along social responsibility and sustainability dimensions
    Our graduates should be able to
    • explain the rights and needs of all relevant stakeholders,
    • discuss the trade-offs involved in satisfying various stakeholders’ interests, and
    • recognize the implications of business decisions on all three sustainability pillars (People, Planet, Profit).
11. Effective Business Writing in English: Our students will write reports in English.
    Our graduates should be able to communicate ideas effectively in a business context through essays, reports, and case analyses.
12. Effective Business Presentation in English: Our students will deliver presentations in English.
    Our graduates should be able to communicate ideas effectively in a business context through presentations.
13. Teamwork: Our students will work in teams.
    Our students should be able to work within a team by assuming responsibility and accountability for the team's work.