08 May 2025
The ULMS-IBSS Business Forecasting Championships 2025, jointly organized by the International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS), culminated with a grand award ceremony. After six weeks of intense competition, multiple student teams from IBSS were honored for their outstanding performance in market analysis and forecasting.
The ceremony saw strong representation from both schools. ULMS's delegation was led by Deputy Dean Professor Claire Mallanaphy, accompanied by Dr Ahmed Al-Abdin, Deputy Associate Dean for International, and Dr Gareth Liu-Evans, Lecturer in Econometrics. From IBSS, Deputy Dean Professor Eddy Fang participated alongside Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching Dr Nimesh Salike, Dr Yingchan Luo, Director of UG Studies, Dr Linjia Zhang Associate Professor in Economics, Dr Li Xie, Associate Professor in Finance, and Dr Yihan Li, Assistant Professor in Finance.
The ceremony commenced with opening remarks by student hosts. Professor Claire Mallanaphy, Deputy Dean of ULMS, and Professor Eddy Fang, Deputy Dean of IBSS, delivered speeches praising the participants' achievements and highlighting the competition's significance in developing students' financial analysis skills.
During the award presentation, Team Nexus received the Gold Award, Team Trend Trackers was awarded the Silver Award, and Team Boff Queens claimed the Bronze Award. Additionally, Team Herstory and Team Iron Ladies were honored with "Highly Commended" awards, while all other participating teams received certificates of participation.
Representatives from the winning teams shared: "This competition provided us with a valuable opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world financial markets. By analyzing FTSE 100 constituent stock price movements, we not only enhanced our data analysis skills but also developed stronger teamwork capabilities."
Since its launch on March 10, the competition attracted active participation from IBSS students. Teams were required to complete price forecasts for designated FTSE 100 constituents across three phases, continuously adjusting their strategies based on market changes. Organizers also conducted an online kickoff meeting and hands-on training sessions to support participants.
The ceremony concluded with a commemorative group photo, marking the successful end of this academic competition. Professor Eddy Fang, Deputy Dean of IBSS, remarked: "We're delighted to see the professionalism and innovative thinking demonstrated by our students. This event has not only strengthened the collaboration between IBSS and ULMS but also provided students with invaluable practical learning experiences."
08 May 2025