IBSS and ULMS Launch Second Business Forecasting Championships

International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) and the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS) have launched the second joint Business Forecasting Championships. Students responded enthusiastically, completing team formation within just one day. Building on the successful inaugural edition in 2025, the competition continues the two schools’ collaboration in providing students with practical experience in financial forecasting, market analysis and decision making.

Working in teams, participants will develop and refine stock price forecasts through initial, revised and final submissions. They will examine company information, industry developments and wider economic conditions, explaining the evidence and reasoning behind their predictions. This year’s competition also incorporates AI into the analytical process, encouraging students to compare AI outputs with their own analysis, check the reliability of information and exercise independent judgement. Through successive submissions, students will respond to changing market conditions while strengthening their research, teamwork and communication skills.

Academic staff and professional support teams at IBSS worked together to organise two preparatory sessions. On 13 October, Dr Bingqing Zhao delivered the AI training, introducing tools relevant to students’ learning and analytical work. On 15 October, Dr Yihan Li, Dr Li Xie and Xiaoyi Yu led the Trading Floor training, covering investment research, industry analysis, financial competitions and the use of the school’s facilities. These sessions helped students become familiar with the tools and research resources available at IBSS and understand how to use them effectively in their forecasting work.

In his opening remarks, Dr Linjia Zhang highlighted the importance of learning to use AI thoughtfully and effectively. He also invited first-year students to consider joining the IBSS community and encouraged already enrolled students to explore the 2+2 study pathway with the University of Liverpool. As the competition progresses, participants will have opportunities to engage with University of Liverpool academics, discuss their ideas and draw on expertise across both schools. With academic guidance and continued support from the organising team, students are now putting their preparation into practice as they develop and refine their forecasts.

The competition fully reflects IBSS's commitment to internationalisation. Jointly organised by IBSS and the University of Liverpool Management School, the event brings together academic resources and professional support from both institutions, creating a cross-campus platform for collaboration and exchange. Participants will not only engage with the research and insights of University of Liverpool academics but also draw on the international academic networks of both schools to broaden their perspectives. At the same time, by integrating AI tools into the analytical process, the competition guides students to develop critical thinking and independent judgement in a Sino-foreign educational environment, laying a strong foundation for their future careers in a globalised business landscape.