Business Projects and CompetitionsUndergraduate School of Business
ICBSC – International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition
This annual competition allows business students from around the globe to develop and manage a simulated business for a year. Maine Business School has fielded a team since 2013. Students will develop a product, write a business plan, analyze expenses, define their marketing mix, and review their simulated sales. The competition ends with students traveling to Anaheim, California for a three day on-site competition. There, students finalize their year of business performance, write an annual report, and present their achievements to a board of directors (panel of judges). Look for an email regarding this opportunity in late Fall Semester each year!
ETF Global Portfolio Challenge
The ETF Global Portfolio Challenge is a semi-annual web-based simulated investment challenge to help educate students about investing in Exchange Traded Products. Each year, students from MBS participate in this challenge, attempting to pick the top-performing portfolios of ETFs. The top five winners from each contest are recognized on an online leaderboard at etfg.com. In the past, some MBS participants have even been invited to the ETP Forum in New York City. Interested students should contact Sebastian Lobe.
Alternative Capstone Experience
One of the final core courses taken by MBS students is Strategic Management (MGT 449), or as it has come to be known, Senior Capstone. This course incorporates all aspects of a student’s learning into real-world, project-based learning. MBS occasionally offers alternative offerings (such as a case competition or semester long course based around consulting projects) that earn participating students credit for the Capstone.
Visit the Undergraduate Programs Office, Room 213, DP Corbett Business Building for more information about Alternative Capstone opportunities.
Undiscovered Maine is one of the most unique research opportunities available to students at Maine Business School. As a part of this work study group, you will work to promote businesses in underserved regions across Maine, specifically Aroostook County, the Down East region, the Western Lake and Mountains region. Research is focused on finding and developing resources in marketing, accounting, technology, and digital literacy. Undiscovered Maine also works with state legislators from the underserved regions to coordinate student trips to towns across the state. By visiting businesses and local attractions, students are better able to provide meaningful input through their research.
Quinnipiac G.A.M.E. Forum
Held each spring in New York City by Quinnipiac University, the G.A.M.E. Forum is a three-day conference that gathers global leaders in finance to share knowledge, expertise, and outlook for the future with graduate and undergraduate students.
Each year, the MBS Student Portfolio Investment Fund (SPIFFY) sends a team to attend and learn at the Forum. In 2019, the MBS team was one of eight global universities chosen to present their portfolio of student-managed investments.
Principles of Marketing Projects
In order for MBS graduates to be “market ready,” all students complete Principles of Marketing as part of their core business curriculum. This course integrates theory and practice into a semester-long project working with real Maine businesses. Students complete intensive market research, develop a SWOT analysis of their business’s industry and competitors, and determine potential target markets. The project culminates in the production of a detailed marketing strategy which is presented to each business for their review.
Past projects have connected students to businesses in industries such as hydro-power generation, law, organic farming, and wildlife management.
Maine Business School