✅ Key features of the challenge

• Programme: Master Business Administration | International Management Track
• Students per team: 4-5 students.
• No. of hours spent per team: 150 hours
• Duration: November - December
• Supervision: Student teams are jointly supervised by lecturers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a contact person at the company.
• Deliverables: Report with recommendations and presentations.
• Company time investment: 8-12 hours
• Matching fee (only when matched to one or more teams):
  • For-profit organizations: €850,- (ex tax, charged by Master Challenge (NOT the university)).
  • Non-profit organisations / NGO's / Overheidsorganisaties / Onderwijsinstellingen: free of charge

📑 Challenge Examples

The main deliverables are a practically relevant advisory report and a presentation containing recommendations for your challenge. Considering the unique characteristics of international markets, e.g., in terms of culture, institutions, infrastructure and competition, students can (non-comprehensive) ...

• Assess different international markets for their potential and risks in a data-driven way
• Analyze the organization's fit with the international markets (or specific market segments)
• Conduct a stakeholder analysis for the international markets of interest
• Conduct primary research to understand customers' attitudes to your products and services
• Develop a market entry strategy
• Develop a strategy for the phase after market entry
• Identity potential business partners in the foreign country
• Develop a strategic roadmap for establishing operations in the international markets
• Devise a marketing plan for the international markets

Below you can find a (non-comprehensive) list of regions or countries that could be particularly interesting as destinations for or origins of companies participating in the challenge:

• Southeast Asia
• Central Asia
• Latin America & Caribbean
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Middle East & North Africa
• Central & Eastern Europe

Questions? Want to discuss your challenge before submitting one? Schedule a call here.

🏢 Company requirement

• Any company/organization from any industry can apply.

💰 Costs

To help facilitate this challenge a matching fee applies (charged by Master Challenge and NOT the university).

• For-profit organizations: €850,- (ex tax, charged by Master Challenge (NOT the university)).
• Non-profit organisations / NGO's / Overheidsorganisaties / Onderwijsinstellingen: free of charge

❗️You will only be charged when matched to a team.

📨 How to apply

You can submit the challenge directly through the website. Provide a title that summarises the challenge. Subsequently, briefly elaborate on your challenge. See link for a template you could use: https://link.masterchallenge.me/challenge-template or use the challenge generator: https://masterchallenge.me/challenge-generator

🗓 Planning

• October 8 (extended): Deadline for submitting your challenge
• October 8 (or sooner): Receiving message if your challenge is approved by the Course Coordinator at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• October 20-24: Matching phase
• October 27: Our matching algorithm will create optimal matches
• October 29-November 7: Kick-off meeting with your team
• Early-mid December: Receive the final advisory report
• December 19 (or later): Final presentations