Canadian students win Global Student Challenge

At the end of an amazing week packed with company visits, workshops and networking opportunities, four Canadian students grabbed first prize in the Global Student Challenge 2018.

Having already negotiated six rounds of competition, the four master's students from Canada's McGill University came out top of the twenty-seven teams in the final. Second prize went to a quartet from the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, with third place on the podium secured by a team representing the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Running a fictional enterprise

After a year of preliminary rounds involving hundreds of teams from universities around the world, the final was contested by teams from eighteen different countries, with students of twenty-three nationalities. The week-long showdown was hosted by Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Each team was set the task of making a fictional enterprise as profitable as possible. The keys to success were teamwork and knowledge of supply chain finance. The students had to find solutions to realistic business management challenges, such as client and supplier insolvencies and shifts in the credit policies of banks and insurers. As well as being a competitive event, the Global Student Challenge final was a week of interaction, learning from other cultures, and experiencing things that will live long in the memories of all concerned. A wide array of student activities and tutor workshops were organized and there were visits to Heineken, Scania and the Aalsmeer flower auction, plus a trip to the port of Rotterdam. 
 

The Talent Connection

For the fourth year in a row, the Global Student Challenge was made possible by the Supply Chain Finance Community, to which Windesheim's Professorship of Supply Chain Finance is affiliated. A new feature for 2018 was The Talent Connection(opens in new tab), bringing employers into contact with upcoming talent. One of the main aims of the Global Student Challenge is to connect students looking for career opportunities with enterprises keen to recruit the most talented people. Windesheim was honoured to host an array of companies with strong international profiles. Amongst those present at The Talent Connection to scout and recruit future high-flyers were Amgen, KPMG, Heineken, VMI, Henkel, PwC, Buck Consultancy International (BCI), DS Smith, Friesland Campina, Arrow Electronics and ASML.

For more information about the Global Student Challenge, see Facebook(opens in new tab) and >Instagram(opens in new tab).