The competition from April 2-9 saw the participation of a record number of 12 business school teams from eight countries.

The teams of bachelor students competed to solve two real-world case challenges for multinational sports company Nike Europe and Dutch restaurant chain Brownies&downieS.

Over the course of the week, the teams participated in two case challenges: a 10-hour case challenge for Brownies&downieS, a training centre for people with intellectual disabilities and a vessel to create change and acceptance, and a 24-hour case challenge for Nike Europe.

The winning teams of both cases were announced at an award ceremony on April 7. Queen’s University took the first place in the Brownies&downieS case challenge, with Haskayne Business School and Corvinus Business School in second and third place. The winning team received the Brownies&downieS pie book.

The winner of the Nike Europe case challenge was Singapore Management University (SMU), followed by Ivey Business School and Haskayne Business School in second and third place. The winning team received an edition of Shoe Dog, a book by Nike’s founder Phil Knight.

Each case included confidential information on a problem that needed to be solved or an opportunity the company wanted to explore. Students also took part in workshops, presentations by company reps, excursions in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and networking and social events.

“The quality standard of the presentations, as well as the content generated in just 24 hours, was amazing. The motivation, focus and determination of the teams were very inspiring especially considering the limited exposure of the teams to the business world.”

“I have developed professional capabilities that will last a lifetime,” says Johnnie Allan, a student from Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary.

“I learned how to speed research a subject you know nothing about and still present like an expert. I learned how to take advantage of adrenaline and function on little sleep. I learned how to communicate under pressure and work as a team. Yet the socialising with students from across the globe was the highlight,” he adds.

RSM’s reputation for sustainability appealed to Jazelle Tan, a student at Singapore Management University. “I’m an active participant in the international case competition circuit and the RSM STAR Case Competition was a natural next-step given that the business problems are known for their sustainability slant,” she says.

The most important takeaway for her was realising that sustainability efforts can have an impact and be cost-efficient. “Through the Nike case, we were able to apply these topics that have been widely discussed in the business world,” she adds.

Students had 10 hours to prepare their solution to the case for Brownies&downieS, before making their presentations at RSM on April 4. The four finalists were Queen’s, Haskayne, Corvinus and HEC Montréal.

Preparation for the 24-hour case for Nike included a day spent in-house at Nike Europe, where students took part in a company tour, presentations and a dinner with company reps.

Students then worked for 24 hours together in their hotel rooms to break the case. At the 12-hour mark, they had the opportunity to garner information from Nike representatives with a 15-minute Question & Answer session. The four finalists of the case were: Ivey, SMU, RSM and Haskayne.

“This event is a great opportunity to get advice from recognised universities and exposure to a pool of highly talented students,” says Hanjo Riemersma, director supply chain strategy at Nike.

“The quality standard of the presentations, as well as the content generated in just 24 hours, was amazing. The motivation, focus and determination of the teams were very inspiring especially considering the limited exposure of the teams to the business world.”

ALSO READ: SMU, An Option For MBA Studies In Singapore

Aislin Roth, a student from team Queen’s University in Canada, says, “I loved visiting Nike’s European HQ. We had no idea who the sponsor of the 24-hour case was going to be and I’ll never forget arriving on the bus, seeing the coffee shop with the slogan “Just Brew It”, and only then realising we were going to be presenting our ideas to one of the world’s most iconic brands.”

Jazelle Tan, a student from Singapore Management University, says, “One of the things I learned is that teamwork is key to success. Not only did our team’s camaraderie contribute to our win, but RSM organising committee’s team spirit was one of the biggest factors for the smooth execution of the week-long event. The Netherlands has taught us to work hard, and play even harder!”

The RSM STAR Case Competition is a unique opportunity for teams from top business schools worldwide to compete against each other to solve to real-life business cases.

“In addition to being an event focused on learning and case solving, the RSM STAR Case Competition also brings people together from all over the world to connect and get to know each other,” says Céline Ariëns, chairman of the case competition.

