On November 29, the 2025 Jiangsu Province Graduate Business Administration Case Competition successfully concluded at the Xianlin Campus of Nanjing University of Finance and Economics. As a high-level academic event in the field of management in Jiangsu Province, this year’s competition was themed “AI-Empowered Innovation in Local Management Practices.” Closely aligned with the pulse of the digital transformation era, the competition aimed to promote the deep integration of AI technology with management practice, providing theoretical support and case references for enterprise transformation. A total of 46 teams from more than 10 universities across the province competed. The competition included awards such as the Grand Prize, First, Second, and Third Prizes, Excellence Awards, as well as the “Best Case Award,” “Best Organization Award,” “Best Performance Award,” and “Best Instructor Award,” making the competition highly competitive.
In the final round, the CUMT MBA representative team “Zhiyan Heavy Industry Team” won the Grand Prize, the highest honor of the competition, with their case report:
“The Technological Breakthrough Path of XCMG Heavy Machinery: A Local Practice of AI Empowering Core Technology Advancement.”
Their report—distinguished by its integration of theory and practice, rigorous logical analysis, and composed and fluent presentation—won unanimous recognition from the judges. The team also received the “Best Case Award” and the “Best Organization Award.” MBA student Lin Qiang (Class of 2025) won the “Best Performance Award,” and Yao Weikun and Gong Huang won the “Best Instructor Award.” With this, the team achieved a “Grand Slam” of awards.
The “Zhiyan Heavy Industry Team” is led by team captain Li Xueyan (MBA Class of 2024), with members Li Yunqiu, Liu Zhiyong, Pan Rongfei, Lin Qiang, Cao Yong, and Lü Chunlei. The advisors are Professors Yao Weikun and Gong Huang.
The other two participating CUMT MBA teams also performed excellently.
CUMT MBA Team One won the Third Prize with their case: “The Intelligent Transformation of the ‘Iron Army’: Strategic Upgrade of Jintie Technology through AI + VR Integration.”
CUMT MBA Team Three won the Third Prize with their case: “XCMG Automotive: AI Empowering the Heavy Truck Industry Toward a Smart and Green Global Future. All three teams achieved outstanding results, marking a “full award-winning performance,” fully demonstrating the solid foundation and educational effectiveness of CUMT’s MBA program.
The remarkable achievements of the CUMT MBA teams stem from their deep engagement in local practice and their precise grasp of cutting-edge trends. The teams conducted field research at leading Jiangsu enterprises such as XCMG Heavy Machinery, Jintie Technology, and XCMG Automotive. Their case topics centered on core areas such as strategic upgrading in traditional manufacturing, intelligent transformation of the heavy truck industry, and green and low-carbon transitions. By tightly linking AI technologies with enterprise management pain points, they produced research outcomes that reflect both theoretical depth and practical value, earning high recognition from the judges.
Behind these achievements is the long-term practice of CUMT MBA’s educational philosophy of “promoting learning and teaching through competition.” In recent years, the School of Economics and Management has strengthened case-based teaching and practical training through enterprise research, faculty mentoring, mock defenses, and other full-process cultivation mechanisms to enhance students’ ability to solve complex management problems. The “Grand Slam” accomplishment and the all-team award-winning performance not only demonstrate the success of the School’s postgraduate innovation training but also inject new momentum into the brand of CUMT’s MBA education. Moving forward, the School will continue deepening industry–academia–research integration to cultivate more high-level management talents capable of leading digital transformation.
Figure 1. Members of “Zhiyan Heavy Industry Team” on stage (from left): Li Xueyan, Lü Chunlei, Lin Qiang, Liu Zhiyong
Figure 2. Competition site (I)
Figure 3. Competition site (II)
Figure 4. CUMT “Zhiyan Heavy Industry Team” wins the Grand Prize
Figure 5. Professors Yao Weikun and Gong Huang win the “Best Instructor Award”
Figure 6. MBA student Lin Qiang (Class of 2025) wins the “Best Performance Award”
Figure 7. Case report wins the “Best Case Award”
Figure 8. School of Economics and Management wins the “Best Organization Award”
Figure 9. Group photo of CUMT MBA representative teams
Figure 10. “Zhiyan Heavy Industry Team” receives the 2025 Jiangsu Province Graduate Business Administration Case Competition Grand Prize
Editors: Li Xueyan (MBA Class of 2024), Hu Xiao (MBA Class of 2025)
First Review: Gong Huang
Second Review: Ji Feng
Third Review: Li Xinchun
