Teaching plan for the course unit

 

 
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General information

 

Course unit name: Culture and Business in Asia

Course unit code: 364581

Academic year: 2025-2026

Coordinator: Maria Angeles Pelegrin Sole

Department: Department of Economics

Credits: 6

Single program: S

 

 

Estimated learning time

Total number of hours 150

 

Face-to-face and/or online activities

60
 

-  Lecture with practical component

Face-to-face

  

15
 

-  Problem-solving class

Face-to-face

  

45

Supervised project

40

Independent learning

50

 

 

Competences / Learning outcomes to be gained during study

 

   -

CB3 - Ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within the field of study) to inform judgements that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
   -

CG9 - Capacity to interpret the evolution of the business environment and adaptations to change.
   -

CG8 - Capacity to communicate in English and/or other foreign languages orally and in writing, comprehension skills, and mastery of specialized language.
   -

CE11 - Understanding of the culture and business practices of different countries, as the basis for adapting to an interacting effectively with other geopolitical contexts.
   -

CE2 - Comprehensive understanding of the international economic, legal and socio-political framework, and ability to use this knowledge to oversee international business decisions.
   -

CB4 - Capacity to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
   -

CG3 - Capacity for learning and responsibility (capacity for analysis and synthesis, to adopt global perspectives and to apply knowledge in practice).
   -

CG5 - Ability to work in a team (capacity to collaborate with others and contribute to a common project, and capacity to work in cross-disciplinary and multicultural teams).

 

 

Learning objectives

 

Referring to knowledge

— Understand the culture, history and economy of East Asia and its importance in the context of doing business.

— Understand East Asian business structure.

— Analyse the elements involved in negotiations with East Asian countries.

— Study the protocol of existing businesses in East Asia.

 

 

Teaching blocks

 

1. Japanese culture and history

2. Economic development in Japan: An overview

3. Chinese culture and history

4. A short economic history of China

5. Business in East Asia

 

 

Teaching methods and general organization

 

The course combines different types of learning activity:

— On-campus learning activities. These comprise lectures outlining the main concepts and content of the subject, as well as class discussions on students’ assignments on different topics related to the culture, history, economy and/or business in East Asia.

 

— Independent learning activities, which primarily consist of group assignments completed and discussed in class on topics related to the culture, history, economy and/or business in East Asia.

The course makes use of the Virtual Campus to facilitate communication between students and teachers, and for the provision and submission of material, such as practical exercises, statistical information, self-assessment tasks and essays.

The lecturer holds regular office hours, providing ample opportunity to address any questions or concerns related to the course.

 

 

Official assessment of learning outcomes

 

Continuous assessment
 - Two exercises based on multiple choice questions. Each is worth 25% of the final grade.

 - One final exam, to take place on the date set by the Academic Board and covering the entire syllabus. Questions test understanding of basic concepts related to the economy, culture and business of East Asia. The exam is worth 50% of the final grade. Students must obtain a minimum mark of 4 out of 10 on this exam. Failure to reach this minimum mark means students appear as a “Fail” on the grade record, regardless of the results obtained on the other elements of the continuous mode of assessment.

Students who renounce continuous assessment are eligible for the single mode of assessment.


Repeat assessment

The repeat assessment examination, which is held on the date set by the Academic Board, covers the entire syllabus and is the same for all students. The exam includes questions on concepts related to economics, culture and business in East Asia.

Note that for repeat assessment the mark obtained on this examination is the final grade for the subject. Therefore, a minimum mark of 5 out of 10 must be obtained to pass the subject.

 

Examination-based assessment

Single assessment consists of a final examination. A minimum mark of 5 out of 10 must be obtained to pass the subject.

The exam covers the entire course content and is the same for all students. It includes questions on concepts related to economics, culture and business in East Asia.

The final examination takes place on the date set by the Academic Board. Given the nature of the subject, the exam cannot be taken at any other time.


Repeat assessment

The repeat assessment examination, which is held on the date set by the Academic Board, covers the entire syllabus and is the same for all students. The exam includes questions on concepts related to economics, culture and business in East Asia.

Note that for repeat assessment the mark obtained on this examination is the final grade for the subject. Therefore, a minimum mark of 5 out of 10 must be obtained to pass the subject.

 

 

Reading and study resources

Check availability in Cercabib

Book

ANDRESSEN, Curtis. A short history of Japan: From Samurai to Sony. OSBORNE, Milton (editor). Crows Nest NSW:  Allen & Unwin, 2002

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

NAUGTHON, Barry. The Chinese Economy. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2018

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

FLATH, David. The Japanese economy. 3th. New York : Oxford University Press, 2014

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

MADISSON, Angus. Chinese economic performance in the long run. 2nd. Paris : OECD. Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2007

Versiķ en línia (2007)  Enllaç

PELEGRÍN SOLÉ, Àngels; JENSANA TANEHASHI, Amadeu. Economía del Japón. Barcelona : UOC, 2011

Versiķ en línia (2011)  Enllaç
Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Routledge handbook of the chinese economy. Edited by Gregory C. Chow and Dwight H. Perkins. Oxon : Routledge, 2015

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Article

PELEGRÍN SOLÉ, Àngels. Japan: before and after the 11th of March. Notes Internacionals CIDOB, 2011, núm. 41, p.1-5.

Electronic text

OHNO, Kenichi. The Economic Development of Japan The Path Traveled by Japan as a Developing Country. Tokyo: GRIPS Development Forum, 2006 <http://www.grips.ac.jp/forum/pdf06/EDJ.pdf>