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Global Student Challenge 2025: A Recap

The Global Student Challenge (GSC) 2025 has officially concluded, and what a remarkable week it has been. A total of 42 teams, representing 175 students from 41 universities worldwide, competed for the champion title and cash prizes in this prestigious supply chain competition.

These top-performing students went head-to-head using The Fresh Connection, the world’s leading simulation-based supply chain learning tool, demonstrating both strategic insight and cross-functional collaboration.

This year’s theme on “Sustainability in Action: Optimizing Carbon Footprint Across the Value Chain.”

For the 2025 edition, teams were challenged to tackle one of today’s most pressing topics: supply chain sustainability. Under the theme “Sustainability in Action: Optimizing Carbon Footprint Across the Value Chain,” students competed in a dynamic simulation scenario that mirrored real-world complexities.

Throughout the week, participants were tasked to:

• Measure carbon footprint: Identify CO₂ emissions across the supply chain
• Set reduction goals: Embed sustainability in SLAs and commit to customers
• Launch improvement projects: Reduce energy and water consumption in operations
• Minimize waste: Lower rejected components, start-up losses, and obsolete stock
• Optimize sourcing: Prioritize regional suppliers to reduce emissions.

The Program: Kicking Off with Strategy

The competition began on May 12th with a virtual kickoff and a thematic introduction. In addition to navigating the simulation, students faced an additional challenge beyond mastering The Fresh Connection business simulation game: they were tasked with navigating extraordinary circumstances as a team.

Throughout the week, participants not only had to align on strategy but also respond effectively to real-world-like pressures. As the competition drew to a close, each team was required to formally present its Executive Team Strategy to the Board of Directors, defending their final results and demonstrating the rationale behind their decisions.

This multifaceted challenge was designed to test both stakeholder communication and each participant’s ability to defend role-specific decisions, two key competencies in any supply chain leadership role.

Special thanks to our Board of Directors:

Round 1: Measuring Carbon Footprint

In the first round, teams were challenged to manage the profitability of The Fresh Connection while simultaneously measuring and reducing the carbon footprint. The level of performance was impressive from the start.

Here are some stats from Round 1:

• 52% of all teams have a double-digit ROI
• 88% of all teams improved upon the starting ROI of –13,3
• 74% of all teams have a positive ROI
• The average ROI increased from –13.3% to 7.8%

Here are the top 20 teams from Round 1, who set the stage for an intense competition:

These impressive results showcased the participants’ ability to learn fast, adapt to new challenges, and apply their knowledge to a realistic business context. The bar was set, and expectations only grew from there.

Round 2: Dealing with Growth in a Capacity-Constrained Environment

The second round raised the stakes significantly, challenging teams to adapt their strategies in a rapidly evolving and high-pressure environment. As the competition progressed, participants had to navigate a growth scenario in a capacity-constrained environment within a VUCA world: volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. These new variables required teams to adjust quickly, optimize operations under shifting constraints, and manage risk while pursuing profitability and sustainability goals.

Some impressive Round 2 stats emerged:

• 74% of teams have a positive ROI
• 43% of teams improved upon the previous round’s ROI, with the highest positive change being + 7.75%
• The average ROI decreased from 8% to 5.6%
• A new weighted high score of 29.43 %
• 17% of teams have a double-digit negative ROI
• 40% of teams have a double-digit positive ROI

After two rounds, the leaderboard based on weighted ROI stands as follows:

The pressure was on. With only one round to go, the top teams knew they needed to push their collaboration, strategic thinking, and adaptability to the limit to secure the championship.

Round 3: More new products, and a new customer

The third round further ramped up the pressure. As the competition reached its climax, the teams faced new challenges as more new products were added and a new customer. The students’ sustainable choices and determination were really put to the test. In the end, there can only be one champion.

The Round 3 stats are yet to be revealed:

• 50% of all teams have a positive double-digit ROI
• 62% of all teams improved upon their previous ROI, with the highest improvement being + 62 % from the last round
• 67% of all teams have a positive ROI
• Highest ROI: 51.34%
• The average ROI increased from 3.4% to 9.4%

And the Winner Is …

The Global Final Week saw the best of the best face off in a fierce battle to claim the championship title and cash prizes.

The team with the highest weighted ROI score has emerged victorious.

Orangino Rahabbino from Shanghai University rose above the rest, clinching the GSC 2025 champion title with an awe-inspiring performance. Their hard work and dedication truly paid off!

The top 5 teams showcased their remarkable skills, earning their spots among the supply chain management elite.

These teams include:

Second place: Dream Chasing Team – North China University of Science and Technology

Third place: QuantumSync from Tsinghua University in China