Prospects

Professional profiles

professional profile

Specialist in economic policies andinternational finance

role in a work context:

The specialist in economic policies andinternational finance:

- studies, describes and interprets theorigin, development, functioning and logic of the systems of economic,financial and political relations among States and other actors in worldpolitics, the ways in which economic, financial and political decisions aremade, their interrelations with public opinion, the activities of governments,international organisations and firms;

- coordinates the creation, development,documentation, financing, implementation, promotion, monitoring and assessmentof national, international and supra-national programmes of publicsignificance, on such subjects as the internationalisation of productionsystems and international economic and financial relations among public andprivate actors;

- coordinates the creation, development,documentation, implementation, promotion, monitoring and assessment of enterprise-levelprojects on subjects relating to industrial strategy and development, directforeign investment strategies, M&A strategies;

- collaborates actively with executives,managers, politicians and administrators in complex public and privateorganisations at national and international level.

competencies associated with the role:

The specialist in economic policies andinternational finance:

‐ understands the international political,financial and economic architecture, its historical and legal origins, the wayit functions; the mechanisms behind the functioning of complex organisationsand decision-making processes at an international level; the characteristics ofand outlook for the global governance of economic and financial processes;

- knows how to analyse and interpret theeconomic, financial and political context in which national and internationaldecisions are taken, both by public organisations and by private firms andorganisations;

- knows how to identify and study theimpact of political risks on the industrial internationalisation strategies offirms;

- knows how to manage a public policyproject and monitor its results (project management and evaluation), as well aspromote its objectives to national, European and international public institutionsand inform public opinion via digital communications, the worldwide web and themass media;

- knows how to assess the legal aspects ofassigned projects, interfacing with legal experts, and understands on acomparative basis the characteristics of the different legal systems andcontracts needed to operate internationally;

- applies critical thinking and knows manyways to solve problems. Knows how to use logic and reasoning to identify thestrengths and weaknesses of processes and solutions;

- has excellent skills when discussing,communicating and negotiating on behalf of administrations or private firmswith public administrations at national or European level, and knows how to usesocial networking;

- is able to source, read and interpretplanning documents (laws, proposals, decisions, programme descriptions, tenderregulations) issued by national, European and international institutions.

career opportunities:

Think tanks and research institutions,communications, PR and consultancy companies and firms, trade associations,non-profit organisations, local, regional and national public administrations,firms.

Foreign trade relations specialist

role in a work context:

The foreign trade relations specialist:

- implements the marketing and export strategiesof firms and ensures the efficient functioning of the sales and distributionnetwork, with a focus on foreign markets;

- performs research into market conditionsat international level, to identify opportunities for the commercialpenetration of products or services in foreign markets; assesses possiblepolitical-institutional developments, identifies competitors, their prices andtheir selling and distribution methods;

- is able to assess the costs and benefitsof collaboration and merger agreements with firms at national and internationallevel.

competencies associated with the role:

The foreign trade relations specialist:

- has an excellent knowledge of English anduses it routinely at work;

- has a general knowledge of the mostimportant processes within modern companies and, in particular, the economic,financial and political issues faced by each country with which contacts aremade;

- knows how to carry out empirical studiesin international contexts and geographical areas, using social science methods;

- knows how to assess the legal aspects ofassigned projects, interfacing with legal experts, and understands on acomparative basis the characteristics of the different legal systems andcontracts needed to operate internationally;

- possess specific aptitudes andbehavioural skills, including strong negotiating ability and excellent skillsin the planning and organisation of work; flexible and able to adapt; strongskills in the management of human and economic resources, as well as tangibleand intangible resources in general.

career opportunities:

Private firms and trade associations, infunctions dedicated to the internationalisation of the business.

Political risk specialist

role in a work context:

The political risk specialist:

- explores and analyses political, socialand economic factors in specific geographical areas or industrial sectors forprivate firms or governments

- analyses risks and opportunities foractors of all kinds, considering the risk factors to which they are exposed inthe assessment of investment strategies, and provides ideas for theirmanagement in certain geographical areas

- provides a detailed assessment of thefeasibility of an actor entering a given market in a given country. Thespecialist provides a careful analysis of the principal political, social andeconomic matters that the actor should take into consideration.

competencies associated with the role:

The political risk specialist:

- understands new and complex internationalsituations

- has in-depth knowledge of the politicaland economic realities in various regions; understand how and to what extentpolitical changes might impact the economic environment in a given country

- knows how to prepare scenario anddevelopment analyses

- knows one or more foreign languages at aprofessional level

- knows how to carry out complexinvestigations of various political and economic situations in various regions

- possess specific aptitudes andbehavioural skills, including strong skills in the planning and organisation ofwork; flexible and able to adapt.

career opportunities:

Junior consultant for risk analysiscompanies; analyst for international or governmental organisations; analyst forbanks, insurance companies and financial institutions; analyst for researchinstitutions; analyst for firms that operate in high risk countries (energysector etc.)

Continuing to study

It gives access to third cycle studies (PHD Programmes/Specialisation Schools) or second level of Professional Master's Programmes