The NIBS Worldwide Case Competition is a test of problem-solving ability, business acumen, cultural insight, communication skills, and teamwork. Teams of four undergraduate students compete on behalf of their respective universities. They have a limited time to analyze written business cases, assess the challenges facing the organization, and present recommendations to panels of senior managers, policymakers and academics.
See the key dates and deadlines for the competition.
Format
Each university is represented in the competition by a single team designated by the Dean of the participating school. To be eligible to enter a team, an institution must also be a member of NIBS, the Network of International Business Schools. For more information on membership benefits and fees, or to join, please visit the NIBS website.
A Qualifying Round, consisting of a written case report prepared at each team’s home institution, takes place each November to select the 16 teams that will travel to the host school for the Championship Round. Announcement of the successful qualifiers is made in December.
During the Championship Round, normally held in February/March, the 16 finalist teams compete in a series of head-to-head match-ups over the course of a week. In each match, the deliverable is a 20-minute presentation, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A. Teams are assigned to divisions based on their Qualifying Round performance, and begin with a series of three matches within their division. Preparation time is four hours in Rounds 1 and 2, and three hours in Round 3. Points from the divisional matches are then totalled with the top two teams in each division advancing to the playoffs. The Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals, which are also head-to-head matches, operate on a knockout basis.
Detailed information regarding student eligibility, competition format, and procedures for the Qualifying and Championship Rounds can be found in the official rules.
A Truly International Competition
Unlike other competitions, “international” isn’t just a nod to the diverse origins of our participants. NIBS focuses specifically on the challenges and opportunities of doing business in the global business environment. From the firms and settings featured in the cases to the cultural, legal, political, and organizational issues that arise from them, we test every aspect of participants’ international business IQ. Moreover, the NIBS Case Competition is judged by senior managers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers who understand the realities of doing business in a global setting.
Mission
As the marquee student event of the Network of International Business Schools, the NIBS Case Competition seeks to contribute to the development of future international business leaders by:
- Challenging participants with complex problems that demand integrative thinking and reasoned application of classroom concepts;
- Incorporating cases with a strong global and/or multinational dimension, in order to reflect the reality of modern international business;
- Providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and perspectives from a diversity of cultures, both within the competition itself and in its ancillary activities, and;
- Facilitating meaningful interaction between students from participating universities and those from the host school.
NIBS also places great importance on the cultural and social experience. Participants in the Championship Round have an opportunity to discover the host city/country and network with students from the host school and their fellow competitors from around the world. Friendships formed at the NIBS Case Competition can last a lifetime.
Fees
Each university wishing to enter a team for the Qualifying Round must pay a non-refundable registration fee of €250. This fee does not include the cost of membership in NIBS.
Teams advancing to the Championship Round will be charged an additional fee of €750 per team (covers 4 team members and 1 coach) in January, which includes the cost of most meals and the Thursday touring day. Teams sending more than one coach will incur a supplementary fee of €200 for each additional person. Teams are also responsible for the cost of transportation to the competition and their accommodation during Championship Week.