During March 2020 the X_Bank University Challenge, an online inter-university competition using the TOPSIM – Banking Simulation, was organized by Dr. Keith Pond (Loughborough University) and Klaus Walter. In this simulation, companies in the banking industry compete in the marketplace and each has its own business model, strategic focus & competitive advantage.
How was the online competition organized?
The Universities of Liechtenstein, Latvia and Malta each offered three teams, mainly composed of postgraduate students in Finance. Three teams of MSc Finance students from Loughborough University also competed. Comprising 5 rounds (the first being a pilot round, where teams could make mistakes and learn from them without affecting their results) the simulation was split into three markets, each with four institutions (four or five students per team). The four “scoring” rounds were one week-long, ending at midnight CET, each Sunday. Each Monday, a result summary podcast was posted.
In the final round a live webcast presented the results – and the winning teams to delegates and partners. Although there could be only one winning team, it is safe to say that all participating teams (and individuals) were able to “Learn Finance by Doing Finance”, and benefit from this highly interactive and engaging learning experience. Furthermore, students from Liechtenstein, Latvia and Malta were able to use the simulation as part of a credit bearing course, creating assessments and “wrap-around” lectures to investigate the issues raised further.
The simulation used a Moodle based VLE controlled from Loughborough University, signing up partner tutors and students to give them access to forums, weekly podcasts, the TOPSIM participant manual and chat rooms.
About TOPSIM – Banking
TOPSIM – Banking is a robust learning tool that prepares participants for the multifaceted challenges of the banking industry. Future banking professionals can gain valuable insight into managing interest rates, investment portfolios, strategic initiatives, and regulatory requirements by participating in this simulation. TOPSIM – Banking’s comprehensive learning content ensures that participants are well-equipped to lead banks to sustainable success in an increasingly competitive environment.
Would you like to learn more about TOPSIM – Banking? You can download a PDF flyer about the simulation here. We look forward to your email or phone call if you have any further questions!
