The 2012 Global Enterprise Experience will run from April 26 to May 17. This is an experiential learning event to develop skills in managing global teams with a business focus. It is free to enter.

The Global Enterprise Experience is an international business competition that aims to develop skills in managing across cultures, time zones, world views and levels of wealth and poverty.

Participants from around the world enrol as singles or in pairs to compete in teams of eight. Multinational teams compete, not countries. 

Participants are generally students (graduate or undergraduate), who are studying international business, international relations, development, peace studies, management, business communications, information systems or marketing. Participants have also included entrepreneurs and citizens seeking to foster their skills in working in global teams. To date 155 universities and polytechnics in 64 countries have participated.

Each team is presented with an international business challenge for the team to agree on and write a six page proposal. The 2012 challenge is to "develop a six-page business concept proposal on a profitable product or service that links developed and developing countries for mutual benefit".

The real challenge is to work as effective team members in cyberspace with students from different cultures, timezones, world views, and levels of wealth and poverty. Participants will communicate using interactive technology on the web. Easy access to computer resources and broadband helps but many participants have won using internet cafes, dial up services and meagre access to computers.

In addition, each participant is required to submit a one-page journal that outlines their experience and insights. The one page journal is essential to be eligible to win any of the prizes. (Under "Archives" on the Global Enterprise Experience website are examples of past reports and journals as well as heart warming stories of extraordinary commitment.)

Prizes will be award be in June 2012. Each member of the winning team and the author of the best journal will win NZ$1000 (about US$750). All participants who complete the journal receive a certificate and letter of recommendation.

Participants can enrol between 1 November 2011 and 12 April 2012 via the Global Enterprise Experience website.