Business Leadership Skills

Global Skills for International Business Environments
Hours: 45

Credits: 6 ECTS

1. Course Description

This course is designed to equip students with essential competencies for success in today's dynamic business 
environment. This course focuses on developing four core skills: Effective Communication, Innovation, 
Collaborative Work, and Problem-Solving, which are crucial for effective leadership and decision-making in 
any professional setting. Through interactive activities, real-world case studies, and hands- on projects, 
students will strengthen their ability to communicate persuasively, think creatively, collaborate efficiently, 
and solve complex problems.
The course is structured around a comprehensive project, "Innovative Solutions for Future Business," where 
students will apply the learned competencies to design, develop, and present a business proposal. The 
project simulates a real-world business challenge, requiring students to work in teams, strategize solutions, 
and present their findings to a panel of evaluators.
Throughout the course, students will engage in team-building exercises, discussions, and prototype 
development, honing both individual and group skills. Each of the four course blocks focuses on one key 
competency, providing a structured learning experience that builds progressively. By the end of the course, 
students will be prepared to tackle complex business problems, drive innovation, and work effectively in 
diverse teams, empowering them to become effective leaders in their future careers.

2. Learning Objectives

• Enhance Effective Communication Skills: Develop the ability to communicate clearly, persuasively,
and professionally in various business contexts, both orally and in writing.
• Foster Innovation and Creativity: Cultivate innovative thinking to generate creative solutions for 
real- world business challenges and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Improve Collaborative Work: Strengthen teamwork and collaboration skills, learning how to
effectively contribute to and manage diverse teams in achieving shared goals.
• Master Problem-Solving Techniques: Apply structured problem-solving methods to identify, 
analyze, and resolve complex business issues with actionable solutions.
• Develop Strategic Business Proposals: Gain experience in creating business proposals that
address current business challenges with innovative solutions, backed by sound reasoning and
strategic planning.
• Enhance Effective Communication Skills: Develop the ability to communicate clearly, persuasively,
and professionally in various business contexts, both orally and in writing.
• Foster Innovation and Creativity: Cultivate innovative thinking to generate creative solutions for 
real- world business challenges and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Improve Collaborative Work: Strengthen teamwork and collaboration skills, learning how to
effectively contribute to and manage diverse teams in achieving shared goals.
• Master Problem-Solving Techniques: Apply structured problem-solving methods to identify, 
analyze, and resolve complex business issues with actionable solutions.
• Develop Strategic Business Proposals: Gain experience in creating business proposals that
address current business challenges with innovative solutions, backed by sound reasoning and
strategic planning

3. Formative Activities
Educational activities will be developed by means of different didactic strategies:

• Effective Communication Practice: Participate in a group discussion and give a business-related
  presentation to practice clarity, persuasion, and engagement.
  • Brainstorming Solutions: Engage in a collaborative brainstorming session to generate
  creative ideas for solving a real-world business problem.
  • Team Collaboration Exercise: Complete a team-based task, focusing on clear role assignment, 
  cooperation, and the sharing of responsibilities to achieve a common goal.
  • Problem-Solving Simulation: Apply problem-solving frameworks to break down a business
  problem and propose a practical, well-structured solution.
  • Business Pitch Practice: Prepare and present a short pitch for a business solution, focusing on
  communication skills and persuasive techniques.
  • Prototype Development: Collaborate to create a basic prototype of yoursolution, incorporating
  feedback from peers and instructors to improve functionality.
  • Peer Evaluation and Reflection: Evaluate a peer’s performance in collaborative tasks and
  reflect on the feedback to assess your personal growth.
  • Refining the Final Proposal: Revise your business proposal based on feedback to ensure clarity, 
  coherence, and thoroughness before the final submission.
  • Pitch Rehearsal: Practice delivering your final pitch to peers, focusing on effective delivery,
  confidence, and persuasion techniques.
  • Personal Reflection and Action Plan: Reflect on the skills you've developed and identify areas 
  for continued improvement in the future

4. Methodology

The course syllabus follows the communicative approach methods, based on the core principles of procedure 
conception and constructive acquisition of knowledge. The methodology is based on the teaching-learning 
procedures, focused on the learner, which encourages active participation and results in the development of 
general and specific competencies that provide knowledge, capacities and attitudes for their future professional 
careers

5. EvaluationThe form of assessment is based on the core principles of the educational assessment, i.e., an active and 
participative teaching-learning process focused on the learner. The instructor uses numerous and differentiated 
forms of assessment to calculate the final grade received for this course. For the record, these are listed below. 
The content, criteria and specific requirements for each assessment category will be explained in greater detail 
in class.
5.1. Grading system 
In the Spanish educational system, it is required to quantitatively express the result of each student’s 
evaluation. In order to do so, Nebrija faculty uses different strategies and instruments such as: papers, 
exams, tests, projects, self-evaluation activities, etc. In order to issue a final grade for the Spanish Plus 
programs the following scale is established: 
 30% Attendance and active participation in class
 30% Daily work/ Papers/ Essays
 40% Exams/ Final papers or projects*
Therefore, the final grade is the average between attendance and participation, daily work and exams, 
presentations, projects and essays.
[4]
Active participation in class is evaluated by means of different activities such as: 
 Activities and exercises correction;
 Reflection upon the different contents in the course;
 Oral activities (individual, in pairs or in groups). Fluency, correction, adequacy and relevance are 
taken into account;
Daily work makes reference to any activity or task that is done inside or outside of the classroom, whether 
during the class time or at any other time. 
Exams/ Final papers or projects 
The course includes a midterm and a final written exam on theoretical concepts and course facts. Also, 
two projects will be elaborated, both including an oral presentation in front of the class. If a student, 
unjustifiably, does not do or submit an exam, paper or project, it will be graded with a ‘0’.
5.2. Attendance, participation and grading policies.
5.2.1. Attendance policy
Attendance is mandatory. The maximum number of absences allowed is 6. In case of missing 7 or more sessions 
in one course, the student will receive a zero in his/her participation and attendance grade. In addition, not 
attending classes will not excuse the student from handing in in any homework, papers or essays previously 
assigned. 
The following situations must be considered:
 There are 3 sessions of class per week. Each session of class will count as an absence.
 Two delays of more than 15 minutes will be considered an absence. The entrance to class will not be 
allowed after 30 minutes once it has started. 
 There are no excused absences. E.g.: Not attending class because of sickness will count as an absence. 
The student is responsible for catching up with any homework done while absent.
 Exams dates have been officially approved by the university, therefore, they will not be changed*
*Except for those courses where the professor will set up specific dates and inform the students at the beginning 
of the program. 

*Course content subject to change. Please contact your ISA Program Manager for more information including pdf copy of syllabus.