Congratulations to Loughborough University who won a very competitive UBC Global Masters 2018-19 Grand Final hosted at Regents University London on Saturday 9 March 2019
In response to requests from many universities following the success of the UBC Worldwide Undergraduate Business Challenge in developing employability, enterprise and entrepreneurial skills over the past 20 years, the UBC Global Masters Postgraduate Challenge was launched with great success in 2018.
UBC Global Masters format and content is designed to help develop the business skills required by Postgraduates in the following situations:
Commencing in October this year and run over two rounds through to March the following year, the UBC Global Masters offers postgraduates a unique opportunity to develop the skills that they will need when they move on from campus to corporate/public sector life.
Whether progressing to work for a large multinational corporate, taking on a public-sector role, returning to run a family-owned business or setting up a new enterprise, postgraduates need to hone their skills in making the strategic and operational decisions that create value for their organisation.
The UBC Postgraduate Global Masters provides an opportunity for personal and professional development that is intellectually challenging and practically relevant, equipping participants with essential skills. Working in competitive teams enables peer to peer learning and interaction.
The Global Masters is a simulation-based competition specifically designed to develop the employability skills of high-calibre postgraduate students. World-class business simulations give the opportunity to run a series of businesses enabling the development of an ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ and providing a real test of each team’s ability to drive business performance.
The UBC is a team-based business simulation event that provides participants with the opportunity to act as a board of directors who have taken responsibility for improving the performance of a company. They will need to take into account not only the financial performance of the company, but also its responsibilities to its various stakeholders including its suppliers, its customers and its employees.
Postgraduate teams of up to five members from universities compete to achieve maximum profit, acquire market share and enhance stakeholder ratings. The Universities Business Challenge starts in October when each team will be given details of the simulated company, its markets and its current financial position.
Each team’s decisions, that are vital to the Company’s success, are uploaded on-line via the UBC website. Each decision period will represent six months in the life of the company. There will be six weekly decision periods. Along with the results of each decision period, teams will receive a scenario outlining events and issues outside and inside the company which are likely to impact on its business. At the end of each financial year, the balance sheets for all companies will be made available to all teams so that they can see how they are measuring up to the competition. For those who want to, there is also the chance to purchase market research information.
Two-round format:
Round 1:
Commencing in late October the first round will be internet-based and teams will be challenged to run a developing consumer electronics business in a competitive environment - where innovation drives performance - making decisions that will impact on business success. Round 1 will test the operational as well as the strategic abilities of each team.
Round 2 Grand Final:
Top teams from Round 1 will proceed to a prestigious one-day Grand Final event based in London in March 2020. This event will be focussed on a major strategic challenge for creating value in organisations. For example, this might be Delivering Value through Mergers & Acquisitions or Building Value in your Start-up Enterprise.
The Challenge is open to all Postgraduates (Masters including MBAs, Taught PhDs and Research PhDs, enrolled in higher education courses, whatever their area of study).
Teams will consist of up to a maximum of five members.
A progressive UBC Global Masters trophy will be held by the winning university team for the next twelve months and the team will be offered a work-shadowing opportunity with a prestigious corporate executive team.