The QTEM Data Challenge (QDC) is QTEM’s flagship international business analytics competition, where multidisciplinary teams tackle real corporate challenges using advanced analytics, data visualisation, and strategic thinking. Developed in collaboration with Corporate Partners, the challenge gives students the opportunity to work on real business cases while applying quantitative skills to solve complex decision-making problems.
As artificial intelligence transforms the way organisations analyse data and make strategic decisions, the QDC is evolving to reflect this new reality. The new AI-powered edition challenges students to go beyond traditional data analysis, integrating AI into their analytical process to generate deeper insights, evaluate scenarios, and deliver impactful business recommendations.
QuantumBlack joins as Analytical & AI Partner
Marking this new chapter, QuantumBlack, McKinsey’s AI arm, joins the QTEM Data Challenge as its official Analytical & AI Partner.
As a global leader in AI and advanced analytics, QuantumBlack helps organisations transform data into business value by combining cutting-edge technology with strategic problem-solving. Through dedicated sessions and methodological guidance, students will learn how to combine advanced analytics with AI-powered approaches to solve real business challenges.
Rather than using AI simply as a technical tool, participants will discover how to integrate it throughout the decision-making process: from exploring data and assessing business impact to managing uncertainty and translating analytical insights into strategic recommendations. This partnership brings students closer to the methodologies used by leading organisations, preparing them for a workplace where AI is becoming an essential part of business decision-making.
This year’s challenge: shaping the future of investing with ReBel by Belfius
The 2026–2027 edition is developed in collaboration with ReBel by Belfius, Belfius’ digital investment platform, which provides clients with direct access to stocks, ETFs, and investment funds.
As ReBel explores its next phase of growth, students are invited to imagine its future as a standalone app combining investing, payments, and savings into one seamless experience capable of competing with digital challengers such as Revolut.
Working in international teams, participants will leverage AI agents to analyse ETFs from fundamental, technical, and macroeconomic perspectives in order to build high-performing investment portfolios. Beyond financial performance, teams will also develop a strategic proposal that positions ReBel in an increasingly competitive fintech market.
Success will require combining rigorous data analysis, AI-powered methodologies, strategic thinking, and a compelling business pitch—demonstrating not only technical excellence but also the ability to translate insights into real business value.
By bringing together real corporate challenges, advanced analytics, AI-powered solutions, and direct engagement with Corporate Partners, the QTEM Data Challenge continues to equip students with the skills needed to lead in an increasingly data-driven and AI-enabled business world.
As part of a two-day programme hosted by TUM School of Management, QTEM students had the opportunity to experience first-hand how academic excellence, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration come together in one of Germany’s fastest-growing innovation ecosystems.
The programme began with a visit to TUM Campus Heilbronn, where students from TUM Munich joined local TUM Heilbronn students for a full day exploring the city and its dynamic AI and entrepreneurship landscape.
The day started at experimenta, Germany’s largest science centre, where interactive exhibits highlighted the importance of curiosity and experimentation as the foundations of innovation. Students then visited Gravity, the startup and co-innovation hub developed by Campus Founders, which supports entrepreneurs by connecting founders, researchers, investors and companies in a collaborative environment.
The final stop was IPAI – Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence, an ambitious initiative designed to strengthen Europe’s AI ecosystem by bringing together businesses, startups, researchers, public institutions and talent in a shared innovation space. The visit offered students valuable insight into Heilbronn’s long-term vision of becoming a leading European hub for artificial intelligence and applied innovation.
On the second day, students put their analytical and teamwork skills to the test during a hackathon organised in collaboration with TUM and QTEM Corporate Partner essentry. Working in multidisciplinary teams, they tackled a real business challenge based on company data, with the objective of developing a predictive model capable of outperforming an existing benchmark.
Throughout the competition, teams combined technical expertise with business judgement, identifying the most relevant variables, testing different approaches and refining their models under time pressure. The collaborative atmosphere encouraged creativity, critical thinking and rapid iteration, closely reflecting the way data-driven challenges are addressed in professional environments.
Beyond the technical sessions, the two-day event also provided plenty of opportunities for QTEM students, alumni and partners to connect through networking breaks, shared meals and evening drinks. These informal moments strengthened the QTEM community and fostered valuable personal and professional connections.
Brussels, June 2026 –QTEM is delighted to welcome the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) at the University of Pretoria to the QTEM Network.
GIBS is one of Africa’s leading business schools and one of a select group of institutions worldwide to hold the prestigious Triple Crown accreditation — AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. Its commitment to academic excellence, internationalisation and responsible leadership makes GIBS a strong addition to the QTEM community.
Through its membership in QTEM, GIBS will connect its students with a global network of leading universities and business schools, creating new opportunities for international mobility, interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.
The addition of GIBS further strengthens QTEM’s global footprint and its commitment to connecting high-potential students with an international academic experience that combines quantitative skills, economics and management.
