CEMS virtual project transcends barriers of time and distance

Using digital communications tools such as Zoom and Skype, CEMS students at the University of Sydney Business School have recently completed a project with the Germany-based Daimler Lab1886 related to Australia's transport market. The project involved in-depth analysis and recommendations based on the students' market forecasts.

The Dean of the Business School and the current Chair of CEMS, Professor Greg Whitwell, described the virtual project as "truly exciting."

"This gives people an opportunity to come together, to work together and to share ideas no matter where they are in the world," said Professor Whitwell. "What we are doing is taking advantage of technology that allows communication with ease and that transcends boundaries."

The School’s Deputy Academic Director, CEMS, Dr Massimo Garbuio, pointed out that virtual projects "are more than exercises."

"These projects are real, they involve real needs that organisations have," Dr Garbuio said. "CEMS students have an opportunity to collaborate with the innovation arm of our corporate partners such as Daimler Lab1886."

Christine Becker, Project Management Lab1886, said the student team understood Daimler’s requirements "very quickly." Team members, she said, had "high analytical skills and delivered a great presentation with a high level of professionalism."

Anudar Hanibal, Senior Manager Lab1886, added that the students "performed on the level of consultants or high professionals."

CEMS student Anna Krainova said the project had given her team an "opportunity to learn project, managerial and problem solving skills which could be applied in future work."

"I can contribute to lots of companies all around the world and I am not confined anymore to just one specific country," Anna said.

Founded more than 30 years ago as a pan-European organization, CEMS now has members in South Korea, Canada, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Chile, Japan, Brazil, Egypt, Australia and the United States.

The 32 accredited member schools collaborate on the delivery of a "globally integrated" Master of International Management (MiM) program to around 1,300 students of 73 nationalities. 

CEMS currently has 70 corporate partners and seven social partners (NGOs). 

"Working with corporate partners gives students the opportunity to put what they have learnt in the classroom into practice and an opportunity to understand real life problems," said Professor Whitwell. "It also gives them a chance to understand their own worth and value, helps to build their confidence and helps them to know what life is going to be like after graduation."