Honours Talent Programme

Hanze University Groningen offers additional challenges to outstanding students. Students, who possess potential to excel not only academically, but professionally and personally, can apply for admission to the IBS Honours Talent Programme. Applications for this programme will be assessed by the Honours admissions committee in January and June of each year.

The Honours Talent Programme commences in the first semester of the Main Phase of the IBMS/BW programme and continues for the duration of the study programme. The Honours Talent Programme consists of 30 EC in addition to those earned as part of the regular bachelor's degree programme and is to be followed concurrent with the regular IBS study periods.

The Honours Talent Programme is divided into three different content lines:

• Professional Depth (20EC) : deepening understanding in the area of International Business, based on the students future professional goals,

• Interdisciplinary (5 EC): broadening the participants awareness and ability to integrate knowledge from disciplines outside the scope of the IBMS/BW programme,

• Community (5 EC): focusing on the student’s essential contribution to society at large, both as an individual and as part of the Honours community.

Activities occur both in groups and independently. Some modules require attendance while others are planned according to the student’s individual schedules. Honours students will have the flexibility to create learning opportunities specifically geared to their own professional goals.

Admission criteria

The IBS Honours Talent Programme is an opportunity open to all IBMS & BW students. Any student meeting the criteria for the programme may apply.

Applications for the programme will be accepted if the student:

• has completed the propedeuse (year 1) phase of the IBMS or BW study programme (60 EC credits),

• performs at a suggested minimum average grade of 7.0 in all courses followed at IBS,

• has no outstanding failing grades, and

• has earned no more than 10 credits in the Main Phase when commencing the Honours Talent Programme.

Selection procedure

A talented student, who has the motivation and potential to reach high levels of career success, would be described using a number of qualities. Therefore the programme selection will be based on a “total picture” of the candidate encompassing following areas:

• Academic Record

• Personal Motivation essay/letter

• Reference from Year 1 teacher

• Peer Reference

• Personal Interview

• Challenge Essay

Each aspect will be weighted on a “point scale” corresponding to the above criteria. Students who meet all requirements and achieve the highest total score will be admitted to the programme, on a space-available basis. Currently, enrolment for the programme will be limited to 15 students per year: 10 students in semester 1, and 5 students in semester 2.

The Honours Admissions Committee will make the final choice regarding admittance. Visiting Honours students from partner schools may be admitted during their time at IBS, on a space available (non-credit) basis.

Rules of Conduct

The prevention, detection and punishment of plagiarism are good practice in terms of learning, teaching and assessment. IBS has a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that plagiarism does not happen, or is dealt with appropriately if it does. Simply saying, students should not do it, is not acceptable. For full details/definitions about plagiarism, please refer to the chapter 8.9.

It is important to recognize that plagiarism does not just apply to written work - whether essays, reports, dissertations or laboratory results - but can also apply to plans, projects, designs, music, presentations or other work presented for assessment.

Plagiarism is seen as being particularly harmful because it undermines the whole basis of scholarly academic values, and undermines academic standards and the credibility of awards.

If a teacher suspects plagiarism they will deal with it: it is cheating! They will inform the Exam Board who will then, after providing the student with an opportunity to be heard, determine if plagiarism was indeed committed and if so, determine the appropriate sanction.

Within the IBS Honours Talent Programme, if a student is found to have plagiarized, then they will no longer be eligible to graduate with the honours title and they will be asked to leave the Honours Talent Programme.

Removal of a student from the IBS Honours Talent programme

A student may be asked to leave the IBS Honours Talent Programme if one, or more, of the following occurs:

• The student does not show the "right" behaviour/attitude that is expected from an Honours student. Behaviour of an Honours student should be in line with the ‘Rules of Conduct’ as stated in the IBMS Prospectus, chapter 8.

• The student does not perform sufficiently in the Honours Talent Programme (attendance, failing modules, etc). An Honours student will receive only one repair/resit opportunity for each part of the programme, unless there are extenuating circumstances as agreed upon by the mentor and coordinator.

• Progress in the regular IBMS programme is lagging behind what can be expected from an Honours student. The lack of progress might be due to the student's inability to cope with the combination of the regular programme and Honours Talent Programme (too time

consuming/too demanding). Therefore, if a student has failed 3 or more modules of the Main Phase programme, a discussion about the student’s continuation on the Honours Talent Programme will be conducted.

The removal of a student will be a joint decision by a team consisting of the Coordinator, the student's mentor and a third person (another mentor or an EB member).

Honours Curriculum

The IBS Honours Talent Programme centres the activities along three educational lines:

• Professional Depth (20EC): The focus of this line is upon deepening understanding in the area of International Business, based on the student’s future professional goals. This will be achieved via directed assignments, workshops, seminars, research and the opportunity for additional coursework within the regular IBS curriculum areas.

• Interdisciplinary (5 EC): Offered every period in conjunction with the Hanze Honours College, students will participate in workshops broadening the participants awareness and ability to integrate knowledge from disciplines outside the scope of the IBMS/BW programme. Students will be allowed to choose the workshops which best suit their own professional or personal interest.

• Community (5 EC): As an Honours student, the student’s essential contribution to society at large, both as an individual and as part of the Honours community, will be a requirement of this programme. Whether abroad or here in Groningen, Honours students will play an active role in the activities surrounding this aspect.

Some portions of the programme are required for all Honours students, and some aspects will be tailored to the individual student. Participants will work together with their IBS Honours mentor to create a programme based on their own professional interests and personal needs. All participants must complete a total of 30 EC during their Main Phase at IBS. In general, the recommended table of credits for this programme is:

YEAR 2 Semester 1 Semester 2 TOTAL

Professional Depth

• Honours Seminar

• Mentoring

• Advanced Content

4 4 8

Community Line 1 1 2

Interdisciplinary Line 1 1 2

TOTAL CREDITS 6 6 12

YEAR 3 Semester 1 Semester 2 TOTAL Professional Depth

• Honours Seminar

• Mentoring

• Advanced Content

2 2 4

Community Line 1 1

Interdisciplinary Line 1 1

TOTAL CREDITS 3 3 6

YEAR 4 Semester 1 Semester 2 TOTAL

Professional Depth

• Honours Seminar

• Mentoring

• Advanced Content

4 4 8

Community Line 1 1 2

Interdisciplinary Line 1 1 2

TOTAL CREDITS 6 6 12

Note

Students involved in the Honours Talent Programme will also have lectures in the evening.

Completion of the Programme

Students will receive credits for each completed aspect of the programme. Only upon completion of the entire Honours Talent Programme and graduation from the IBMS bachelor’s programme will students receive a special diploma supplement, in addition to an Honours notation on the official diploma.

Credits cannot be transferred to meet the graduation requirements of the regular IBMS/BW study programme.