Asianet MOOC: Introduction to Business in Asia
ongoing until end of 2026
Introduction to Business in Asia (3 credits)
Level: Basic
Language: English
Time: January 7, 2025 – December 18, 2026.
Organiser: Center for East Asian Studies, University of Turku, Finland / Finnish University Network for Asian Studies
Contact person: Senior university lecturer Dr Outi Luova
Objectives: Asia is rapidly emerging as a critical hub for global business, driven by its economic growth, technological innovation, and vast consumer markets. Understanding the region’s diverse and dynamic landscapes is essential for navigating the complexities of business. This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools to engage effectively with Asia’s opportunities and challenges.
Content: The course covers three major regions in Asia —East, South, and Southeast Asia. It begins with an overview of Asia’s defining characteristics. The following five modules introduce the business environments of six key Asian countries, offering insights into the economic and socio-political contexts that shape business activities. Each module also examines critical trends influencing the business environment. By the end of the course, you will have a nuanced understanding of Asia’s growing significance and its implications for global business.
The course materials include publications produced by Asia Briefing. Asia Briefing is the editorial subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates,
a multi-disciplinary professional services firm for international businesses looking to enter and expand their operations in Asia.
Taken as: This is an asynchronous online course. Participants can take the course independently in the DigiCampus-learning environment without direct supervision, completing coursework flexibly within their schedules throughout the course period.
The course material consists of various online materials. Different online assignments such as quizzes and exams support students’ learning process.
Grading: Pass/fail
Enrollment :
This is a free online course available for anyone to enroll.
The course is arranged in the DigiCampus learning platform. You can sign in on the course with Google, EduGain, HAKA identification (students from Finnish universities or polytechnics), or use manual registering on this page.
More information about how to take MOOC-courses is available here.
Certificate and study credits:
Everyone who enrolls in the course and passes all course work successfully may download an automatically created course certificate for free in the DigiCampus learning platform.
If you want to get study credits from this course, check in advance with your university if it gives credits against the MOOC-certificate.
Students of the University of Turku, as well as those accepted to the course through the Network’s application process will get study credits registered into the Peppi-service at the end of the academic study periods. Information about the application period and process is available here
Student voices:
“I’m focusing on international business in my studies and taking up Chinese in my foreign language studies. This will definitely be an asset for my future work.”
“Thank you for a valuable course – it gave me much insight into economic and geopolitical changes in Asia!”
“I liked that I learned a lot not only about different Asian business environments but also about international business as a whole. Independent study style was great because it made it possible for me to complete the tasks according to my own schedules.”