Study Guide

Objective

The objective of the course is to deepen the student’s knowledge and understanding of the High North area as an operating environment. The course provides a deeper understanding of the resources and future perspectives of the Arctic and aims to develop the ability to recognize the economic events that affect the development cross-border cooperation. International issues play a vital role in the firms’ interest concerning cross-border networking, the resources, employment, international working conditions, and the movement of capital and other factors’ movements. The objective is that the students are able to critically analyse and assess these factors and the future perspectives of the cross-border cooperation of enterprises in the Arctic area.

Content

Characteristics of High North and Nordic countries as a business environment
Natural and human resources of the Arctic
Cross-border cooperation in the Barents area
Role of SMEs in the development of the Arctic
Sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Qualifications

NULL

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Grade 1 - 2
The student is able to analyze the special characteristics of the Hight-North business environment.
The student can interpret and explain the challenges of SME’s in the Arctic area.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Grade 3 - 4
The student is able to analyze the influence of Arctic regions on his/her own working place.
The student is able to analyze the challenges and opportunities of cross-border co-operation in the High North.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Grade 5
The student is able to analyze deeply the influence of the Arctic on his/her own working place.
The student is able to assess and design feasible ideas for the cross-border development in the Arctic region.
The student is able to manage and develop team work aiming to plan creative ideas for the sustainable development of SME cooperation in the High North.

Materials

Smith L.C. The World in 2050. Four Forces Shaping Civilizations Northern Future. 2011.
Aaltonen M & Loescher M. Crossroads, transformations on the road to 2040, Aalto University 2015.
Arctic Business Forum. Yearbook 2017. Lapland Chamber of Commerce.
Material on Moodle environment provided by the teacher.