Organ­i­sa­tion and Management

In the first part of the course, the focus is on different models of cross-cultural research that can be used when working with the manifestations of cultural differences. These models and their concepts are elaborated by using them to discuss differences between Belgium and other European cultures on the one hand, and between Belgium and African, Asian and Arabic cultures on the other hand. In the second part, the focus is on cultural differences relating to specific management contexts. Successively, we focus on human resources management (hiring, motivation, performance appraisal and feedback, rewarding, career counseling), negotiations, business ethics, conflict resolution and leadership, within the context of international management.

Course materials: Manual: Intercultural Skills for International Business and International Relations (Author: S. Paul Verluyten) + study material on Canvas (online school platform). 

In the first part of the course, the focus is mainly on the topic of Travel Management. What do you need to keep into account when organizing a business trip for your manager (national and international) as well as receiving guests who are on a business trip in your own country (to visit your company).
In the second part, the focus shifts to the topic of Event Management. What are the steps you need to follow to organize an event as well as the sharing of some tips and tricks by event managers who have years of know-how and expertise in the industry.

Course materials: 
Syllabus « Project Management  -Travel & Event Management » by Kathleen Galle

This concept is a form of project-based problem-driven learning. It is a practical application of the theory that you learn about in the subject ‘Project Management: travel & event management’. Based on a case study, you will organize an incentive trip in a team, just as you would if you were working for a company. We provide you with a structure (a case study with a number of requirements: see below) and a bibliography. The aim is that you look for the most effective way of carrying out these tasks. Various groups will be working on the same case study for eight weeks. A jury will decide on which incentive trip best meets the set requirements.

Course materials: Syllabus 

The course ‘Integrated Facility Management’ focuses on the study of the measurability of Facility Management. This measurability is becoming increasingly important. We study customer satisfaction, cost analysis, investment policy, budget management, performance management, process management, Total Quality Management, planning and control, and benchmarking of facility services.

The added value provided by Facility Management to the primary business process will also be explored. We tackle the issue of determining who or what makes the assessment of facility management. We start with a stakeholder analysis. The conditions that need to be fulfilled for the realization of added value by facility services are being investigated. The result areas where facility management can realize added value are clearly defined.

Finally, we take a closer look at some current trends and developments in Facility Management.

Course materials: syllabus.

Extra costs: More or less €10 for public transport for a company visit

The aim of the "Survival Dutch" course is to master the basics of the Dutch language, both written and spoken. Starting from everyday situations, you will learn the necessary grammar and vocabulary in order to function in a Dutch speaking environment.

We strongly recommend incoming students to participate in the Survival Dutch course, organized prior to the start of the semester.

You follow the GPC 3 English classes in the first semester. In these classes, several professional themes will be tackled (such as organizing a teambuilding day). As a group of 4 students you will work together to come up with a concept for a teambuilding day with the whole class. At the end of November you will pitch this concept to a jury who will decide which group has won the assignment. The winning group will finalize its concept an organize the actual teambuilding day. In December, you will participate in this teambuilding together with your fellow classmates and some of your lecturers.

Extra costs: €60 for participation in teambuilding day
Course materials: Provided material on learning platform

'In the Culture BXL Culture course, we explore the world of visual arts, architecture and performing arts. You will become familiar with the cultural offerings in Brussels. The history of the city of Brussels will also be covered. Through lectures, guest lectures, site visits and assignments, you will enrich your cultural knowledge. You will learn about information channels for staying informed about current cultural events, cultural trends and cultural policy. 

Evaluation: 100% portfolio with oral explanations.

[Course from the Communication Management programme]

Content is King! And since nowadays a lot of communication uses digital channels, digital content is becoming more and more important in the communication mix. In this course within the degree of Communication, you will get familiar with online content strategy, creation and management. In short, this means you will learn how to decide what to use, how to make it and how to keep everything on track.

[Course from the Communication Management programme]

To make the students aware of the importance of the Human Resources role by introducing to them the basis of People Management. The course ‘Human Resources Management in the Hospitality Industry’ aims at introducing the students to the HR function in a hotel. Moreover this last year’s Bachelor course focusses on taking up leadership and supervision in their future managerial jobs. Apart from the administrative aspects of the HRM cycle (selecting, recruiting, training, rewarding and promoting staff until the exit management), the attention goes to the soft skills students should develop in order to manage their own career as well as the career of colleagues.

