VOCATIONAL BACHELOR’S DEGREE: CAREERS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Study track: International Technical Sales Representative for Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises and Industries

This one-year Vocational Bachelor’s course is taught through a work-study programme that trains students to become future supervisors and operations’ managers in international trade within the specific context of small and medium-scale industries (in French: PMI). 

Skills

Under a sales executive or CEO’s supervision, graduates from this course must possess skills including: 

  • Managing the restrictions and opportunities resulting from changes in trade exchanges. 
  • Analysing international markets and organising a strategic and commercial update system.
  • Implementing and/or improving customer service, becoming the interface between customers and companies’ production divisions. 
  • Leading a commercial development project and ensuring communication with production agents. 
  • Selling and buying on different markets and/or facilitating communication between customers and suppliers in English or a different foreign language. 
  • Managing intercultural differences and specific business customs and practices. 
  • Promoting a company or product in writing and through oral presentations, both in French and in another language.
  • Using different methods to help small and medium-scale industries (PMI in French) in order promote their development both in France and internationally. 
  • Integrating new information and communication technologies in everyday business practices.
  • Dealing with customs and international regulations. 

Careers

  • Head of exports,
  • Export zone manager,
  • Export assistant,
  • Export account management,
  • Market manager,
  • Sedentary export technical sales representatives,
  • Assistants for forwarders, export departments and purchasing departments,
  • Export sales representatives,

Course content

General and technical training: 441 hours as part of a work-study programme

Adapting to the international trade environment

Contemporary strategic challenges / International economy / Managing cultural differences / Interpersonal relationships / Expression and communication / English (LV1) / Second foreign language (LV2).

Knowing the company and its environment

Challenges surrounding small or medium-scale industries and enterprises (SME) / International marketing / Market analysis and assessment / International trade law / Financial management / International purchasing and logistics / Computing.

 Extending professional knowledge: company development within its market

International canvassing / International trade negotiation/ Sales and purchasing techniques for international trade.

Tools for business relationships

Telemarketing / Buyer-supplier relationship management / Project management / Business intelligence

Exams:  Continuous assessment / Assessment by the company / Projects

Structure

How is the course structured?

Work-study programme:

A 12-month work-study programme (October to September), including 13 weeks training at the IUT and/or the Languedoc-Roussillon UIMM training centre (classes) and 34 weeks working for a company (internship/professional activities/projects).

Work-study schedule: alternating between 1 week in class and 3 weeks with the company.

At least 25% of the course is taught by visiting professionals, with the rest of the classes being covered by university professors. 

How to apply

Click here to find all information

Professional integration

What is the professional integration rate for this course?

At least 2 out of 3 graduates are offered an open-ended job contract by our partner companies.

Fields and careers accessible to our TCI graduates

Prospective fields: all industrial sectors where small and medium-scale industries are present.

Prospective careers:

  • Head of exports,
  • Export zone manager,
  • Export assistant,
  • Export account management,
  • Sales administration manager
  • Sedentary export technical sales representatives,
  • Assistants for forwarders, export departments and purchasing departments,
  • Export sales representatives,