What
will I study and how will I be assessed?
The EMCA takes a holistic
approach to consumer affairs and students will study a range of subjects from a
sample of disciplines.
Term 1 - Home Institution Common
Curriculum
Studying in this
term is done in the home institution language and organised as follows :
Block 1 - Consumer Affairs
Frameworks (Supporting structure of Consumer Markets)
The purpose of this block is to provide students with all the basic
knowledge and understanding that is necessary to undertake the studying of the
rest of the course.
There are three units in
this block:
Unit 1 - European and
National Consumer Affairs Frameworks
This will include theories
and concepts of European Consumer affairs, specific features of European Policy
and consumer protection, the influence of single market policy on the European
Legislative technique, the impact of European consumer law on international
trade, European institutions concerned with the organisation of consumer
protection in the single market, National systems of consumer affairs including
policy development and enforcement mechanisms.
Unit 2 - Understanding
Consumer Behaviour (Economic and Socio/psychological frameworks)
This modules includes a
study of economic theories of consumer behaviour, theories of rims and market
structures, welfare economics, information economy, pricing information
strategies. Rights managements and information policies. Students will also
study the development of marketing concepts and their implications for consumer
behaviour, consumer decision making processes, how to conduct consumer
research, influences on consumer behaviours such as environment, cross-cultural
and technological influences.
Unit 3 - European Competition Law Framework
Students will learn the goals of competition, links with consumer
policy, common market competition law rules, article 81 and 82, obligations of
member states, and enforcement of consumer policy.
Block
2 - Consumer Affairs Operations (Operating structure of Consumer Markets)
Three types of actors
operate in the single market and play a role in consumer affairs policy:
Consumers, Enterprises and Public Administration. This Block deals with issues
pertaining to the operation of consumer markets, i.e. role of consumers,
business operation and public intervention.
There are three units in
this block:
Unit 4 - Rights and Duties
of Consumers and Enterprises
This will include the
rights and duties of consumers in the EU, including consumer information,
regulated commercial practices, publicity rules, contract terms, conformity of
goods and services, security, liability, price law, housing law, right to the
protection of personal data, green and ethical consumerism, vulnerable
consumers.
Unit 5 - Business
operations beyond legal compliance
This will
include a study of corporate social responsibility, including stakeholder
theories, sustainability and democracy, governance processes and
accountability.
A part of the
curriculum is also devoted to customer relationship management, including
consumer satisfaction, loyalty and retention, call centre management,
definition of consumer policies and services and processed of complaints
handling and resolution.
Unit 6 -
Enforcement of Consumer Affairs Policy
This will
include public enforcement and effectiveness of new forms of regulation,
consumer training and national organisation responsible for enforcement. We
will also study private enforcement (access to justice) and individual actions
and complaints mechanisms, consumer associations' actions and class actions
perspectives.
Term 2 - Mobility &
Specialisation Term
Each
student will elect one area of specialisation and study in the university
offering this specialisation. In addition, all students will acquire knowldged
of the other specialisation areas. This term is taught in English regardless of
the university the student is studying at. Examinations will be in English.
The
specialisation areas are:
Barcelona - Safety and Quality of Products and Services
Bologna - Services and Tourism
Brunel
- Distance selling and e-commerce
Montpellier - Food Law and Management
Timisoara - Advertising and Consumers
Term 3
- Work Placement (Internship) & Project
During this term, students have the option
to go on a work placement that will last a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of
4 months. The employer will write a report at the end of the placement,
evaluating the work provided by the student and identifying the transferable
skills acquired by the student. No marks will be given for the placement. The placement
is only formative and devised to provide students will practical experience and
enhance their employability after the award of their degree(s).
The students will also need to prepare a project
will demonstrate strong research and analytical abilities. The project can be
in any chosen field of study (subject to Home university staffing). The project
will be started in term 1 and students will receive personalised supervision.
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