Practical examples and testimonies from professionals are shared and exercises for the students are woven all through the course. The Human resources department is often considered the ear and the heart of the hotel. No doubt the staff costs are among the most important in the P&L statement of a hotel. At the same time, those costs are probably the best manageable part. Hence, Productivity management becomes paramount in the total R.O.I. of a hotel. The HRM course teaches how to motivate a multicultural workforce in a fascinating business with all current challenges linked to it.

[Course from the Hotel Management programme]

How does tourism shape a city—and how does a city shape tourism? This course invites you to dive into urban life through the lens of tourism and leisure. Through an engaging mix of (guest) lectures and excursions, you will explore what ‘urban’, ‘urban tourism’ and ‘urban leisure’ truly mean, while uncovering the latest trends. 

The city itself becomes your classroom: Brussels serves as our main living lab, with occasional insights from other metropolitan contexts. You will gain a deep understanding of urban change, enriched by your own observations, experiences, and conversations with lecturers, experts, and fellow students—equipping you with a fresh perspective on the dynamic relationship between cities and tourism.

[Course from the Tourism & Leisure Management programme]

Students gain knowledge and an understanding of the complexities of social and spatial justice through lectures, external activities and working lectures. This promotes their global citizenship and critical attitude towards social issues. In doing so, they explore themes from a rather theoretical point of view.

The course component focuses on developing transdisciplinary skills through hands-on activities and external visits or workshops. Students learn the added value of interdisciplinarity and how to collaborate on innovative solutions from different disciplines. They also explore the concept of transdisciplinarity and how it can be translated research-wise. Therefore it includes strengthening the research competences of (international) students from an interdisciplinary point of view.

Students gain practical experience through workplace learning and integrate together with fellow students their ‘transdisciplinary’ research in practice, supported by coaching and working lectures. This fosters their entrepreneurial spirit and ability to work in diverse teams and develop innovative solutions.

Management Support 2 outlines the strategic and tactical framework of an organisation and the influencing environmental factors. This course examines structural forms, corporate cultures and partnerships in a business context. It also covers management models and the concepts of “leadership” and “change management”. 

Students gain insight and reflect on their own experiences with models and skills that will be needed in their future working environment to achieve organisational goals. This makes future professionals aware of their own impact based on their personality, enabling them to increase efficiency in motivating people and resources and deploying them sustainably in a changing environment. 

There are three modules: Module 1 – Acting within a strategic or tactical framework, Module 2 – Goal-oriented collaboration, Module 3 – Management

Human Resource Management strives to align the objectives of employees and organisations as closely as possible, enabling both to function in an efficient and sustainable way. The aim is to achieve a balance between social and economic objectives. Human Resource Management in organisations is increasingly characterised by a focus on the individual employees and their specific talents. 

In this course, you will study a number of methods and techniques in this field relating to HR planning, recruitment, selection and assessment, career management, learning and development, performance management, remuneration and appraisal, outflow policy, work design and labour relations.

This course consists of various modules in which basic or advanced skills and typical vocabulary for the specific computer application are taught and applied in practice in specific applications:'Electronic spreadsheet': Excel as a tool for descriptive statistics, graphical representation of numbers; “Web applications”: how websites are created and designed, content management systems; “Simple video editing”: creating simple film material.

Facility Management can fulfil an operational, tactical or strategic function within an organisation. At each of these three levels, Facility Management can deliver meaningful added value to the efficient and sustainable functioning of the organisation. You will explore in depth why a Facility Manager cannot afford to focus solely on the day-to-day running of facility matters. You will examine how facility professionals can use scenario planning to prepare for a changing future. You will then look at which social changes and trends are already visible, which developments are influencing the working environment, and how Facility Managers can integrate the significance of these developments into their areas of responsibility. 

In addition, you will examine the facility organisation. The tasks, assignments and areas of focus of the Facility Manager will be inventoried. You will study the various customer types of Facility Management and the methods and techniques available to the Facility Manager to influence customer expectations. You will be introduced to concepts such as account management, expectation management, customer satisfaction and the Servqual model. The course will also guide you through the purchasing activity and the purchasing process. This will take you further into contract and supplier management. Attention will also be paid to quality, information and risk management.