Stand-out business solutions shine

Proving once again the high calibre of talent at The Australian National University (ANU), a team of five students claimed victory against their international peers in the Zhejiang International Business School (ZIBS) Global Corporate Consulting Project (GCCP).

ANU College of Business and Economics (CBE) students Chloe Dang, Jiasong Zhang, Ji-won Kim, Veronica Simansjah and Vidya Vhangade worked on a business case provided by Astronergy, a multinational enterprise headquartered in Haining, China. Astronergy specialises in manufacturing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and is recognised as one of the leaders in sustainability and renewable energy.

Tasked with creating a business plan that proposed carbon-emission reduction standards and practices for the company’s supply chain, the CBE team won the Best GCCP Solution Award.

“Astronergy’s goal is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its entire value chain by 2050, while maintaining cost efficiency and technological leadership in n-type TOPCon innovation for PV modules,” says Veronica.

“Our report concluded with the development of a comprehensive and practical action plan supported by a cost-benefit analysis and a prioritisation scheme to ensure it was both practical and feasible for Astronergy to implement.”

The team’s business solution stood out amongst submissions provided by other prestigious universities, including University of Cambridge, National University of Singapore, Durham University, ESCP Business School, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, Politecnico di Milano, and ZIBS.

Vidya believes that her team’s balanced approach is what made their business solution shine.

“Our action plan combined short-term and long-term strategies. We focused on what Astronergy could do to make immediate carbon reductions in their supply chain, while also keeping a firm eye on their broader, long-term mission of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050,” she says.

The team grounded their plan in global best practices from the solar-energy sector, ensuring that their proposals were evidence-based, clearly rationalised and could show whether it offered quick wins or required long-term investment.

“It’s rewarding to see our collaborative efforts recognised on a global platform. We’re particularly proud to have represented ANU at this level, delivering a solution that addresses sustainability, and for a leading global solar-energy firm,” says Vidya.

Receiving an award wasn’t the only highlight of the competition. For Ji-won, her team’s collaboration, the opportunity to meet students from other universities, and the chance to work with a prestigious client contributed to an unforgettable experience.

“We brought together diverse perspectives from our varying study and career experiences, and none of us were afraid to respectfully disagree – we learned a lot from each other. The ZIBS GCCP provided a platform for networking and exchange of ideas between international students on a scale that I don’t think could have been achieved if we only went on exchange to another country,” she explains.

“It was an honour to provide carbon-reduction strategy recommendations for China’s leading company in the PV industry. Overall, I gained intellectual inspiration and motivation for continuous learning.”

A highlight for Jiasong was the opportunity to develop crucial professional-development skills.

“Stepping out of the classroom and into the role of a real-world business consultant was both challenging and rewarding,” he says.

“It required me to shift from theoretical understanding to practical application. I had to think critically under pressure, adapt quickly to client needs, and communicate recommendations with clarity and confidence.”

Chloe, who also gained a greater appreciation of consulting, noted that her CBE studies were instrumental in preparing her for the rigour of the ZIBS GCCP.

“Through CBE courses like Strategy and Project Management, I developed a strong strategic mindset and learned how to apply structured approaches to real-world business challenges,” she says.

“Beyond academics, the CBE environment fosters adaptability and cultural intelligence. I have learned to collaborate effectively in diverse teams, a skill that proved invaluable when working alongside four peers from five different countries in China.”

In addition to the learning experience of being immersed in the role of a consultant, the CBE team credits working with the other teams as a unique opportunity to develop their skills.

“The National University of Singapore team taught me valuable lessons about teamwork under pressure, showing me that strong collaboration isn’t just about sharing the workload – it’s about showing up consistently and making space for each other’s constraints,” Jiasong shares.

Ji-won observed strengths in “…time management, cross-cultural teamwork, and a commitment towards excellence”, while Vidya gained insight on “…how cultural context and academic backgrounds shape the diverse way that teams analyse and approach challenges.”

For Veronica, working alongside the other competitors was an important cross-cultural experience.

“Being exposed to such a diverse environment taught me to remain humble and to broaden my perspective, especially when engaging with people from different universities and countries. It has encouraged me to be more openminded and curious when listening to others’ experiences,” she says.

Chloe found that for many of her peers, competition took a back seat to connection – something that resonated deeply with her.

“I learned that when respect, openness, and authenticity lead the way, competition becomes secondary. This experience deepened my appreciation for the global consulting community and reminded me that lasting friendships and shared growth matter more than winning itself,” she says.

Professor Vinh Lu, Director of CBE’s Research School of Management (RSM) and the team’s Faculty Advisor, is both proud of the team and grateful for the support provided by multiple colleagues at ZIBS – a valuable partner of RSM and CBE.

“Tackling the challenging project, the team conducted excellent research, asked smart questions with the client representatives, performed thorough analyses, and proposed a set of innovative recommendations for the client with a quick turnaround time,” he says.

“The prestigious ‘Best GCCP Solution Award’ affirms that the team's solutions are evidence-based, feasible, cost effective, impactful, and well-benchmarked against global best practices. This success showcases the outstanding pool of student talents that we have right here in CBE and our great efforts in nurturing our students' employability skills. Congratulations to the team!"