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Global Student Challenge: Serious Gaming To Bridge Physical And Financial Supply Chain


The Supply Chain Finance Community (SCFC) has launched the 4th edition of the Global Student Challenge, its worldwide competition to find the best teams of supply chain finance students.

The Global Student Challenge is powered by The Fresh Connection and The Cool Connection platforms, which are web-based business simulations with a focus on Supply Chain Management and Supply Chain Finance that aim to provide real-life insight in the complexities and interdependencies of supply chains operating under uncertain and volatile market conditions.

The Challenge was established and launched for the first time in 2013. Some of the driving forces of this initiative are pioneers in both education as well as the Supply Chain Management & Finance sector. The Supply Chain Finance community (SCFC), Windesheim University of applied sciences, KDC, TKI Dinalog, and Inchainge are just some of the names involved.

The competition is open to students based anywhere in the world. The Qualification Periods are September and October. The Regional Finals will be held between the months of November 2017 and January 2018. Different regions will have different timelines for their Regional Final. The Global Final will be held in April 2018.

Registrations are open for the Global Student Challenge at https://www.globalstudentchallenge.org/registration/.


Every year the Challenge pits teams from business schools and universities from across the globe against each other in a search for world’s Top Talent in Supply Chain Management and Finance. The Challenge is to run your own virtual company with a team of 4 students.

This year, for the first time, the Challenge has two tracks: The Cool Connection (TCC) and The Fresh Connection (TFC), running simultaneously and merging during the Global Final Week. The Cool Connection is about managing the whole value chain with a focus on bridging the physical and the financial Supply Chain, whereas The Fresh Connection zooms in on Supply Chain Strategy, S&OP and managing Supply Chain trade-offs:

The Cool Connection is a manufacturer of personal care products and is delivering to retail channels. As the company is suffering severe losses, a new management team (you and your team!) has been appointed to make the company profitable again by making strategic and tactical decisions.

The Fresh Connection is a manufacturer of fruit juices and is delivering to retail channels, operating under the same market conditions. 

The Challenge offers a prize fund of EUR 20.000, internships with some of the world’s largest multinationals and an all-expenses paid trip to the Grand Finale The Netherlands for the Top 20 national teams.

In addition, participants gain exclusive membership to The Talent Connection, where companies like KPMG and Amgen search for the best Supply Chain Talents. Starting this year, corporate networking and recruitment will be an integral part of the Global Final Week.


Here is the full PRESS RELEASE:

THE 4TH EDITION OF THE GLOBAL STUDENT CHALLENGE
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (PRWEB UK) 5 SEPTEMBER 2017

The Supply Chain Finance Community is launching the 4th edition of the Global Student Challenge, its worldwide competition to find the best teams of supply chain finance students.

A total of €20,000 in cash prizes and a trip to The Netherlands are among the rewards for successful competitors, and all participants also get exclusive membership to the SCF talent platform, The Talent Connection.

This year, for the first time, the Challenge has two tracks: The Cool Connection (TCC) and The Fresh Connection (TFC), running simultaneously and merging during the Global Final Week. The Fresh Connection zooms in on Supply Chain Strategy, S&OP and managing Supply Chain trade-offs, whereas The Cool Connection is about managing the whole value chain with a focus on bridging the physical and the financial Supply Chain.

Each year, thousands of students from across the globe sign on for the Challenge, competing to make the best strategic and tactical decisions to save their 'virtual company', TCC or TFC, from financial ruin. Students get to learn by experience, gain valuable knowledge, and develop skills needed to cross over to the corporate sector.

The Challenge aims to bridge the gap between the academic and corporate Supply Chain world. This means creating a platform for students to learn by experience and kick start their careers, and for companies to tap into talent and gain access to future business leaders.

Participants gain exclusive membership to The Talent Connection, where companies like KPMG and Amgen search for the best Supply Chain Talents. Starting this year, corporate networking and recruitment will be an integral part of the Global Final Week.

Students and teachers can now join the Challenge and start their Supply Chain journey. After selecting the preferred track, the first step is to reach positive results during the Qualification Phase, which is completely online.

The next step is to become the best team in a region. The Regional Finals will consist of both online and physical events organized by our partner universities. Winners of these Regional Finals have a guaranteed spot in the Global Final.

Check out each track’s brand-new website for more information:
The Fresh Connection: http://www.tfcstudentchallenge.org

Notes for editors:
The Global Student Challenge is powered by The Fresh Connection and The Cool Connection, which are business simulations with a focus on Supply Chain Management and Supply Chain Finance launched by Inchainge B.V.

Inchainge specializes in web based learning experiences. Together with its partner network spanning all continents, its simulations are incorporated in the learning programs of companies, banks, universities and business schools around the globe.

Please visit http://www.thefreshconnection.biz (for The Fresh Connection) or http://www.thecoolconnection.org (for The Cool Connection) for more information.

The Global Student Challenge, powered by The Cool Connection, is organized together with the SCF Community, a not-for profit organization dedicated to sharing experience, best practice and new research on Supply Chain Finance. This interdisciplinary community bridges Finance, Treasury, Supply Chain Operations, Logistics and Procurement functions. The SCF Community was founded by universities and business schools from more than 25 countries and supported by a range of companies and banks. Its mission is to share the opportunities, challenges, benefits, costs, methodologies, tools and instruments of Supply Chain Finance.

For further information, please see http://www.scfcommunity.org or http://www.dinalog.nl.

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences every year hosts the Global Final week of the Global Student Challenge. With 20.300 students, thousands of other study participants and more than 1.800 members of staff, Windesheim is one of the biggest universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. Supply Chain Finance is one of the focus areas of the Strategic Entrepreneurship Research Centre and headed by Michiel Steeman, Professor of Supply Chain Finance.

Please visit http://www.windesheiminternational.nl for more information.

For more information, contact:
Global Student Challenge support team
info(at)globalstudentchallenge(dot)org