Enhancing Student Competency and Employability in International Business Through Master’s Dissertations

Abstract

A core component of International Business (IB) postgraduate programs around the world is the master’s dissertation, which requires students to produce a written document, typically around 20,000 words in length, based on empirical research. While the dissertation is given considerable importance in such programs, often accounting for more than a quarter of a candidate’s final grade, the effectiveness of the dissertation in delivering outcomes remains largely unknown. This article addresses this shortcoming by providing an empirical understanding of the perceived usefulness and value of master’s-level dissertations and evaluating their impact on the personal and intellectual development of students. Findings demonstrate the unique ability of the dissertation to enhance student employability, both for scientifically interested and deep learners as well as for functional learners.

Keywords:

• Employability
• Competency
• Master’s dissertations

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Michal Csonga, for his help in compiling the database and sharing survey material. The authors are also much encouraged by comments received from two anonymous reviewers and seminar participants at the Comparative and International Business Research Centre (CIBER) seminars at The University of Manchester, Alliance Manchester Business School.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rudolf R. Sinkovics

Rudolf R. Sinkovics is professor of International Business at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), UK, where he is currently Director of Research. He holds a visiting professorship at Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland and has worked and published on interorganizational governance, the role of ICT in firm internationalization, and research methods in international business. Current work is on rising powers, economic change and responsible business. He received his PhD from Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU-Wien), Austria. His work has been published in international business and international marketing journals such as Journal of International Business Studies, Management International Review, Journal of World Business, International Business Review, and International Marketing Review. Born in Austria, he now lives and works in Manchester, UK.

Christopher Richardson

Christopher Richardson is lecturer in International Business at the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. His research interests include firm internationalization and cross-cultural issues in international business. He holds a PhD from Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK. Scholarly outputs have appeared in Journal of World Business, International Business Review, and European Journal of International Management, among others journals.

Yong Kyu Lew

Yong Kyu Lew is an assistant professor of International Business at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Republic of Korea. He completed his PhD at the Manchester Business School, UK.His research interests are strategic alliances, institutions and innovation, and knowledge. His recent work has appeared in Journal of International Business Studies, Global Strategy Journal, Long Range Planning, International Business Review, and International Marketing Review, among others.