PrintStudents eye up Public Sector Finance
In July and September 2006, teams of sixth formers from local colleges gathered at Staffordshire University and Wolverhampton University for a management game arranged by CIPFA in the Midlands.
The picture shows the team from the Friary School in Lichfield, the winners of the Wolverhampton game in September.
On 12th July at Staffordshire University, the teams represented the Barr Beacon Language College, Cheslyn Hay High School, Thomas Alleyne's High School, Abbot Beyne School, and The Thomas Adams School. Click here for the report and pictures......
On Wednesday 13 September at Wolverhampton University, the teams were from St. Peter’s Collegiate Church of England School, Wolverhampton, Darlaston Community Science College, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield, The Friary School, Lichfield, The Northicote School, Wolverhampton, Chase Terrace Technology College and Woodhouse High School, Tamworth. Click here for the report and pictures......
About the Sixth Form Management Game........
The objectives of the game were:
- to demonstrate the challenges of managing under time pressure with uncertain outcomes
- to develop team and individual skills
- to allow players to gain an insight into the issues facing public sector organisations
- to be fun to play
Schools took on the role of the Management Team of the fictitious borough of Rainbow Hills and students in the team each played the part of a member of that Management Team with specific responsibility for a certain area of the Council.
The CIPFA management game is designed to give an insight into the type of decisions that are faced by a real Council and teams encounter long term strategic decisions as well as day to day operational issues which they have to address decisively.
Each member of the team was briefed on the value of certain schemes and in round one they had to prioritise their schemes to formulate a corporate bid submission for challenge funding. However, as in real life, this was not without its interruptions, and they were visited by an influential Chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce and had to respond to a letter from the Chief Constable all before lunch ! The afternoon started off with bad news and then a visit from an “apoplectic” Trade Union leader, before “the press” came demanding a press statement on the proposals.
The organising team assess the way problems are handled and look to see that answers are logical and practical in design. They team were very impressed by how hard all the schools had worked and it was remarkable how much effort the students put in. One of the team had commented on how there had been a lot of very bright young men and women in the school teams and this was matched by their enthusiasm.
The game is organised by the Midlands region of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA or CIM in its local form – CIPFA in the Midlands). CIPFA is one of the leading professional accountancy bodies in the UK and the only one, which specialises in the public sector. A mix of members and student members of the institute gave up their days to run the game.