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Review

 

2005. The story begins

In 2005, two students came up with an idea: Inviting Students from all over the world to the Campus Seilersee in Iserlohn. They were inspired by the contest peaktime for business students in Riga (Latvia), which they have attended and won. They recognized the missing of a business contest in Germany which is organized only by students. From their point of view a business contest has always been missing at the private, state-approved university of applied science, Business and Information Technology School (BiTS) in Iserlohn. Briefly, the collegiate consultancy b.one e.V. started encouraging this project and organized  first details of the contest to run the contest in 2006 for the first time.

2006. In the shadow of Bill Clinton

One year later, Bill Clinton visited Iserlohn. Three days before the Campus Symposium, where he made a speech, the first Rubicon Contest started on the 25th of September 2006. 20 teams from Lithuania, China, Pakistan, Russia, Latvia, England, India, Columbia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Italy, Denmark, Estonia and Germany traveled to Iserlohn to compete in a computer simulation, case studies and business plans.

Rubicon had its world premiere. Finally, after three days of competing, on 28th of September, the winner had been determined by a professional jury. “4unlimited” from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga convinced the jury with their knowledge and their unique solution statement. They won tickets to Campus Symposium and were able to listen to the speech of Bill Clinton, besides many other highly interesting referees.

2007. Continuation of the success

Participants from severals teams 2007After only one year, it was possible to quadruple the number of applications up to 120. Again 20 teams from all over the world met in late summer of 2007 on the campus. And again Rubicon took place just before  Campus Symposium. The week was themed by the claim “One Campus. One Week. Two Events“. Besides the tickets for the Campus Symposium the winner was awarded with Euro 3,000, the so called “Grohe-Preis”. The winner of that years competition was the team “Leda” from the Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany.

2009. Comeback in the economic crisis

After a break in 2008 due to organisational issues, the third Rubicon Contest took place on a new date and a new team. From March 9th till the 11th 2009 20 Teams from all around the world were invited to the Campus Seilersee in Iserlohn. 27 different nations took therefore part in Rubicon Contest 2009 and an international flair like on the previous two could be felt at BiTS. With the topic “Green Business Management” the Rubicon Contest showed again its role of thinking ahead and looking for ways to get out of the worldwide economic crisis that just reached its climax in those days. Again the first place was taken by a German team: The team  “Dauripovo” of the WHU Vallendar presented their ideas in the final case best and was chosen by the jury to be winner of 2009.

>>> More on Rubicon Contest 2009

 

Presentation of the Final Case Study 2009At the final presentation of 2009 - Team Meliora

 

2010. Sustainability in the snow

Sustainability was the topic of the fourth Rubicon Contest hosted from March the 8th till the 10th 2010. While the snow covered Iserlohn was still facing the winter and the world economic crisis was not over yet, more teams than ever before were thinking about the future at the competition. 25 teams, five more than the years before, were invited making Rubicon Contest not only to one of the most innovative and biggest student run business competitions, but with more than 35 different nationalities present to the most international diverse contest. The first place was taken by the team JacoBeans form the Jacobs University Bremen (Germany).

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Winner of 2010 - Team JacoBeansWinner of 2010 - Team JacoBeans

 

2011. Mobility with new concepts

Concepts on the topic "The Future of Mobility" drove the Rubicon Contest 2011 as topic from March 1st till the 3rd 2011. A new concept was also included in the competition itself: Instead of the business simulation in the first round the participants already had to solve a challenging case study. So there twice the amount of case studies to be completed as in the years before. The participating teams were represented again all corners of the earth - for the first time there were participants from each continent. Internationality was also a subject towards this year's winning team: For the first time since 2007 a non-German team won: The "ChangeMakers" of Purdue University (USA).

>>> More on Rubicon Contest 2011

 

Preparation of a case study - Team PrOzParityPreparation of a case study - Team PrOzParity


Outlook

Since then, Rubicon has become more than the pioneers of Rubicon 2006 had ever imagined. It is not only a platform to get to know other students from all over the world, but also to make new friends. During the Rubicon Contest students will face a challenging experience. They will gain new ideas and impulses by combining theory and economic experience.

 
 

Partners 2011

Rubicon Contest is supported by BiTS Iserlohn
Laureate Inc.
Campus Symposium