ABSTRACT

This chapter aims to describe the international competencies paramount to the starting export professional in his/her first international job. The globalisation of the world's economy has made it possible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become global players. The success of graduates on the global labour market specifically calls for a greater investment in new basic skills such as digital literacy, social competencies, entrepreneurial skills and language learning in higher education programmes. The first dimension of the International Relation Competency concept is the starting export professional's attitudes, such as social initiative, open-mindedness and cultural empathy. Participants comprised representatives from SMEs of different economic sectors acquainted with competency levels of starting export professionals. The questionnaire focused on international Relation competency and its aspects were drawn from a literature review of selected competency frameworks and empirical studies on international competencies related to international business contexts.