MBA students receive top honors in global business challenge; competition now open to all

Undergraduate business students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have joined MBA students in an innovative competition that enables them to test their knowledge and skills against an international field.

Dr. David Baker, an associate professor of marketing, has expanded the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration’s involvement in X-Culture competition.

Each semester, students from universities around the world are grouped on teams, and collaborate virtually for several months on international business consulting projects.

UL Lafayette MBA students began participating last year. This semester, Baker opened the competition to undergraduate students based, in part, on success of graduate students.

“Several of our students have done extremely well, and all who have participated seem to have learned a great deal. It gives students an opportunity to research, identify, and develop a strategy to enter a new market,” he explained.

X-Culture competitors produce written proposals that are evaluated by business experts, including professors and industry representatives. The proposals are based on “challenges” presented by corporate partners affiliated with X-Culture competition.

At UL Lafayette, students must be enrolled in international business consulting courses to take part in an X-Culture project.

During competition last semester, two MBA students at UL Lafayette were on teams that placed among the top of a crowded, 784-team field.

While 4,200 participants from 39 countries and 127 universities competed, only the projects of 13 teams were recognized. In addition to first, second, and third place, 10 teams received an honorable mention.

Jered Gaspard, who graduated in December, was a member of a team that placed second. Alanna Williams, from Lettsworth, La., was a member of a team that earned an honorable mention.

Baker claimed a spot among the Top 30 instructors. He was one of only 10 instructors from colleges in the U.S. to be recognized.

Learn more about X-Culture competition.

Photo: Alanna Williams and Jered Gaspard, Fall 2016 X-Culture winners. Photo by Marisa Collins.

Read about the first honors the MBA students and Baker received here.