Cases are developed by participating companies together with the Case Development Centre. Along with developing problem-solving, time management, teamwork and presentation skills, students get to know like-minded, ambitious students from all over the world.

Each university is represented by a team of four undergraduate students accompanied by a faculty advisor from their university.

The teams that participated in this year’s competition were Corvinus Business School from Budapest, Hungary; The Chinese University of Hong Kong from Hong Kong, China; HEC Montréal from Montréal, Canada; Hong Kong Polytechnic University from Hong Kong, China; Ivey Business School, Western University, London, Canada; Queen’s University from Kingston, Canada; Singapore Management University from Singapore; Haskayne Business School from Calgary, Canada; Universitas Gadjah Mada from Yogyakarta, Indonesia; University of St. Gallen from St. Gallen, Switzerland; University of Technology from Sydney, Australia; and Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University from the Netherlands.

Thus the location may seem to be spot-on. Now, let us consider the options. The Singapore Management University (SMU) offers a 12-month Full-time MBA program and an 18th-month part-time program with classes on weekday evenings and some weekends.

SMU says it focuses on training Asia’s next generation of business leaders with a curriculum that concentrates on raising the level of analytical skills as well as negotiation, leadership and communication skills. A world-class faculty known for its teaching excellence and mentorship, peer engagement with a diverse student body, and networking opportunities with industry business leaders provide a rich learning experience.

Class Profile

About 65% of the class comprise international students. The participants have an average work experience ranging from 5-7 years. SMU has 14-19 nationalities for each cohort. The small class size facilitates greater interaction between students.

The average age of the current batch is 27-34. The average GMAT score is 660. The students have an average work experience of 5-7 years.

The Curriculum

The core curriculum has 8 courses that includes communication across cultures, negotiation & conflict resolution, and Leadership in a Global Environment.

A minimum of 10 electives is required to complement the core curriculum. Participants will choose from a number of electives based on their interest and knowledge gaps. The electives range from subjects as diverse as Private Equity and Venture Capital, Innovation Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Supply Chain Management to Managerial Decision Making.

SMU uses the case study method of teaching. The case studies written in house are used by 52 universities worldwide. The school also focuses strongly on Asian companies to empower an economic shift.

They also get the opportunity to go on student exchange trips to Canada, Japan, Korea, UK or Spain and on Business Study Missions (BSMs) to ASEAN countries. Students have access to alumni network and mentorship programs.

Admission Criteria

A Bachelor’s degree (any field of study)

Two years of post-degree working experience.

GMAT or GRE

Transcripts

Résumé

Essays (2)

Recommendation forms (2)

TOEFL or IELTS (for those whose medium of instruction was not English)

Candidates must have strong interpersonal skills and an international outlook. They should be able to work in diverse groups. The applicants should also present evidence of strong professional accomplishments, leadership experience and potential, academic ability and community impact.

Fees

Application: S$ 100 Non-Refundable

Tuition fees (GST included):

Full-time S$62,209.80

Part-time: S$64,392.60

Start date (1 intake per year):

Full Time: January intake

Part Time: July intake

International Students Requirements

International students must have a valid passport for international travel with a validity of at least six months and a photocopy of the bio-data page of the passport. They should carry Student pass In-Principal-Approval (IPA) Letter, Form 16 – to be presented when collecting student pass from ICA and Pre-enrolment medical report.

They should also have SMU’s Letter of Offer (printed copies from email are also acceptable) along with all original academic transcripts and educational documents. Official translations of documents are required if they are not in English.

Other forms of personal identification are needed such as an identity card and birth certificate. Candidates should bring six passport-sized photographs (35mm X 43mm) taken in their home country. They should also have a letter or email confirming accommodation plans in Singapore.

Career Services & Placements

SMU has one on one career advisory and compulsory paid internships within the program duration (full time only).

In placements, 90% of graduates get employment offers 6 months after graduation. More than 2000 global companies come up with internship and placement offers.

The average annual salary is Singapore $80,000. Post MBA average salary is between Singapore $80,000 to S$100,000 per year. (Image Courtesy: Singapore Management University)