Teaching experience

Summary of Anne-Wil's teaching experience, courses taught, teaching philosophy, and student feedback

Anne-Wil Harzing - Sat 6 Feb 2016 16:10 (updated Mon 18 Apr 2022 18:13)

My teaching experience started when I was a student tutor at the University of Maastricht, from 1987-1991. Since then, I have held several more formal teaching positions as part of my academic appointments; see below for a complete overview.

Middlesex University, London

At Middlesex University my appointment does not include any direct teaching responsibilities beyond guest lectures on my areas of research expertise. However, I continue to mentor junior academic colleagues. In addition, I present seminars about academic publishing, research impact, and general academic career strategies.

University of Melbourne, Australia

At the University of Melbourne, I taught the following five subjects as part of the PhD programme and the Master in International Business programme:

Research Decisions in Management and Marketing [PhD]

This subject introduces doctoral students to key topics and decisions relevant to research in the management and marketing domain, and to specific expectations of the Department. Topics include:

• Introduction to research in different areas of Management and Marketing
• Steps in the research process and how to conduct a literature review
• Philosophy of science and epistemology
• Nature of theory; creating/constructing new theory and building upon existing theory
• Alternative research paradigms and strategies
• Ethical issues in management and marketing research

Research Methods in Management and Marketing [PhD]

This module-based subject introduces doctoral students to specific key methods and techniques commonly used in management and marketing research. It consists of a rolling set of topics/modules across the year. Students are required to select a minimum of eight modules drawn from a broader menu of some 24 modules; this allows students to tailor the subject to their own research interests and needs. Modules vary from year to year and are specifically applied to management and marketing research.

Global Management Issues [MIB]

This is a capstone subject in the Master of International Business program. It explores a range of issues facing managers when doing business across borders through a series of case studies. Topics to be studied will be chosen from among the following: foreign market selection, entry mode choice, first steps in internationalisation, the role of head office in a global firm, global supply chain management, foreign mergers and acquisitions, ethics in international business, managing across cultures and within multi-national regulatory regimes, and negotiating with host governments about conditions of entry and subsequent operations in their jurisdictions.

International Business Strategy [MIB]

This subject is an introduction to the fundamental issues of strategy facing managers of firms operating internationally. It recognises that managers operate in an environment that is both dynamic and uncertain. The subject teaches managers how to acquire an indepth understanding of their firm's strategic position and to formulate appropriate responses to ensure sustainable competitive advantage. It explores the manner in which firms generate unique competencies and capabilities that lead to competitive advantage, including the importance of knowledge and learning. Students will be exposed to conceptual frameworks that analyze the character of the industries and markets in which firms operate, and shown how these external influences impact on performance. Strategic decisions involving vertical integration, diversification and e-commerce will be considered, as will the relationship between organization structure and strategy.

Cross-cultural Management [MIB]

This subject explores key issues facing managers of international businesses. These include the need to develop skills in cross-cultural communication, negotiation and conflict resolution within the firm and with other parties in host countries, including partners in joint ventures and alliances as well as suppliers and customers. How managers respond positively to the challenges of using a multi-cultural workforce, including expatriates, and operating a business in a number of culturally distinct environments is explored. Structuring the relationship between HQ and subsidiaries to ensure optimal performance across the whole organisation are also studied.

Bradford University, UK

In my previous postion at the Bradford University School of Management, I taught International Business Strategy and Cross-Cultural Management at Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Executive level.

Teaching philosophy

I am passionate about my research field and my teaching has always been aimed at making students share that passion. My teaching is not simply limited to transferring textbook knowledge. My modules include a lot of recent supplementary reading from academic journals so students can explore topics in more detail.

All of my current modules have a combination of coursework and exams or are coursework only. Coursework is not of the one-size-fits-all type, but is explicitly aimed at letting students follow and develop their own interests.

I actively seek feedback from students to further improve my teaching and to check whether students have mastered the concepts discussed in the lectures. In 1999 I introduced exit visas on which students can write comments and questions (anonymously if they wish) about the lecture.

