Venture capital (VC) is money provided to seed early-stage, emerging and growing companies. Venture capital funds invest in companies in exchange for equity in the companies they invest in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as Biotechnology and IT. The typical venture capital investment may occur from a seed funding round as the first round of institutional capital to fund growth (also referred to as Series A round) in the interest of generating a return through an eventual exit event, such as an IPO or trade sale of the company. Venture capital is a type of private equity.

In finance, private equity is an asset class consisting of equity securities and debt in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange.

A private equity investment will generally be made by a private equity firm, a venture capital firm or an angel investor. Each of these categories of investors has its own set of goals, preferences and investment strategies; however, all provide working capital to a target company to nurture expansion, new-product development, or restructuring of the company’s operations, management, or ownership.

This course is the second part of Management Information Systems 1 (MIS 1). This is not a technology course, although we do explore a number of core technologies used in modern enterprises; nor is it designed to teach you how to use computers effectively, although we certainly take advantage of a range of software applications in our analysis.

Instead, the focus is on how to leverage information systems to effectively operate and grow an enterprise. Whether the organization is a new entrepreneurial start-up, an established business, a non-profit, or a government enterprise, its ability to deliver its mission and implement its strategy could be significantly impeded without knowledgeable individuals to guide the design, acquisition, effective use, and support of the information systems that provide the foundation for the organization.

Because the role of MIS is critical for many organizations, it has become an exciting career choice that allows you the flexibility to apply the skills you develop through your study of management information systems to a broad range of disciplines. An organization is made up of four key components; technology, data, processes, and people. A career in MIS can offer you many options, such as taking a strategic approach and becoming a systems or enterprise architect who is an expert in integrating across these components, or becoming a specialist in data analytics, process redesign, or technology management. What distinguishes MIS from other types of information technology is the recognition of the role and the importance of people in both enabling and constraining organizations.

The guiding principle behind this course is that for an enterprise to run efficiently, its information systems need to work efficiently. Modern organizations are simply too complex, with too many people and too much data for work to be done manually or inefficiently.

Banking in its modern sense evolved in the 14th century in the rich cities of Renaissance Italy, but in many ways it was a continuation of ideas and concepts of credit and lending that had their roots in the ancient world. In the history of banking, a number of banking dynasties — notably, the Medicis, the Fuggers, the Welsers, the Berenbergs and the Rothschilds — have played a central role over many centuries.

The money supply of a country consists of currency (banknotes and coins) and, depending on the particular definition used, one or more types of bank money (the balances held in checking accounts, savings accounts, and other types of bank accounts). Bank money, which consists only of records (mostly computerized in modern banking), forms by far the largest part of broad money in developed countries.

This course introduces the theory of consumer behavior and relates it to the practice of marketing. It will present relevant material drawn from psychology, anthropology, social and behavioral sciences within the framework of the consumer decision process and its main influencing factors.

International economics is concerned with the effects upon economic activity from international differences in productive resources and consumer preferences, as well as the international institutions that affect them. It seeks to explain the patterns and consequences of transactions and interactions between the inhabitants of different countries, including trade, investment and migration.

Any specific information system aims to support operations, management and decision making. An information system is the information and communication technology (ICT) that an organization uses, and also the way in which people interact with this technology in support of business processes.

In Financial Accounting, we learned that firms are required to keep detailed financial records so that organized reports can be distributed to managers, shareholders, and government regulators. Principles of Finance will focus on what these managers, investors, and government agencies do with this information. It is an introductory course to various fields of finance and is comparable in content to courses that other institutions label as “corporate finance” or “financial management.”

Finance is a broad term. You will find that both managers that compile the financial reports we discussed in financial accounting and stockbrokers working on Wall Street will claim that they work in finance. So what exactly is finance? Finance is the science of fund management. It is distinct from accounting in that. As accounting aims at organizing and compiling past information, finance is geared towards deciding what to do with that information.

In this course, you will be exposed to a number of different sub-fields within finance. You will learn how to determine which projects have the best potential payoff, to manage investments, and even to value stocks. In the end, you will discover that all finance boils down to one concept: return. In essence, finance asks: “If I give you money today, how much money will I get back in the future?” Though the answer to this question will vary widely from case to case, by the time you finish this course, you will know how to find the answer.

You will learn how to use financial concepts such as the time value of money, pro forma financial statements, financial ratio analysis, capital budgeting analysis, capital structure, and the cost of capital. This course will also provide an introduction to bonds and stocks. Upon completion of this course, you will understand financial statements, cash flow, time value of money, stocks and bonds, capital budgeting, ratio analysis, and long term financing, and apply these concepts and skills in business decisions.

The globalization of the economy, with increased cross-border alliances, ventures and global relocations, as well as the advent of e-commerce, has brought about major changes in the field of international customer relations and intercultural diversity management. This has led to an increased appreciation by companies that managing cultural differences properly can be a key factor in getting things done effectively across borders. With increased contact of personnel and customers from diverse cultural backgrounds, there is a growing demand for businesses to understand and manage the diverse values, perceptions, business worldviews and behavior of corporations, staff, and its customers. Intercultural communication and management is an interdisciplinary human resources field concerned with facilitating communication, management and effective interaction of personnel and customers across borders.

During your Diploma studies, you have learned to use Leadership as a way to structure and plan the future. You were designing your roadmap for the future. In the second year, you will use your leadership skills to motivate and lead others to change or to make a change.

In the second year of your Bachelor Studies you will learn another new language and culture.

In lieu of an internship, a Study Abroad experience would suffice. For the latter option, kindly provide a certificate of attendance or an academic transcript from the host institution.