From geopolitics to global logistics: new honours degree honing international business skills

From shifting trade agreements to ongoing supply chain disruptions, international business has become a high-stakes, fast-moving field that increasingly demands graduates who can think globally and adapt quickly. Centennial College is responding with the launch of a new Honours Bachelor of Business Administration – International Business program in fall 2026 at the college’s Progress Campus.

The four-year degree, says Amanda Stone, associate dean in the School of Business within Centennial’s Faculty of Global Business and Creative Industries, was developed in response to clear labour-market signals. “There’s been a continual upward trend in employment opportunities in the international business space,” she explains. “We’re seeing strong demand for graduates who understand geopolitics, import and export, supply chain and logistics.”

Ms. Stone says the program builds on Centennial’s long-standing strengths in applied education and industry partnerships, while marking a strategic expansion of degree offerings within the School of Business.

“This was an opportunity to lean into the expertise of our faculty and the connections we have to industry. When you combine strong theoretical foundations with practical, real-world insight, you create graduates who are both agile and job-ready in an international business environment,” she notes. “Students do not just learn what’s in the course outline. They learn how those concepts play out day to day – what importing looks like on the ground, how global distribution centres operate or how cargo moves through airports.”

The degree further benefits from Centennial’s designation as the first-ever Centre of Excellence in Logistics Learning by CITT, the Canadian Institute for Traffic and Transportation. Through the college’s partnership with CITT, says Ms. Stone, students acquire access to extensive industry networks, co-op opportunities and employer connections.

Experiential learning is embedded throughout the program, including capstone projects, case studies and applied seminars, she adds. This ensures students have access to both real-world content and real-world experience.

They will also have the opportunity to earn a professional credential from CIFFA, Canada’s logistics association for freight forwarders, customs brokers, freight brokers, drayage and warehousing companies. Not only will students gain an understanding of global logistics and freight forwarding and other practical skills, they will earn a certification that would otherwise be a cost to employers, explains Ms. Stone. “It’s an added value from an employment standpoint.”

Curriculum design reflects the volatility of the international business landscape, says Ms. Stone. Two fourth-year courses focus specifically on contemporary issues, allowing content to evolve in real time alongside global developments. “Trade agreements change, geopolitical events unfold, and businesses must respond immediately. Graduates will know how to assess risk, analyze data and adapt,” she adds.

Ultimately, the program is designed to produce insightful, data-literate graduates equipped to support Canada’s role in global trade, says Ms. Stone. “The degree is grounded in theory, driven by practice, and built to meet the realities of international business today and tomorrow.”

Advertising feature produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.