New approaches to teaching International human resource management

a case study from a Slovenian Intercultural management program

Authors

  • Svitlana Buko DOBA Business School, Maribor, Slovenia
  • Boštjan Žabar Faculty of Applied Social Studies in Nova Gorica image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32015/JIBM.2026.18.1.8

Keywords:

flexibilization of higher education, human resource management education, practice-oriented learning, artificial intelligence in HRM, hybrid and online teaching, assessment methods in graduate programs

Abstract

This study explores the innovative pedagogical design, implementation, and student outcomes of the International Human Resource Management (IHRM) course, a graduate-level module delivered in a hybrid and bilingual format at a Slovenian university. The course is co-taught by two professors, with lectures in English and seminars in Slovenian, using both languages interchangeably to foster intercultural dialogue. Instruction integrates Zoom sessions, hybrid teaching, recorded lectures, and structured group work, with Moodle serving as the central platform for materials, communication, and assessment. The course emphasizes practice-oriented, digitalized, student-centered learning, incorporating case studies, collaborative projects, and AI-based simulations to develop competencies in HRM within global and intercultural contexts. The model includes AI-based tools, including GPT chatbots, supporting students in preparing training and onboarding materials for international teams.

The case study is quantitative. Seventy-four graduate students completed an online survey one week after the course via the university-wide quality management system. The survey, based on a Likert scale, assessed teaching quality, instructor engagement, course organization, learning materials, and learning outcomes. Results indicate consistently high satisfaction, with mean scores ranging from 4.42 to 4.61. Students highlighted the appropriateness of course content, instructor encouragement of participation, and applicability to real-life professional contexts. Instructor performance, clarity of assessment, and course organization were similarly well rated.

Findings demonstrate that the course effectively integrates internationalization, digitalization, and flexibilization of curriculum, supporting the development of intercultural competence, practical AI-supported HRM skills, and professional readiness. The case study results confirm the importance of flexible, inclusive, and technologically enhanced curricula in preparing graduates for complex, multicultural, and digitally evolving work environments.

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Published

29.06.2026

Issue

Section

Case study

How to Cite

Buko, S., & Žabar, B. (2026). New approaches to teaching International human resource management: a case study from a Slovenian Intercultural management program. Mednarodno Inovativno Poslovanje = Journal of Innovative Business and Management, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.32015/JIBM.2026.18.1.8

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