[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/mba games.jpg” caption=”DeGroote’s championship team from the 2007 MBA Games. (From left to right) Kate Pelton, Anita Chetan, Dean Paul Bates, Alok Ghai and Melissa Coulson. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]

More than 400 MBA students will converge on the DeGroote School of Business at the beginning of January for the 2008 MBA Games. This national student competition will draw teams from at least 16 schools from across the country.

The MBA Games consist of three areas of competition: academics, athletics and spirit. Over the course of three days, students participate in a variety of challenges. This year, the academic events will include two live cases — one with a focus on business strategy and one with a focus on marketing — a negotiation challenge and a simulated stock challenge.

The strategy and marketing cases will be judged by representatives from industry and academia.

“The MBA Games is an opportunity for companies to connect with the best MBA students from across Canada,” says Shauna Bowman, MBA Games volunteer director. “If companies are planning to recruit MBA graduates, this is an ideal occasion to watch potential candidates in action.”

Judges are needed for both the strategy and marketing cases. Contact Bowman at bowmansa@mcmaster.ca for more information.

The 2008 MBA Games at DeGroote will focus on Canadian contributions to international development, encouraging MBA students to apply innovative business solutions to international development issues.

In keeping with this theme, MBA Games 2008 has partnered with MBAs Without Borders, a not-for-profit organization that strives to improve international business development by sending MBAs overseas to countries where their business expertise is in high demand and where they can make a remarkable impact in the global economy.

“It is becoming more and more widely recognized that business leaders have to be accountable not only to their shareholders, but also to their communities and the global environment,” says co-chair Talia Dabby. “Organizing the Games around the theme of international development gives us the opportunity to promote ethical practices, charitable donations and environmental responsibility among the next generation of business leaders.”

The Games are presented by the DeGroote School of Business and by Mackenzie Investments and Fidelity Investments.