VIA Diploma in Business English
(6 and 12 Week)

NOTE: The course curriculum is is covered in twelve-week cycles. Students entering the program will join classes in progress, and will begin their six or twelve-week program with the topic of that particular week. For example, a student joining a six-week class might begin during Week 3, and will continue until the conclusion of Week 9. A student joining a twelve-week program at the same time will finish at the conclusion of Week 2, having cycled through the entire program.

Week 1 - Brands and Branding: creating a brand, brand value, emotional capital, famous, etc.
             Skills: Meetings (part 1)
             Case Study: Repositioning a Brand

Week 2 - Organisation and Company Design: different designs, how to choose a design, etc.
             Skills: Making Arrangements, Introductions
             Case Study: Re-designing a bank call centre

Week 3 - Change: How to successfully introduce change in a company, fear of change, etc.
             Skills: Meetings (part 2)
             Case Study: Mergers and Acquisitions

Week 4 - Money, Assests, Liabilities: exchange rates, goodwill, valuing assets, liquiditiy, etc.
              Skills: Using numbers, reading figures
              Case Study: Raising investment capital

Week 5 - Advertising and Marketing: effective advertising, ethics, marketing strategies
              Skills: Presentations (part 1)
              Case Study: Planning an Advertising Campaign

Week 6 - Employment: retaining good staff, high performers, head-hunting, etc.
              Skills: Managing meetings
              Case Study: Hiring the best candidate

Week 7 - Trade: globalisation, fair trade, negotiating, international trade, etc.
              Skills: Negotiating
              Case Study: Negotiating with an overseas supplier

Week 8 - Quality: definitions of quality, customer service, total quality management, etc.
               Skills: Complaining
               Case Study: Dealing with customer complaints
 
Week 9 -  Ethics: defining ethical and unethical business practices, labour monitors, etc.
                Skills: Problem-solving
                Case Study: Dealing with an unethical employee

Week 10 - Leadership: determining leadership qualities, fox and hedgehog, born or learned, etc.
                 Skills: Decision-making
                 Case Study: Saving a failing company

Week 11 - Innovation: encouraging new ideas in a company, corporate espionage, etc.
                 Skills: Presentation Techniques
                 Case Study: Presenting at a competition

Week 12 - Competition: measuring competitiveness, core competencies, keeping competitive, etc.
                 Skills: Negotiating
                 Case Study: Choosing the best supplier

Business English main page
Business Course Handbook