Guelph-Humber Business students worked with learners from across the world in this 300+ participant competition
Five Business students from the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) took on a thought-provoking global challenge – working virtually with students from around the world to lead Mobilé Inc., a fictional mobile handset company, through a strategic transformation in a rapidly evolving global market.
This month-long Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) competition, called “Cesim Business Simulation 2025,” served as a reproduction of a real-world scenario to test students’ problem-solving skills and ability to work as a team with others from various countries across time zones. The goal of the competition, which featured more than 300 participants from 15 universities, was to position Mobilé Inc. for future success by balancing short-term performance with long-term innovation, manage risks, and enhance shareholder value, explained U of GH Business Associate Head, Dr. Farkhanda Shamim. Both U of GH teams came in second place in their respective divisions.
“The COIL simulation project promotes experiential, equitable, and globally relevant learning, equipping students for success in an increasingly globalized world,” Dr. Shamim said, who led the U of GH students through the COIL.
Furthermore, GH Associate Vice-Provost, Academic Dr. George Bragues said, “This past year, the University made its first big move into COIL, and the Cesim Business Simulation was a significant part of that effort. Its success is definitely something that we’ll be able to build upon in the years ahead as we continue to expand our COIL opportunities for students.”
The Guelph-Humber students were placed in teams with students from countries including the U.S., Brazil, the Netherlands, Morocco, China, Singapore, and others. Over the month, students participated in eight rounds of the simulation, including two intensive rounds where decisions had to be made within three hours.
For U of GH Business student Tin Dao, who competed in the COIL ahead of his graduation this year, participating in the simulation helped him become a better listener and communicator as he navigated language barriers and encountered a mix of perspectives.
Dao, whose role on the team fluctuated from being a leader to providing data analysis and beyond, explained that with his group being spread across time zones, orchestrating meetings was initially difficult. However, they solved this barrier by holding multiple meetings per week at different times to ensure everyone was aligned.
Moreover, not all members of the team from the other universities were business students. There were also students studying kinesiology and psychology; this added fresh, diverse perspectives to the group when making vital decisions in areas like research and development, new market entry, marketing strategy, logistics, tax optimization, and more.
“It was interesting co-ordinating everyone's specific background in order to make the simulation flow,” Dao said of learning to work with the group. “My biggest takeaway from this learning experience is that I felt more comfortable taking initiative… As individuals, we have to branch out and accomplish a task together. That's what business is all about. Business is about cross-functional teams, stepping out of your own comfort zone, and working with others.”
Dr. Shamim echoes this sentiment, adding that the COIL experience fostered critical business acumen, but also the soft skills required to be successful in the business world like teamwork, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication.
Ultimately, for Dao, opportunities like the COIL simulation enriched his job-ready learning experience at Guelph-Humber. He wants other students to know, it’s important to make the most out of these opportunities at the University.
“Take initiative to join clubs throughout your university career. This will not only expand your own skills but allow you to be more confident in yourself and prepare you for the business world,” Dao encouraged.
To learn more about the Business program, click here.
