An International Experience Integrated in your Master's Program
The Global Innovation Challenge offers MMM students a new opportunity to study in an international environment and gain practical experience with companies.
The benefits at a glance:
- 8 triple accredited business schools encourage their master's students to take part in a joint course including a corporate project.
- Students can complete an intensive learning experience within a short period of time (10 days in presence plus self-study time before and after).
- Upon successful completion, students receive 6 ECTS for the course.
- The course can be easily integrated into existing studies, as a learning agreement can be issued when taking the course at the partner universities and the course can be recognized afterwards (“International Course” module).
- When taking the Mannheim module, no learning agreement is necessary, since the course is an integral part of the MMM module catalog MAN 669.
- The course takes place after the end of the spring semester in Mannheim so that participants do not miss any classes within the regular lecture period.
- The course includes lectures introducing the topic as well as in the second week the handling of a real-life case “Corporate Challenge” including a presentation in front of company representatives and their feedback.
- MMM students will meet master students from seven other renowned business schools, all of which are internationally accredited and internationally oriented. When choosing the module abroad, a two-week stay at one of the other business schools is guaranteed.
The Partner Business Schools of the Initiative
The Global Innovation Challenge cooperation is an initiative of the International Business School Network (IBSnet). The Business School is a founding member of the initiative and has been part of the network of international oriented Business Schools since 2008.
Dates and Hosts of the Challenges
At the end of each spring semester (from Mannheim's point of view), four of the eight participating business schools offer a Global Innovation Challenge project, with different focuses within the spectrum of business subjects.
The Challenges are expected to take place at the following schools over the next three years:
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, Netherlands National Chengchi University, College of Commerce, Taipei, Taiwan QUT Business School, Brisbane, Australia | Aston Business School, Birmingham, United Kingdom Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, Portugal University of Mannheim Business School, Germany University of Stellenbosch Business School, Cape Town, South Africa | BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, Netherlands National Chengchi University, College of Commerce, Taipei, Taiwan QUT Business School, Brisbane, Australia |
In the summer of 2027, the Challenges will take place between the 21 June and 9 July 2027. The exact dates will be published in due time.
If necessary, please plan one additional day each for arrival and departure.
Course offer in the Summer of 2027
Your Application for the Challenges
As an enrolled MMM student, you have the following options to apply for participation in 2026:
The Module in Mannheim
You can apply for the module in Mannheim to Ms. Janna Ried from the International Team of the Business School.
Please send the following documents via email to Janna Ried:
- a current transcript with a preliminary grade and your Bachelor degree's certificate with grades
- a CV including references and other supporting documents
- a short letter of motivation (maximum one DIN A4 page) in German or English on your preferred challenges and topic
You can apply for more than one Challenge (for the Mannheim challenge and also the challenges of the partner schools). Please indicate priorities then in your letter of motivation. The application deadline for the Challenges in Summer 2027 will be in January 2027.
Mannheim has initially five places to allocate. If there are not enough interested students at the partner universities, it might be possible to increase the number of places. However, we will only find out about this in April and unfortunately you cannot make firm plans for this. If you are granted one of the five places in February, you can of course plan firmly with the course.
The slides of the info session for interested MMM students are available on Ilias.
The Modules at our partners business schools
For the modules at the three Partner Business Schools you can apply to Ms. Janna Ried from the International Team of the Business School.
Please send the following documents via email to Janna Ried:
- a current transcript with a preliminary grade and your Bachelor degree's certificate with grades
- a CV including references and other supporting documents
- a short letter of motivation (maximum one DIN A4 page) in German or English on:
- your preferred challenges and topic
- what makes you an ideal candidate for the specific challenge
- what you expect from a participation
You can apply for more than one Challenge. Please indicate priorities then in your letter of motivation. The application deadline for the Challenges in 2027 will be in January 2027.
The slides of the info session for interested MMM students are available on Ilias.
Global Innovation Challenge Website
Discover the joint Global Innovation Challenge website that was developed by the network.
Global Innovation Challenge 2025
Contact for Mannheim Students
Janna Ried, M.A.
Dean's Office of the Business School
Schloss – Room EO 388 (3rd floor)
68161 Mannheim
Please make an appointment at https://www.bwl.uni-mannheim.de/en/consultation/janna-ried/