In the 3rd year Project students are to demonstrate the unique qualifications obtained during all three years of undergraduate studies. On the basis of their studies, the students should be able to formulate one or several multidisciplinary research question(s) suitable for methodological guided analysis within the framework of a complex theme. During the 1st year at ASP the focus was primarily on the concepts and methods for analysing society and culture combined with macro- and micro-economic models and theories related to national and international business. The 2nd year nurtured the ability to view industrial sectors and business enterprises as functioning systems in relation to national and international social and political systems as well as specific and general economic conditions. The 3rd and final year at ASP focuses on concrete problems found in international economic and political situations in which companies and organisations typically find themselves. By combining the aggregated knowledge accumulated during the three years of undergraduate studies the 3rd year project should thus take its point of departure in this aggregated knowledge.

On the basis of the above the 3rd year Project thus focuses on an international management problem within the thematic framework of “International and Global Corporate Strategies”

For example, competition and co-operation takes many forms. There are various consequences and implications for the parties involved. Companies have to develop their resources to be able to be part of the international competition, and international organisations work politically to create a better environment for the global distribution of economic and knowledge based resources. Companies and organisations have to understand these processes to engage in international competition or international co-corporation, and both internal and external relations of the company are influenced by changes in the political, social and cultural environment in a given societal context.

Accordingly, the project can deal with both market and co-operative relations, and the chosen problem can be viewed from a social, company-specific or actor-centred angle. However, the company/organization must always be at the centre. Furthermore, the project shall combine and apply economic theories and models together with various societal perspectives learnt during the three years of undergraduate studies at ASP when dealing with the selected topic in their project.

It is thus required that the project:

Is based on economic models and different theoretical perspectives on various societal manifestations
Is interdisciplinary, i.e. integrate at least one of the academic fields taught, for example, within economic, political and sociological disciplines
Incorporates an international and an Asian perspective
1. It is important that the students demonstrate abilities to consider the financial consequences of proposed ideas, projects, marketing initiatives, communication or organisational change. That is, the project design needs to assess how these activities influence the financial situation of the company/organisation. These considerations should be included even if your research issue does not imply a financial analysis or accounting aspects.

2.The chosen problem must be discussed in the light of the economic, political and cultural internationalisation that characterises the development of society. The project need not therefore exclusively focus on external or internal relations, but can deal with internal relations in an internationally working company or organisation or a company/organisation that to a significant degree is affected by internationalisation. Inspiration for establishing this perspective with regard to empirical data, theory and method can be taken from, for example, comparative social analysis, communications and more general Asian studies. As stated in the thematic framework, Asia must have a central role in the formulation of the project. It may deal with an Asian company seeking international relations or a European company working in Asia, however, different and creative angles are most welcome.