Dubrovnik School of International Business
Undergraduate Program in International Business and Economics
Recent events in national and global marketplaces have underscored the volatility, connectivity and influence of the international economic system. Traditionally, economics has been principally concerned with the study of human behavior and its social implications. Yet increasingly, economists and businesses are also tackling critical global issues, from managing rising income inequality, to examining the incredible and ever growing network of global trade, to responding to environmental degradation. As the issues in international economics and business expand in scope and complexity, it is of vital necessity to educate new generations of leaders in the fields of politics, business and economics who have a solid understanding of economic concepts and of the important role economic processes play in international affairs. Indeed, in its Lisbon Agenda, the European Union has recognized that the primary way to increase competitiveness and to ensure growth in the global economic system is through education and knowledge. The example of the European Union has demonstrated that business people with topical economic knowledge and skills are crucial elements in successful integration and performance in a common economic market.
The knowledge necessary to conduct business in these new, global markets is missing in the labor markets of Eastern, Southern, and Southeastern Europe. A very small fraction of people in the labor market is focused on international business. The DIU International Business and Economics undergraduate program focuses on providing students with the knowledge and skills essential in international markets, thereby responding to the specific needs of firms dealing with international business and trade. The program is envisioned as combining theoretical understanding with practical knowledge, so that the education gained can be applied to professional challenges in international business and trade. Graduates of the program will be equipped to work for firms dealing with international business, institutions dealing with analysis and consulting in international economic affairs, as well as state and international organizations focused on the international economy (particularly the WTO and the EU).
The new wave of globalization, besides updating and supplementing old theories, calls for the development of entirely new theories. It must be pointed out that an understanding of the challenges of the modern world requires an interdisciplinary approach fueled by knowledge of not only economics, but political science, law, history, and other social and human sciences. Rather than focusing on a specific skill or an aspect of international business, DIU offers a program that is like no other in the region, as it gives its students a possibility to study international business in an interesting, interactive and flexible environment. The main focus of this program is to prepare students to succeed in the global market by increasing the competitiveness of their firms and national economies, and to provide them with the right tools that will help them shape their future careers in international organizations and private sector firms.