Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

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Co Requisite Comment

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Aims

The module aims to discuss concepts and theories related to international marketing ethics, providing students with an understanding of the dilemmas faced by international marketers when dealing with ethical issues in cross-cultural settings. Throughout lectures and seminars, students will develop an understanding of responsible and sustainable practices trough real-world examples and case studies aimed to build an understanding of the nuances and differences in ethical behaviour and expectations in international marketing.

Students will also investigate issues related to CSR and the TBL, including the measurement of CSR performance across settings and analyse the role of ethics in consumer culture. Here, students will get to explore local and global ethical considerations in consumer culture, addressing issues related to consumer empowerment, vulnerability, and wellbeing. The module also aims to provide students with an understanding of the issues related to social media marketing ethics, by exploring issues related to data privacy and algorithm bias.

The role culture is fundamental to the module. Students will explore the impact that cultural values play in international marketing ethics and understand how to correctly assess ethical pitfalls resulting from cultural values differences by discussing relevant business cases. The module is taught through a research-led approach designed to introduce students to current up-to-date studies in international marketing and business ethics as well as research on ethical consumption.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module is structured to introduce and discuss the following topics:
•       Introduction to International Marketing Ethics & The Role of Culture
•       Criticisms of Marketing: An International Perspective
•       Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Developed and Emerging Markets
•       Ethical Consumption & Responding to Ethical Consumers
•       Consumer Vulnerability and Wellbeing
•       Social Media Marketing Ethics

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of international marketing ethics issues including comprehensive grasp of CSR perspectives across developed and developing markets. Students will be able to identify relevant moral philosophy approaches and draw on descriptive and normative theoretical perspectives to better explain particular marketing ethics cases. Overall, by the end of the module, students will have a well-rounded awareness of ethical principles in international marketing and understanding the role of culture and moral philosophy. The module is designed to enable students to enhance their ethical decision-making practices by consider the impact of international marketing decisions on global communities.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module, students will have developed a recognition of real ethical and sustainability challenges linked to marketing activities. The module discussions, cases and assessment are intended to improve students problem solving and commercial acumen. By the end of the module, students are expected to develop their critical thinking and written communication skills.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities include a combination of in-person and online lectures aimed at outlining ethics-related theories and models and are supported by a wide range of examples and illustrations from marketing practice.

Lectures will be supplemented by in-person small group teaching sessions, focused on applying the theory to practice and clarifying students’ queries. Additionally, students will gain a more in-depth understanding of theory and examples through the guided independent study materials provided.

The integration of both in-person and online lectures, is designed to accommodate diverse learning needs and align with the dynamic landscape of HE. This strategy not only caters to varied student preferences but also responds to employers' expectations for graduates possessing a bland of in-person and digital skills.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The summative assessment is a 2000 words individual essay worth 100% of the overall module marks as this is a 10-credit module.

Writing a marketing ethics essay provides students with the opportunity to:
1. Develop their critical writing and information analysis skills through engaging with extant marketing ethics research.
2. Apply theories and conceptual frameworks in order to reflect on current marketing ethics case studies and ethical dilemmas.

The formative assessment is a practice essay plan (150 words). Students will receive formative feedback on their practice essay plans to inform their assignment preparation.

RESIT INFORMATION: If students are eligible to a second attempt resit will be an assignment and the resit calculation will be based 100% on the submission.

General Notes

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