The University of Guelph-Humber has recently been admitted into the Network of International Business Schools, potentially giving UofGH students the opportunity to expand their case competition success to an international stage.
NIBS is a global association of business schools that gathers together post-secondary institutions that share a focus on the internationalization of business and the globalization of the economy.
With 70-plus member institutions including business schools in China, the U.S., the Netherlands, Germany, Peru, New Zealand, France, the United Kingdom and Brazil, NIBS offers chances for student and faculty exchanges, joint research programs, as well as one of the longest-running case competitions in the world.
“There are some very prestigious schools included in this network,” said Business Assistant Program Head Justin Medak. “It just shows how far our business program has come and it also speaks to the strength of our students and the success of our case competitions, the study abroad program and the exchange program.
“We truly are a global program.”
NIBS holds an annual conference that joins together the top minds from post-secondary business institutions around the world, with the next planned gathering set for May 2018 in Romania.
Another big benefit for UofGH students is the opportunity to take part in the NIBS Worldwide Business Plan Competition and the NIBS Worldwide Case Competition, the latter of which has been in operation since 1996.
Last year, UofGH managed a university-record 17 first-place finishes in case competitions. And Medak, who works hard to train, teach and prepare UofGH’s case competitors, already has his eye on the NIBS event next winter in Guatemala.
The first round opens in November, and the top 16 schools from that stage will compete for the championship. It’s an intense competition, with the championship round taking course over a gruelling week that sometimes demands students compete twice daily.
“We will focus on prepping endurance,” Medak said. “I’m not saying that we’re going to get into the championship round for sure, but we’re going to make a strong effort to compete and hopefully it will be the first of many times we participate in this competition.”
Ultimately, Medak is confident that NIBS membership will only be a good thing for UofGH.
“It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “Being part of NIBS will open the door to even more opportunities for our students in the future.”
