CEMS Club Conference
Over two days at Rotterdam School of Management, Presidents met the Student Board and the CEMS Global Office, and each introduced their school giving everyone a clear view of how clubs operate across the network. The core of the conference was group collaboration between different universities in different regions giving attendees an opportunity to understand how similar problems are solved in different ways.
With limited funding common to every university, presidents shared ways to do more with less, from an event subscription system, to low-cost, high-impact events, and transparent spending. Continuity of progress was another key component. To keep new boards from starting from scratch each term, they proposed a standard handover process built around an updated handover document, a shared drive for each department, and calls with outgoing department heads and presidents.
Presidents also wanted to bring the network closer together, raise its visibility and strengthen ties with alumni and corporate partners. Their ideas included buddy programmes pairing home and exchange students during inter-club projects, and a consistent social media identity across clubs, which would make the network easier to see and join. To involve alumni, they proposed closer links with local alumni chapters, a push for the mentorship programme and an alumni referral programme with Corporate Partners.
Corporate and Alumni Engagement
On Friday, we had the privilege of welcoming one of our Corporate Partners, Henkel, who ran an interactive workshop with CEMS alumnus Kasper Berthelsen, Alison Cordova, Enrique Schleske, Marilia Figueiredo and Violetta Tsiampa. Presidents took on roles from CEO and CFO to production planning and quality control in a simulated supply chain. Over several competitive rounds, they saw how easily miscommunication arises and how vital cross-functional collaboration is.
Later in the day, with the help of Stefanie Kirwald, the Presidents met graduates from the Class of 1996, who were back for their 30-year reunion. Both generations reflected on the value and impact of the CEMS community, and the presidents gained insight into what a professional future can look like for graduates.
The Coveted Awards
The CEMS Club Awards recognize the best student-led initiatives from clubs around the world. Following a restructuring of the awards, we celebrate 3 clubs, across 3 categories, who showcased responsible leadership, a positive cohort experience, and strong stakeholder engagement. The submission process is run by the Global Integration Team of the CEMS Student Board in collaboration with the CEMS Club Support team. Submissions are shortlisted by the Student Board, and then ranked by the Alumni Jury who determine the official winner of each category. Students and alumni may not rank their home or host schools, and each club may only submit one entry per category. Winners are announced at the following semester's Presidents’ Conference.
Congratulations to the following CEMS Clubs on their outstanding work:
Responsible Leadership & Sustainability: CEMS Club Calcutta
This initiative reimagined the traditional Secret Santa exchange through social responsibility. By stepping outside peer-to-peer networks, the club anonymously gifted campus support staff, including security guards, cleaners, and mess workers. The project bridged social divides within the campus ecosystem, practising inclusive stakeholder recognition while promoting conscious consumption through utility-driven gifting.
Community Engagement & Cohort Experience: CEMS Club St. Gallen
The 1,000km Running Challenge was a semester-long initiative encouraging students to collectively run 1,000 kilometers throughout the semester fostering motivation, goal-setting, and community through shared physical activity.
Global Citizenship & Stakeholder Engagement: CEMS Club Prague
The Campus Menstrual Hygiene Campaign united a major corporate sponsor, university administration, and the student body, to destigmatize menstruation and eliminate period-related stress. By securing a €20,000 in-kind donation to install permanent, free pad dispensers in restrooms, the initiative’s impact extended beyond our own program to benefit the entire university. Supported by an educational campaign, this effort ensures that everyone can manage their periods with dignity.
Looking Ahead
The conference may be over, but the real work starts back on campus. Presidents are returning home with tested ideas, new contacts and a clearer picture of how clubs across the network operate. Some of those ideas will be on next semester’s calendar within weeks. Others will quietly change how a board hands over to the next. Entries for the Spring 2027 Awards are also now open to every club, and we hope they inspire creative, impactful initiatives that continue strengthening our global alliance.
