Last week, our first-year Business and Economics A Level students took part in the International Trading simulation introduced by American Express. Here students were grouped into countries with varying amounts of resources depending on the country’s stage of economic development. Students were to then produce output to trade, and grow GDP for their economy. Across both games, we had all students engaged and enthusiastic, with all showing strong negotiating, communication, and teamworking skills.
Introduced as a work-related learning project by Katie Baker, Partnership Manager at American Express, she commented “I must say, I was thoroughly impressed by the level of soft skills they demonstrated throughout the activity. Their performance not only showcased their subject knowledge but also highlighted their readiness for the real world. Overall, the International Trade Scenario not only enriched their understanding of economic concepts but also fostered the development of vital employability skills. These skills, such as teamwork, negotiation, critical thinking, and ethical considerations, are essential for success in the ever-evolving global landscape.”
Economics student, Oliver Pepper commented “It taught me the value of specialisation and waiting for the market to create demand to take advantage of,” whilst Naomi Frais added “Enjoyable trading experience. Quality control and uneven distribution of resources made it interesting”. Importantly, Business student Aaron Croft appraised the experience by saying “The simulation improved numerous problem-solving and negotiating skills.”
Ben Whittingham, Deputy of Section continued, “The students absolutely loved this experience as they were able to develop key employability skills from negotiation to communication and problem-solving in a fun environment that encouraged their personalities to shine through. Having all of our business and economics A Level students in one room to simulate international trade in action is central to our ethos of learning in context.”
