International Students Compete in Cesim Global Challenge
International university students from Spain, Belgium, and Hungary competed in the Cesim Global Challenge business simulation, managing virtual companies in a global market.
Author -Bhanvi Sharma
Students Compete in AI-Powered Business Simulation
A number of international university students recently took part in an AI Business Simulation event that tested their abilities to run virtual companies within a competitive marketplace. The International AI Business Simulation took place from the 23rd of February to the 4th of March 2026. The competition was hosted online and saw students from Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian universities work in teams against each other. The participating universities were GBSB Global Business School (in both Barcelona & Madrid, Spain), Gál Ferenc University (Szeged, Hungary) and VIVES University of Applied Sciences (Kortrijk, Belgium).
Cesim Global Challenge International Business Simulation and Strategy Game Guide Book
International AI Business Simulation: Make Decisions That Matter - GBSB Global
Students used the Cesim Global Challenge simulation developed by the Cesim company. This simulation, commonly used in management learning, enabled teams to simulate and control a foreign multi-national enterprise. Students played the roles of a series of corporate executives (like, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Operations Manager). The simulation was designed so that each round represented a single period within the game, and provided teams with information about the market and the company and requiring them to compare this information with previous periods before making strategic decisions. The simulation was designed to help students gain an understanding of the changes in company performance that result from management decisions over time. As students worked in the simulation with peers from other universities in different countries, it also introduced them to the effect of working with a team of people with diverse skills and backgrounds.
Strategy & International Business Management | Cesim Global Challenge
How the Business Simulation Worked
The Cesim Global Challenge simulation , each team was responsible for running a technology manufacturing company in a global setting. During the competition, teams strategized to design plans that would lead to greater success in various areas of the business.
Students were responsible for making decisions in areas such as:
- For each region, to set the price for the product and where to position on the market;
- Managing each campaigns and advertising budgets
- Investment decisions in R&D
- Production planning and supply chain managements
- Monitoring financial performance (e.g. of revenue/profit/costs)
The simulated market used AI driven conditions, which created natural variations in market demand, rivalry and customer behavior. During the competition, teams received performance reports which reflected the effects of their decisions on company results. These reports enabled students to analyse their decisions and change their next strategies accordingly.
Cesim Global Challenge at a glance | Cesim Business Simulations
Learning Outcomes and Impact
Business simulations are becoming more and more widely used at universities as a means of providing students with relevant practical experience before they go out into the working world. As one of the major aspects of the simulation, instead of simply learning business theory in the classroom, participants had to apply their knowledge by managing a simulated company within a competitive market environment.
The International AI Business Simulation focused on developing key business skills such as:
- Managing multiple business functions while making strategic decisions
- Team work between students of Spain, Belgium and Hungary.
- Financial Analysis based on the KPI output by the simulation.
- Be able to adapt to market changes and competition. This involves problem-solving capabilities when faced with change and competition.
- Leadership experience through executive management positions within the teams
At the conclusion of the program, teams were ranked based on how well their company performed during the Cesim Global Challenge simulation game, using indicators such as profitability, market share, and company growth. The best strategies and most balanced decisions served to make the most successful companies.
International AI Business Simulation is one example of how interactive simulations are being integrated into MBA and business education. As tools like Cesim continue to develop, students now can operate their own virtual company instead of relying solely on traditional case studies. Such realistic simulations are becoming more common and are expected to play an important role in preparing students for leadership roles in global business.