MBA students from USTC have made remarkable achievements again in the 18th China regional competition of the Global Management Challenge (or GMC) 2013.
Competing against over 2000 teams from more than 150 universities, USTC competitors brought home a vast array of awards including the East China Regional Champion, first prize of Team Competition, and the Best Organizer award, together with 5 individual first-prize winners, 68 individual second-prize winners, and 218 individual third-prize winners.

Originating in Europe and officially accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), the Global Management Challenge (GMC) is a business management simulation competition known throughout the world. It is aimed at improving business operation and management as well as the level of simulated business teaching at universities on a global scale by means of modern analogue simulations, thereby boosting a more standardized and scientific trend in business operation and management of all countries. To outperform other competitors in GMC, known as the Olympics of the field of business management simulation, is not only a striking honor to each team but a symbol of world-class decision-making abilities and competence in the context of simulated business.

The 18th China regional competition of GMC 2013 kicked off on Sept. 4, 2013, proceeded through preliminary, intermediary, semifinal, and final rounds, and concluded on Jan 22, 2014. This year's competition topped the agenda of the MBA Center of USTC which organized efforts with the help of the MBA Union to arouse students' interests in signing up. In the end, the USTC competitors excelled through careful preparation and unforgettable teamwork.

Sign-ups for the competition started from Sept. 4, 2013 so the Union launched their extensive promotion by means of posters and the Internet, followed by a mobilization meeting held on Sept. 14. In this meeting, Zhang Shengliang, the Director of MBA center, delivered a speech where he highlighted the importance of improving the capabilities of applying business management theories and communication capabilities as well as raising the awareness of cooperation and management contingency thinking by participation in GMC competition. He mobilized everyone to actively sign up and prepare, and made his commitment that MBA center would provide overall support and services. Finally, 95 teams composed of 472 USTCers formed up to participate in the competition. Thereafter, many experienced alumni were invited in succession by the Union to train our participants, elaborating on the rules, data models, and competitor analysis, and exchanging ideas based on past experience and lessons, in the hope of maximizing the capabilities among our participants.

Held on Nov 4 - 20, 2013, the preliminary contest witnessed 65 teams from USTC qualifying for the next round, of which sixty-one teams were finally chosen, on the basis of both team results and individual willingness, by MBA Union to further compete. In the intermediary phase from Dec 2 to 18, a total of 14 teams representing USTC, against great competition, qualified for the semifinal. Given the limited quota per university in the semifinal pre-specified by the organizing committee, the Union carefully selected 8 teams to compete. Then on Dec 22, the semifinal unfolded in which each participating team had to complete five rounds of operation strategy simulation. One of our teams, called East Wind, successfully advanced into the national quasi-final round later held on Dec 29. In this elite level of the competition, the team East Wind brought their talents into full play, winning great honor for USTC.