My teaching is supported by Powerpoint slides, videos and (computer-based) simulations. From my web site, students can download course materials such as hand-outs, supplementary readings and additional instructions [now removed]. They will also find links to relevant web resources for the modules I teach.

Teaching experience

I have taught courses to UG students, Masters students with and without work experience and MBA students as well as executive MBA-type courses in the UK and Dubai, for companies such as the BBC, Ciba-Geigy and Emirates. My teaching experience includes a wide range of delivery methods:

• Distance learning (Open University)
• Problem based learning in groups of 10-15 students (Tilburg University, Maastricht University)
• Lectures, seminars and tutorials (University of Bradford, University of Melbourne)

Since 1991, I have taught the following modules (usually as module coordinator):

• Industrial Relations in Europe (Distance learning MA degree Labour & Organisation)
• International HRM (Distance learning MA degree Labour & Organisation)
• Economic aspects of personnel management (MA in Personnel Management)
• Industrial Relations and Labour Markets (MA in Personnel Management)
• International Management and Business Policy (MA in International Management)
• Industrial Relations and Human Resources in Europe (MA in International Management)
• Cases in International Human Resource Management (MA in International Management)
• Research Methods workshop (Coordinator, MA in International Business & Management)
• International Business Strategy (Final year Undergraduate, MA in International Business & Management, FT MBA, PT MBA, Dubai MBA, Executive teaching)
• Cross-cultural Management (MA in International Business & Management, FT MBA, PT MBA, Executive teaching)
• Global Management Issues (MA in International Business)
• Managing Across Borders (MA in International Business)
• Strategic Management of Organisations (Graduate Diploma in HRM and Employment Relations)
• Strategy (second year Undergraduate)
• Research Decisions in Management and Marketing (PhD programme, University of Melbourne)
• Research Methods in Management and Marketing (PhD programme, University of Melbourne)

I have also given guest lectures on the same topics for EAP Oxford, Teikyo University (The Netherlands) and the Center of European Studies (The Netherlands).

Teaching evaluations

The fact that my teaching and learning style is successful is illustrated by the following selection of comments I received at both UG and PG level:

"Anne-Wil is a fabulous teacher and interesting person. She demonstrates the theory with relevant contemporary examples with MASSIVE enthusiasm. Obviously loves her job."

"Really enjoy the way Ann taught and stimulated the students. She is very good at directing us thinking strategically and academically. Learnt lots from her class, so well organised and prepared for each class."

"The most interesting subject in the MIB for me. Anne-Wil showed great knowledge in this field and transferred it to us in an entertaining way. I also enjoyed the unusual assignment of the culture visit. I learned a lot!"

"An interesting, well rounded and intellectually challenging subject. Dr. Harzing is an inspiring academic with a sound appreciation of diverse cultural backgrounds."

"Anne-Wil teaches with wonderful dedication and enthusiasm. She is inclusive to all students and has been wonderful to learn from as an academic."

"This is what I came for, I am not an examination processing machine"

"I finally feel I am treated like an adult"

"Excellent - the best, most informative module of the past 4 years, linked to new developments in theory as well as practical tutorials"

"Engaging, well-informed lecturer - very responsive to student needs"

"Nice to see the lecturer putting in as much effort as students"

"The bit on cultural environment was really captivating. Clearly your research area. But the delivery aroused my interest in the topic as well, which I usually shrugged off"

"Well thought out course. Good interaction throughout the whole period, which really brought out the key points. Extremely interesting module"

"I was impressed by the way the lecture itself, the supplementary material (folder) and the lecturer was prepared/structured."

"Extraordinary, interesting, fun-making style of teaching"

"Prof is lucid and well prepared. You could be German" [A German student]

"Thanks for this excellent module, which was not only very interesting but also lots of fun. I think I learned a lot during the past weeks"

"Thanks for having us"

In Bradford, all of my teaching was evaluated as excellent (defined as 3.8 or more on a scale from 1 to 5) with overall scores well above 4 even for UG modules, and going up to 4.7 for small PG modules. At the University of Melbourne, my average teaching evaluations lie around 4.3-4.5 on a five-point scale, above the departmental average.