MA International Retail Business, Sustainability, Technologies

Program Overview

The MA International Retail Business, Sustainability & Technologies program at Goldsmiths, University of London combines retail business studies with sustainability principles, technological solutions, and leadership skills. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to address contemporary challenges in the retail industry, including environmental pressures, globalization, and technological advancements. The program offers a multi-disciplinary approach, emphasizing contextualization and real-world application, preparing graduates for careers in retail management, sustainability consultancy, technology development, and more.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Objectives:

• Equip students with fundamental knowledge of the retail industry.
• Introduce diverse contemporary issues and teach skills in creative and cutting-edge solutions.
• Combine retail business/management studies with sustainability principles and practice, technological solutions, and leadership skills.
• Challenge established frameworks for understanding global retail business.
• Prepare students for careers in the retail world of the immediate future with a combination of theory and practice.

Program Description:

• This program takes a multi-disciplinary approach, examining retail not as a sole business subject, but as a field permeating social-cultural and economic life.
• It emphasizes contextualization and the incorporation of localized perspectives and frameworks.
• Students develop critical thinking, analytical, and practical skills.

Addressing Contemporary Challenges:

• Responds to the retail industry's need for personnel who understand core business principles and the social and cultural contexts of their operations.
• Equips students to handle the environmental pressures associated with the retail sector, including consumption patterns, resource usage, waste generation, and consumerism.
• Addresses existential challenges like globalization, changing consumer preferences, demographics, social media, online retail, and the impact of events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Aims to prepare students for a historic watershed as the retail industry seeks stability, adaptability, relevance, sustainability, social responsibility, inventiveness, technological innovation, and financial viability.

Outline:

Compulsory Modules:

• International Retail Management (30 credits)
• Sustainability Thinking and Leadership: Consumption & Development (30 credits)
• Retail Data and Technology (15 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional Modules:

• Creative Social Media (30 credits)
• Luxury Brands: Retail, Digital and Marketing (30 credits)
• Culture, Tourism and Regeneration (30 credits)
• Cultural Relations and Diplomacy II: Explorations (30 credits)
• Entrepreneurial Modelling: From Idea to Articulation (15 credits)
• Technological Innovation & Market Creation (15 credits)
• Marketing Strategy (15 credits)
• Consumer Behaviour (15 credits)
• Creating Customer Experiences (15 credits)
• Leadership and Talent Management (15 credits)
• Data Visualization and the Web (15 credits)
• Critical Social Media Practices (15 credits)
• Consumer Citizenship and Visual Media (30 credits)
• Social Media in Everyday Life: A global perspective (30 credits)

Structure:

• Full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years)
• 15 credits per module

Assessment:

Assessment methods and criteria:

• Varies depending on the module.
• May include essays, presentations, exams, group projects, and dissertations.

Criteria:

• Critical thinking, analytical skills, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and originality.

Teaching:

Teaching methods:

• Interactive lectures, seminars, workshops, guest speakers, case studies, and field trips.

Faculty:

• Experienced academics and practitioners with expertise in retail business, sustainability, technology, and leadership.

Unique approaches:

• Multi-disciplinary perspective, emphasis on contextualization and real-world application.
• Links to industry and research, focus on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Careers:

Potential career paths:

• Retail management
• Brand management
• Marketing
• Sustainability consultancy
• Technology development
• Leadership roles
• Research and academia

Opportunities:

• Wide range of career opportunities in the retail sector and beyond.
• Strong demand for graduates with the skills and knowledge this program provides.
• Scholarships and funding opportunities are available.

Annual tuition fees These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year. Home - full-time: £12520 Home - part-time: £6260 International - full-time: £22640 Additional costs There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme.