2007
| Azerbaijani Team Wins International Business Competition |
![]() |
| Date published: Mar 31 2008 |
| 2007 >> |
 The School Economic Education program's (SEE) alumni team (from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy) became world champions at the 12th Annual Hewlett Packard Global Business Challenge (HPGBC). The contest, held in Prague, brought together the world's strongest economics and business students from Canada, Lithuania, Argentina, Russia, China, and Azerbaijan.
Since 2003 SEE has supported 750 students' participation in the competition, resulting in Azerbaijani teams reaching the finals two years in a row-in 2006 a school team from Baku took third place.  Organized by Junior Achievement Worldwide and the Hewlett-Packard Corporation, the contest gives thousands of students the opportunity to take the role of business leaders, managing hypothetical companies and steering them to success. Beginning in February, the teams participated in an intense 21-round competition, making decisions on product pricing, production units, marketing, investment, scientific research, and charity. Eight SEE teams reached the semifinals and the alumni team and a team from School #95 (eighth place overall) progressed to the finals.
At the awards ceremonies, the SEE alumni team, consisting of Irina Lesnyak and Azer Ismayilov, received $3000 dollars and a certificate. In describing his team's strategy, Azer explained, "Throughout the contest, we strived to make rational decisions addressing existing market demands.  Businesses have to consider the state of the market, consumers' needs, the company's capacity and resources, production costs and other elements outlined in the company report. All of this and the ability to see prospects helped us to win." The School Economics Education Program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), administered by Project Harmony and conducted by Junior Achievement Azerbaijan.
Back- News Archive 2008
- News Archive 2007
- News Archive 2006
- News Archive 2005 |
Junior Achievement provides teachers, and schools with concrete programmes, and allows students to learn how to put theory into practice and to understand what entrepreneurship is about. In this way students gain self-confidence and motivation, become proactive and learn how to work in a team. This is an important investment in Europe's future.