The Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy at Boston University Questrom School of Business will welcome finalist teams from around the world to São Paulo this week for the 3rd annual Susilo Institute Business+Ethics Case Competition, an immersive global program combining business strategy, ethics, and cross-cultural collaboration.
This year’s competition began with 117 student teams representing 38 universities across 20 countries, making it the largest edition of the competition to date. Following months of analysis and preliminary rounds, six finalist teams have advanced to the international finals in Brazil, representing universities in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
As part of the opening program, students will participate in a team-building and cultural immersion experience at Ibirapuera Park, hosted by Construcap and Urbia, the organizations responsible for managing the park through one of Brazil’s most recognized public-private partnerships. The experience is designed to serve as an icebreaker among the international participants while introducing students to Brazilian business culture, sustainability practices, and urban innovation ahead of the formal case competition, which begins the following day at the client company site.
Widely regarded as one of the most important urban parks in Latin America, Ibirapuera Park receives more than 17 million visits annually and has become a model for balancing public value, sustainability, and operational excellence through private management.
During their visit, students will work in cross-cultural teams to explore ideas for enhancing both visitor satisfaction and revenue generation at the park while maintaining strong ethical and sustainability principles. For the competition itself, each school will be represented by its own students, but for this activity, the teams will be reshuffled, putting a different student from each school into six new groups.
According to Samuel Lloyd, Director at Urbia, “We at Urbia and all of us on the Parque Ibirapuera’s team are honored to serve as a site for business study and experimentation, and for such an important international exchange program. We hope to contribute meaningfully to the students’ experience, and that their presence, perspectives and curiosity also inspire us to continuously improve and evolve our own operations.”
The formal competition finals will take place on Tuesday, where finalist teams will present strategic recommendations to company executives and judges. On Wednesday, the program will conclude with a special master class focused on “Doing Business in Brazil,” drawing from the Institute’s recent field research and case writing initiatives examining Brazilian business culture, infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and international market dynamics. Boston University alumni and local São Paulo executives will be addressing this year’s students.
“The Susilo Institute was created with the conviction that business has a unique potential and a unique responsibility to help solve the world’s toughest problems. A central pillar of our work is to give business students an immersive experience that teaches them how to navigate culture, ethical challenges, and complex decision-making first-hand,” said Rodrigo Canales, executive director of the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy and Kelli Questrom Associate Professor in Management & Organizations. “Brazil provides an extraordinary setting for that learning because it combines innovation, diversity, sustainability, and relationship-driven business practices in ways that are deeply relevant to the future of global leadership.”
“This competition has evolved into a truly international platform for experiential learning,” said Gregory Stoller, director of case competitions, master lecturer in strategy and innovation and co-founder of the competition at Boston University Questrom School of Business. “What makes this program unique is that students are not only solving real-world business problems – they are also learning directly from companies, cultures, and communities around the world. The partnership with Construcap and Urbia gives students an opportunity to experience firsthand how ethics, sustainability, and operational excellence intersect in practice.”
The Susilo Institute Business+Ethics Case Competition is a flagship initiative of the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy and reflects Boston University Questrom School of Business’ commitment to immersive global education, ethical leadership, and experiential learning. Last year’s finals were held in Sweden, following the inaugural competition in Indonesia.
About Boston University Questrom School of Business
Founded in 1913, the Boston University Questrom School of Business is a global top-tier academic research business school. Led by Allen Questrom Professor and Dean, Susan Fournier, Questrom develops business leaders who create value for the world. Questrom redefines transformational business programs, strengthens partnerships with the business community, advances the impact of research on business, and manages the school as a high-performing enterprise committed to excellence with a service mindset. Comprising a renowned full-time faculty of 165 researchers, teaching faculty, and accomplished practitioners, Questrom generates insights to address today’s business challenges and prepares students with the tools they need to succeed from Day 1 in their professional lives. Questrom’s portfolio of academic programs is robust and includes a Top 20 undergraduate program of over 2,200 students; distinctive MBA offerings including 900 students in a full- and part-time MBA, the affordable Online MBA and specialty MBAs in social impact, health, and digital technology; several thriving specialized master’s programs in areas including business analytics, mathematical finance, and management studies; and a rigorous PhD program. More than 50,000 Questrom alumni form a powerful global network of leaders driving value creation that changes the world.
About the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy
The Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business promotes ethical business leadership through global experiential learning, student research, and international engagement. Founded through the generosity of Harry Susilo, Chairman and Founder of Sekar Group, the Institute develops immersive programs that expose students to diverse business environments and ethical challenges around the world.
About Construcap and Urbia
Construcap is one of Brazil’s leading infrastructure and construction companies, with operations spanning industrial, commercial, and heavy construction projects, as well as asset management and public-private partnerships. Through its Urbia division, the company manages major urban parks and public spaces across Brazil, including São Paulo’s iconic Ibirapuera Park.
Founded in 2019 by Construcap, Urbia Gestão de Parques was created to value, preserve, and care for historical and environmental heritage, while offering high-quality leisure, entertainment, and cultural experiences to all visitors. The company’s dedication is focused on building a better world every day, with greater diversity, inclusion, and citizenship, reconnecting people with nature. Within all, there are five concessions specialized in the management of public urban and natural parks.
The first of those is Urbia Gestão de Parques de São Paulo, a Specific Purpose Entity (Sociedade de Propósito Específico/SPE) established to manage six parks in the city of São Paulo: Ibirapuera, Tenente Brigadeiro Faria Lima, Jacintho Alberto, Jardim Felicidade, Eucaliptos, and Lajeado Parks. Supported by sustainable development principles, the company aims to connect people through leisure, entertainment, and culture, while providing immersive experiences and moments of harmony with nature within urban environments.
In addition, Urbia is also responsible for managing the Horto Florestal (Alberto Löfgren) and Cantareira State Parks, both located in the northern region of São Paulo/SP; the Aparados da Serra and Serra Geral National Parks, including their main visitation areas such as Fortaleza Canyon, Itaimbezinho Canyon, and Rio do Boi, located in Cambará do Sul/RS and Praia Grande/SC; as well as Iguaçu Falls, within Iguaçu National Park located in Foz do Iguaçu/PR, in partnership with Grupo Cataratas, following the same management principles and operational models.
More recently, also in partnership with Grupo Cataratas, Construcap became the winning bidder for the Jericoacoara National Park concession, whose contract has already been signed.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526966643/en/
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