This course is specially designed for students from overseas who wish to learn how international trade operates, and how increased exports can help to increase the prosperity of their own countries. The course will also outline clearly how imports and exports may be handled in a practical way.

This course is also the second part in the three part series of courses leading to the International Diploma in International Trade and Maritime Studies.

Entry Qualifications
Students must have a good knowledge of the English Language. No other formal qualifications are required.

Entry will be given to students who have completed a course leading to the (CIT) Certificate in International Trade

Duration of course
The duration of the course is 24 weeks. There is normally only one intake of students per year, commencing in late September and ending in March the following year.

Syllabus
There are five subjects:
International Trade.
European, North American Middle East, Far East, Latin America, China, and South Africa. Major commodity flows. Economic/ Trade blocs ASEAN, NAFTA,EU, MERCOSUR, CIS.International Trade Agencies, - WTO, OECD, UNCTAD, ICC, OPEC. Future trends focusing on globalisation of markets and product out-sourcing.International Physical Distribution.

Characteristics of International Transport modes and their application. - Full understanding of the 13 terms found in INCO terms 1990. - Role/application of the major documentation involved in the execution of the export sales contract embracing transport, customs, insurance, commercial, finance. - Comprehend the range of funding options of the export sales contract. - Focus on cargo insurance, packing, and freight rates.International Marketing &

Advertising.
What is International Marketing? Exploring Needs, Wants and Desires in the International environment.International Market Research Exploration of Primary and Secondary Data to find the answers to Research problems. Sources of data. Construction of Questionnaires. Problems in research. Use of published statistics.

International Market Segmentation. Finding out about the characteristics of the people in the local market place. Demographic profiling techniques, traditional and contemporary. The International Environments. Social, Cultural, Economic, Political, Legal and Technological aspects. Comparing and contrasting each in developing and developed countries.

International purchasing behaviour. Exploration of the factors involved in the purchasing process and the factors which may change them. Product Standardisation v Modification.

Trade Blocs.
The role of supranational trade bodies in the changing development of global trade. Their effect on selecting which markets to enter and their changing nature. Pricing. Pricing policies for FMCG and Industrial products and individual and business consumers. Understanding the role of currency, exchange rates and methods of countertrade. Hedging.

International Marketing in the Distribution chain. upply chain management from manufacturer to consumer.International Communications.The roles of Advertising, Public Relations, Cinema, Sales Promotion and Direct arketing in the integrated communication process. Creating material in each method for FMCG and business communications.

International Law.
The nature of Law. Sources/Origins - Common, Equity, Statute, Case (precedent)
Different roles of practitioners. Court hierarchy. - Basic difference between Tort & Contract, Civil & Criminal Law. European (et al), Necessity for international convention.

Buyer & Seller obligations/rights, including incoterms, Intellectual property. Different types of company formation: partnerships, private limited, plc's Mem & Art's Shares. Director's duties.

Negligence & tort: duty of care, with case examples. Moralities, cruelty, divorce. Conflict of laws & jurisdiction - international arbitration: New York convention/UNCITRAL/ Arb Act 1996.

The Law of contract: elements of a contract, offer, acceptance, types Of consideration, terms condition Vs warranties. Futures trading/right to sell property not owned. Sale of Goods Act/Sale of Goods & Services Act. "Donaghue v Stevenson" (1932) & "Hedley Bryne v Heller" (1964) Mistake and remedies. Misrepresentation. Frustration. Illegality. Structure of a proforma offer and a commercial contract. Use shipping and sales contracts as examples. Agency law: obligations and duties of an agent. (Un) disclosed principal - (dis) advantages.Different types of Authority: as broker and principal: ostensible et al. Case examples throughout.

International finance via Letters of Credit/bankers drafts. Freight (land and shipping) legislation: introduction to Hague-Visby and Hamburg Rules. Controlling organisations.

Information Technology.
Introduction to computer terminology. Basic design of a computer system. Choice of input devices and their application areas.

Output devices and Backing Storage devices. Computer networks, Disabled and Centralised Processing, Batch and Real-time processing.

Types of computer systems. Software - its importance and types. Data security, data integrity, data confidentiality. The Data Protection Act and its implications. Files, records and fields. Different types of files.

Word processing using Microsoft Word for Windows. Spreadsheet methods using Microsoft Excel. Database design, record storage and retrieval using Microsoft Access.

Searching for information using various computer based data sources like Microsoft Encarta, Times, CD-ROM and World Atlas.

Students will be continually assessed on course work, assignments (both written and oral) and a final integrated project based on an international theme covering all five areas of study.

Success in this course will enable students to obtain certification entitled the Professional Development Award in International Trade from BTEC. In addition, College Diplomas will be awarded to successful students, showing the subjects taken, and the degree of achievment attained - Pass, Merit or Distinction.