Corvinus University Triumphs in Sydney: A Victory Forged by Preparation and Precision

Our undergraduate students Emma Petrovicz, János Szappanos, JingPei (Suzy) Shu, and Róbert Máté Tóth represented our university at the Sydney International Business Competition organized by the University of Sydney between 6th-11th October 2024.  

The students were selected and prepared for the competition by Miklós Kozma, Associate Professor of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, after completing the Cases on International Business Strategy and other Case Track courses. He also helped them as their mentor during the competition. 

Preparation started as early as June with many workshops aimed at developing the students’ skills, such as building up the storyline for the presentation, acing the Q&As, and understanding how non-profit organizations function, which proved to be exceptionally handy during the competition.  

“Since the middle of the summer we have been continuously preparing in the form of workshops and practice cases, which I think has paid off, as the competition has proven that we have been able to perform at a higher level than many of our peers.”

– says Róbert Tóth about the preparation.  

During the competition, the team had to solve two cases. For the twenty-four-hour case, Telstra – Australia’s leading telecommunications company—proposed that the teams choose what type of API to implement in their strategy.  

Communiteer, a social enterprise focusing on building a collaborative volunteering ecosystem, provided the six-hour case, asking the teams to give solutions as to how it could better integrate international students. The Corvinus team won the final round of the six-hour case after commencing from the divisional rounds. 

“Winning the six-hour case was more than just delivering a good performance and solution. In it was our months of hard work and precision, enabling us to deliver a crucial insight about where Communiteer could reach the students better, ensuring our success.”

– explains Emma Petrovicz.  

After the presentations, the team got the chance to connect with the representatives of Communiteer.  

“One of the most rewarding aspects was receiving confirmation from the representatives of the social enterprise that our solution was not only helpful but also based on the most valuable insight among all the teams.”

– adds János Szappanos.  

In addition to continuously improving their skills at case competitions, our students gain life-changing experiences as they participate in several fun social activities in addition to professional programmes.  

“Amidst the intensity of preparation and presentations, there was also a beautiful camaraderie; I connected with friends from all corners of the globe, each encounter enriching my understanding of different cultures and ways of thinking. The shared moments of exploration in Sydney, from its iconic landmarks to hidden local gems, made the experience even more special, turning competition into a celebration of diversity, ambition, and lifelong learning.”

– describes the experience JingPei Shu.  

Miklos Kozma summarised his impressions about the team’s performance:

“It was a pleasure to coach Corvinus’ team as they prepared for the challenging global competition in Australia, a country and business culture not well known to us. The team listened attentively and followed the guidance provided, demonstrating remarkable grit, determination, and all-round commitment. They rose to the challenge admirably, staying humble throughout and accepting their responsibility to support future competitors within the Corvinus community. Their dedication and perseverance are truly commendable, and I am confident they will continue to inspire others.” 

We would like to congratulate the team and their mentor and thank the CIBS course instructors and seniors of the Corvinus Case Track Community, especially Balázs Fejes and Csongor Kölber, for their contributions to the team’s preparations.