MAR037-2 International Trade and Investment Relations Assessment 2 Brief | University of Bedfordshire

MAR037-2 International Trade and Investment Relations

What Am I Required to do in this Assignment?

Assessment 2: Business Report

In groups of 3-5 people, you will choose a case company and conduct a comprehensive investigation of international trade and investment policies to support a SME UK company expand into a selected market of your choice. As each student will submit approximately 2,000 words so the report will cover between 6,000 (3 students per group) to 10,000 words (5 students per group). 

The final topics and case company for your group report must be approved by your tutor. 

Each student must select individual areas of international trade and investment theory to investigate for the case company, and the whole report must provide a cohesive advice to the case company (as an example, one student may consider economic environments, another student may consider trade tariffs, etc.)

This report will require extensive research and data analysis, and data presented should not be older than 5 years (unless vital to the case presented).

Advice: This is a strategic advisory business report. Your report should be tailored to help UK SME decision-makers understand and navigate international trade and investment relations within the selected market. The report must demonstrate strategic thinking grounded in academic theory, supported by robust, up-to-date research (using data from the last five years, unless older data is critically relevant). It should offer actionable insights that help the SME seize international opportunities or address trade and investment challenges.

Your final report should include the following components:

Executive Summary (at the start of the report):

A concise summary addressed to SME leadership. Clearly state the purpose of the report, highlight key opportunities and benefits, identify barriers, risks, and policy constraints, and provide strategic recommendations on how the SME can effectively engage with or benefit from trade and investment relations in the chosen market.

Main Body (throughout the report):

Each section should contribute to a unified strategic direction. Avoid duplication of content between team members. Where appropriate, link your section with others to maintain coherence and demonstrate interconnection between different aspects of the analysis.

Also include professional visuals throughout the report (e.g., charts, tables, graphs) to support decision-making. These might illustrate relevant trade agreements, trade volumes, disruptions, or import/export trends between the UK and the selected market, with a focus on how these factors impact the chosen SME.

Conclusion Section (recommendation):

Provide clear, evidence-based recommendations drawn from your findings. Offer practical guidance on how the UK SME can respond to key trends, barriers, and opportunities. Address both short-term actions and long-term implications for achieving sustainable business success in the target market.

What Do I Need to Do to Pass? How Do I Achieve a Good Grade?

The assessment marking criteria listed below show how your work is assessed. The assessment criteria are informed by the unit’s learning outcomes and the assessment task. Carefully reading the assessment criteria should help you understand the aspects that will be used to judge your progress and achievement of the learning outcomes, and offer guidance on “how do I achieve a good grade”.

• Have a critical understanding of investment and trade policies in a chosen international market.
• Analyse, evaluate, and present relevant investment and trade data;
• Provide evidence-based conclusions and recommendations;
• Analyse, structure, and present your data in an organised, concise way.

How Will My Assignment Be Marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations (see the Unit Information Form uploaded on BREO) and the specific marking criteria below (marking rubric). Please read carefully as they will help you prepare and evaluate your own work before you submit. They will also help you understand the grade and feedback received once marked.

Additional Information

How does this assignment relate to my learning in this unit and help me develop knowledge and skills that I will need for my future?

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in the scheduled sessions?” - To be completed by the unit coordinator.

Within the University of Bedfordshire, graduate competencies refer to the skills, knowledge, attributes, and abilities that individuals are expected to possess upon completing their education at the graduate level. Our graduate competencies are the fundamental building blocks in preparing you for the future world of work. They form the foundation for learning outcomes within and beyond your course. They are relevant for every subject, and you can work towards them in different ways, so that you can attain and benefit from them even if you have lots going on outside university. These competencies will be integrated across your course and units.