Last month, Harvard Business School visited SUIS Gubei and hosted a dynamic and engaging business competition for all grade 10 students.
The event took place at the first-floor basketball court. Students formed small groups and were assigned unique roles within a simulated market (e.g., CEO, CFO). They aimed to compete against other teams by presenting the most innovative and effective business strategies.
The primary aim of HBS’s visit was to promote business education and spark economic curiosity among students. Participants faced challenging decisions requiring bold risk-taking and a strategic, meticulous mindset. The event encouraged students to expand their understanding of economics by honing critical thinking skills and entrepreneurial abilities to solve real-world problems. With the collaboration between HBS and Duolingo, exciting prizes, such as stickers and other small tokens, were awarded to the teams with the most outstanding business proposals.
The first-floor basketball court buzzed excitedly as we gathered in three or four teams for a hands-on business challenge. The event began with an introduction highlighting the significance of economics and business in daily life. The host emphasized how these principles enable businesses to profit and provide the quality products and services we rely on daily.
This challenge centered on Duolingo, a widely used language-learning platform facing financial difficulties. After outlining Duolingo’s struggles and strategies, the host tasked us with developing creative ways to boost its profitability. Each team brainstormed ideas such as targeted advertisements, launching Duolingo-themed merchandise like comics or apparel, or organizing engaging events to increase revenue.
Adding to the challenge, teams had to make a catchy slogan to support thier proposal. Teams collaborated intensely, working for only ten minutes before the host invited volunteers to pitch their ideas. Several students confidently presented their plans in concise, 30-second pitches, showcasing a range of innovative strategies.
The event served as a platform for students to develop critical skills, including collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving. We received some positive feedback from participants, including Tracy Zhuang of 10JJ, who found it fun and exciting. “The HBS event provides a platform for us to express our hidden innovative ideas — those we don’t usually think of — it broadens our perspectives, relating them to real life.” she marked, “Developing and training our critical thinking skills through this event, we can apprehend our future horizons.”The Head of the Humanities Department, Mr. Morgenstein, echoed these sentiments: “It was great to see students think critically and work with their peers to apply what we said in class to real-world case studies. The simulations and the case studies help the students to gain more real-world knowledge, provoking thoughts for the students to apply the concept of economics in the future — whether they want to start their own business one day or think about what role they would play in a company if that’s the case.”
This enriching event provided students with a deeper understanding of the intricate operations behind successful enterprises like Duolingo. Beyond business, it underscored the importance of applying theoretical classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. Among the 100 + Grade 10 students who attended the event, many were inspired to consider their future careers in business and economics. They may be more determined to pursue their desired careers in business and economics. Even those pursuing different paths gained valuable insights into the universal relevance of economic principles in daily life. Even those pursuing different paths gained valuable insights into the universal relevance of the economic tenets in daily life.
Harvard Business School’s visit left a lasting impression, fostering innovation and critical thinking while reinforcing the connection between classroom knowledge and real-world applications, preparing us for the challenges that lies ahead in our future educational voyage.
written by
Rebecca Hou, Elsa Tang and Mia Yu