Prof. Jean-Philippe Bonardi, Chair of QTEM, welcomed the new partners:
“We are delighted to welcome GIBS to the QTEM network. These outstanding Triple Crown institution each brings distinctive strengths, international perspectives, and a shared commitment to academic excellence and innovation. Its addition reinforces QTEM’s global reach across Africa while creating even more opportunities for our students to learn, collaborate, and prepare for careers in an increasingly interconnected and data-driven world.”
A few days ago, together with FEP U. Porto, QTEM organized an Alumni & Student Meeting hosted in Porto, bringing together students, alumni, academic representatives, and corporate partners from across the QTEM network.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas on future corporate partnerships, upcoming QTEM initiatives, and the continued development of the QTEM community in Portugal. Throughout the meeting, participants discussed ways to further strengthen the connection between academia, students, alumni, and industry partners.
We were also pleased to interact with our corporate partner Millennium BCP, as well as visiting companies including Adidas, Banco de Portugal, Amkor Technology Portugal S.A., and MDS Group. Their participation contributed valuable insights regarding career opportunities, collaboration possibilities, and the evolving demands of international business and analytics-oriented profiles.
An important topic of discussion during the meeting was the organization of the QTEM International Student Meeting, which will take place on March 12, 2027, in Porto. This two-day international event will welcome students from all over the world and aims to further reinforce QTEM’s global community spirit through networking activities, corporate engagement, and academic exchange.
QTEM would like to sincerely thank everyone who participated and contributed to the discussions and organization of the event.
The QTEM International Student Meeting took place at the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam, bringing together more than 70 participants, including corporate partners, students, alumni and academics. The event opened with welcome remarks from Roel Beetsma, Dean of the University of Amsterdam, and Paul Fornoff, representing the QTEM Student Association (QSA). The day started with a masterclass by Reacfin, “Climate Risk in the Banking Industry,” delivered by François Thirion, Director and Head of Risk Management & Finance at Reacfin, and Mathieu Demarets, Actuarial Engineer at Reacfin.
The masterclass combined a concise introduction to climate risk concepts with a hands-on simulation in which participants, working in teams, acted as risk advisory groups managing a large mortgage portfolio over the long term.
The central conference focused on “Agentic AI: From Capability to Organizational Impact,” moderated by Michelle Sisto, QTEM Dean and Associate Professor at EDHEC Business School. Dr. Inez Zwetsloot (University of Amsterdam, AI4Business Lab) presented how challenge-based learning prepares students to become decision-makers in an AI-driven economy, while Frederik Van Hecke and Barbara Jepma (McKinsey & Company) discussed how organizations can scale AI from experimentation to enterprise value. Maribel Tejada and Nicole Onuta (ING) addressed governance and risk oversight for autonomous AI systems, followed by an open discussion with the audience.
After a coffee break, participants joined parallel sessions: a McKinsey “Crack the Case” workshop for students led by Colomban Basset and Martin Papageorges, and an alumni session hosted by Jelmer van de Mortel (Acorn), together with Ruben Spruit and Sofie Löhr, on scaling climate impact through data-driven agroforestry initiatives supporting smallholder farmers.
The day concluded with a networking reception, followed the next day by a cultural program including a visit to the Van Gogh Museum, a city walk and lunch at the Foodhallen.
QTEM is pleased to announce the upcoming QTEM Student International Meeting, taking place on 6 and 7 March and organized together with the University from Amsterdam (UvA) and the QSA. The sessions will take place at the KIT Institute, near the University, this international gathering will bring together QTEM students, academic leaders, alumni, and corporate partners for two days of learning, exchange, and networking in a truly global environment.
The event will officially open on Friday, 6 March, with a welcome and registration session followed by opening remarks from the Dean of the University of Amsterdam. The academic program will begin with a standing lunch and continue with a Master Class led by Reacfin, titled “Decoding Climate Disaster Risk Through Data”, offering students insights into how advanced quantitative methods are applied to climate-related financial risks.
In the afternoon, participants will take part in a joint Master Class by ING, QuantumBlack (a McKinsey company), and AI4Business, focused on “Agentic AI & Financial Risk”. This session will explore the growing role of autonomous AI systems in financial decision-making and risk management. In parallel, QTEM alumni will be invited to an exclusive session on “Leading with Agentic AI: Governance, Ethics and Human Capital”, fostering high-level discussions on leadership challenges in AI-driven organizations. The day will conclude with a networking reception at a nearby terrace.
On Saturday, 7 March, the program will shift toward cultural immersion and informal exchange, with a guided visit to the Van Gogh Museum, followed by lunch at the iconic Foodhallen Market. This combination of academic excellence, corporate engagement, and cultural experience reflects QTEM’s commitment to developing globally minded, analytically strong, and socially aware professionals.
Hosted by EDHEC last October, the QTEM Annual Event & Graduation took place in Nice, welcoming 250 attendees from around the world. EDHEC is one of the pioneering members of QTEM, an expanding global network.
During the two-day meeting, Deans from leading universities engaged in discussions and networking with representatives from top companies, including Cartier, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, EY, Reacfin and more.
