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 25^th 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

After 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.

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.