INTERN 2024: How engineering students are gaining real-world business skills

"INTERN," an annual business case competition organised by the IUT Career and Business Society (CBS) for first-year students of the Islamic University of Technology, is in its sixth edition this year. Since its inception in 2018, this intra-IUT business case competition has been hosted by IUT CBS in IUT, offering first-year students the introduction to real scenarios of cases in the business world.

"INTERN" is designed in a way that helps not only business minded students to excel in future but also to instil various perspectives of business and its concepts in engineering students. Participants in the programme will have a unique chance to learn about the inner workings of corporate operations and how leaders address problems imposed by the industrial revolution. This dual exposure helps them to increase their analytical skills and showcase their versatile skill sets with every round.

Each of this year's three rounds features more complex issues. Participants can recognise the variations in every situation, which further contributes to developing a robust capacity for multisensory understanding. From the initial roundabout, 53 teams from five departments of IUT participated, including CSE, EEE, CEE, MPE, and BTM. The first case was designed to represent a hypothetical telecom company named TeleBarta which is a private-based new player in the telecommunications sector. The teams were given the task of solving the problem of identifying TeleBarta's selling strategies to stand out from other telecom companies in this competitive market. Eighteen teams were selected for the second round for their brilliant, innovative ideas.

The TeleBarta case for the second round was an extension of the first round, requiring the teams to develop comprehensive marketing strategies administered via video submission. During this round, the participants had a unique encounter that pushed them to use their imaginations and collaborate with others -- an overall dynamic experience through video submissions. One participant expressed, "Pitch videos were a total learning curve! The initial struggle to grasp the format later fuelled my enthusiasm. Strengthening our teamwork added valuable insights into investor psychology. It helped me bring the vision to my thoughts, and like any first attempt, it was an unforgettable memory with room to grow."

The result of the second round and a shortlist of selected teams will be published soon; after that, the competition will advance into the highly anticipated final round. The final round will be organised grander than before by organising an offline event. The team of the final round will have to demonstrate their creativity and presentation skills in the last round. Each team will be selected based on their ability to present strategies and ideas, which will enhance their confidence and vocalisation.

To guide and prepare enough participants, IUT CBS organised several sessions. The industry experts and esteemed alumni provide them with hands-on knowledge about business cases in each session. The guidance from the judge's panel is also an accelerator for every participant. One of the respected judges from the first round was Sumaiya Tasnim Adiba, the former general secretary of IUT CBS, who expressed, "INTERN has a reserved specialty in my heart and harnessed some of the most cherished memories of my undergraduate life at IUT. From being the champion in 2020, then moving on to the organiser role for the following seasons, and facilitating sessions for participants' capability building, INTERN is more than just a definition to me. Thanks to the organisers for making me be a part of it again as a judge. It has been a reforming experience, and I wish everyone the best."

The event is equally engaging for the judges. Rayeed Rahman, a respected judge from Round 2, said, "It's great to see the youngsters get an opportunity to get their hands dirty with these competitions. I am always glad and proud to be able to contribute to my club and hope to see some better things soon."

IUT CBS remains committed to each participant, setting a versatile floor to learn and innovate and inspiring them to participate and explore more. Besides, this is an excellent field for teamwork. Regarding the event, the club's President, Rohan Arpon, mentioned, "INTERN is more than just a competition. It's an opportunity for our first-year students to dive into the world of business problem-solving. This platform allows them to think creatively, develop innovative solutions, and confidently present their ideas. It's an important stepping stone toward their professional lives. This will allow them to showcase their teamwork abilities and assess their strengths as team players." Lastly, participants will have skills and knowledge, and plenty of prizes and gifts will be available.

Overall, this event promotes the development of future business leaders' skills through its innovative 'INTERN' competition. Indians are at the forefront of tech businesses worldwide. In the future, Bangladeshi students, particularly engineers, will be required to follow suit. Competitions such as this will ensure that engineers are equipped to generate business value in society. Getting a head start on learning business concepts will enable them to efficiently apply their technical skills to create products that endure in the market.

The writer is working as team lead of Publications at IUT CBS. She can be reached at [email protected]