On Saturday, October 25th, an emotional graduation ceremony was held at EDHEC’s amphitheater. Among the speeches, a highlight was the motivational talk by Samuel Majerus, a successful engineer in the construction sector and co-founder of the NGO Bright, which works to reduce barriers for students accessing education. He shared insights on overcoming fear to realize one’s dreams.
This year, four finalist student teams presented their analyses of real-world data provided by French energy leader Engie. Students assumed the role of energy managers, making strategic decisions that balanced finance, sustainability, and long-term impact.
The event was both emotional and vibrant. The warm welcome by EDHEC was exemplified by Emanuel Mettais, the Dean of EDHEC, who emphasized how closely aligned EDHEC’s objectives and mission are with those of the QTEM network.
We are proud to share that QTEM has been featured in the latest Financial Times article on the 2025 Masters in Management ranking. The mention highlights the strong career outcomes achieved by our students and alumni, with significant salary growth in the three years following graduation. This article defines QTEM as one of the leading global Academic Alliances.
The article also emphasizes the high levels of satisfaction reported by QTEM graduates, who rate the achievement of their professional and personal goals above the global average of participating schools. In addition, QTEM stands out for its diversity, with a larger share of international and female faculty and students than the overall average. These elements confirm the impact of our commitment to preparing a new generation of globally minded leaders.
Being acknowledged by the Financial Times is both an honor and an encouragement to keep pushing boundaries. We will continue to strengthen our academic network, expand international opportunities, and provide an outstanding learning environment that empowers our students to reach their full potential. We thank our community of students, alumni, universities, and corporate partners for making this achievement possible.
Brussels, July 2025 – QTEM (Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Management) is proud to announce that Dublin City University (DCU) Business School, has officially joined its international network of prestigious academic partners. Marking a new milestone in the expansion of the global QTEM community.
Located in Dublin, DCU is a Triple Crown-accredited institution renowned for its academic excellence and international outlook. With strong foundations in Economics, Business, and Management, the university has expanded its expertise in recent years to include cutting-edge fields such as Data Analytics and Digital Innovation. DCU’s commitment to rigorous methodology, applied research, and societal impact makes it a natural fit for the QTEM network.
Professor Dominic Elliott, Executive Dean of DCU Business School said “We are delighted to join the QTEM network, an alliance that resonates deeply with Dublin City University Business School’s Mission. We collaborate with industry, to prepare graduates who are not only analytically skilled but also globally minded and industry ready. This QTEM partnership expands the horizons for our students, enabling them to engage with top international peers, developing cutting-edge quantitative expertise, and to gain invaluable exposure to diverse business environments.”
Dr Gary Sinclair, Associate Dean forInternationalisation said “It is an honourto be selected as the first Irish university to join the QTEM network. This partnership represents a great opportunity for bothour students and faculty to collaboratewith a group of world class business schools that share our core values concerning academic and cultural exchange. QTEM operates at the very cutting edge in quantitative techniques and we can’t wait to share our expertiseand start working together.”
Prof. Jean-Philippe Bonardi, Chair of QTEM stated: “At QTEM, we are thrilled towelcome Dublin City University into our international network. DCU is a risingforce in innovative education and research, with a clear commitment to analytics, data, and global engagement—making it an excellent match for QTEM’s mission. With Dublin being one of Europe’s most vibrant and connected business ecosystems, this partnership strengthens our European presence and opens exciting new opportunities for our students and academic partners worldwide.”
Brussels, July 2025 – QTEM (Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Management) is proud to announce that Insper, a non-profit institution dedicated to teaching and research has officially joined its international network of prestigious academic partners. With unanimous support from all QTEM member institutions, INSPER becomes the 20th university to be welcomed into the global QTEM community.
Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Insper is a Triple Crown and ABET accredited institution recognized for its academic excellence and international outlook. With strong roots in Economics and Business Administration, it has expanded its academic portfolio in recent years to include Law, Engineering, and Computer Science, always guided by rigorous methodology, applied research, and a strong focus on social impact.
Insper Joins the QTEM Network as first partner in South America “We are thrilled to now be part of the QTEM Network,” said Flavia Piazza, Associate Dean for International Development at Insper. “We see this as an exciting opportunity not only for our students—who will benefit greatly from the academic and global experiences the program offers—but also for INSPER as an institution. We look forward to contributing actively to the network and exploring the many forms of collaboration QTEM fosters.”
QTEM offers selected master’s studentsthe opportunity to study at 20 top-tierinstitutions across Europe, Asia and NorthAmerica. Through academic exchanges,international internships, andparticipation in activities as the QTEMData Challenge, where students gainhands-on experience in data analysis, teamwork, and problem-solving withcases provided by industry leaders suchas Cartier, Engie and others.
Prof. Jean-Philippe Bonardi, Chair of QTEM stated: “At QTEM, we are delighted to welcome INSPER into our international network. As a globally recognized institution with a strong focus on quantitative methods and analytics, INSPER is aperfect fit for the QTEM vision. São Paulo is a dynamic business hub, and we areproud to expand our reach into Latin America through such a prestigiouspartner. We look forward to seeing INSPER students thrive at QTEM’s outstandingacademic partners across Europe, Asia, and North America.” .
