There are numerous global affairs and policy debate conferences held around the world for university students, but few that aim to solve the real-life challenges that society faces.
In the summer of 2012, students Hassan Bhatti, Nick Zarzycki and Zeeshan Rasool got together and started thinking about how such conferences could be made more applicable to the real world. They enjoyed the public speaking and collaborative nature of ‘Model United Nations’ and other simulated conference, but also saw a need of conferences that produced actionable solutions and developed leadership skills across business, government and non-profit lines.
Partnering with a dedicated team of UBC students, they founded The Global Crisis Simulation, or ‘GCS’. The GCS is the first student-focused business and policy crisis simulation conference, with its inaugural session to be held in Mumbai, India in 2014. Over the course of three days, over 500 international student delegates will simulate crises and debate issues across a variety of topics.
We got together with the founder of GCS, Hassan Bhatti to know little more about The Global Crisis Simulation.
Why a crisis simulation?
Managers and policymakers today face a tumultuous, changing world, one where broad, integrative thinking is valued as much as deep domain expertise. Organizations navigating this complex landscape are increasingly interested in leaders that can navigate setbacks and crises successfully and contribute to organizational resilience
Crisis simulations are unique because only a short period of time is allotted to solve a pressing issue. This forces delegates to think quickly on their feet to come up with a solution, which simulates what real policy-makers must do in order to make a decision.
What issues will be discussed?
The topics of the conference will be centered on international business, corporate governance, technology, science and security. Specific topics include government and financial instability in the United States, the future of Bitcoin and the real price of economic growth, among others.
Why are Tri-Sector Leaders important?
Tri-Sector Leaders are influential people who have been able to move between the business, government and non-profit sectors, making a substantial impact in one before moving on to another. They include the likes of Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates, Andrew Mellon and Barack Obama.
The challenges that society faces today, which include issues like water scarcity, access to education and the rising costs of healthcare increasingly require that business, government and nonprofit sectors work together to create lasting solutions. Tri-Sector Leaders are able to engage linchpins in all sectors, facilitating the collaboration needed to solve pressing problems. The Global Crisis Simulation aims to develop the skills that these leaders must possess.
Why Mumbai, India?
India has become a central hub of growth in all sectors since the last few years. The student population there is not only globally minded but also looking for challenges. We were fortunate to find a supportive host team at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies that sealed the deal for us.
The outcomes of the Conference?
At the end of the conference, delegates will come away from the conference with a better grasp of how to deal with complex, difficult interdisciplinary leadership problems under limited resources and time constraints. The final documents will be realistic strategic papers that will be published and shared with organizations for their future policy-making.
To find out more about Global Crisis Simulation and to register for the inaugural conference, visit the website at www.gcsim.com or send an email to info[at]gcsim.com.
Images: UBC Global Crisis Simulation
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