The competition for students of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn kicks off under the online educational game "First Million", which aims at developing good habits
in managing personal finance. The project is organized by The Citi Handlowy Leopold Kronenberg Foundation at City Handlowy and the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. Those who earn the virtual million in the lowest number of rounds will pass to the next stage where financial awards are at stake.
The "First Million" competition for students of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn will be held in two stages. The first part is played by the players individually - the system will be available from
14 December to 10 January of the next year. The best six players who will manage to earn the virtual million in the lowest number of rounds will be invited to the final stage. The final will be held live in January and will host the leading six along with partners of their choice, divided into two-person teams.
The founding idea of the "First Million" game developed by The Citi Handlowy Leopold Kronenberg Foundation is to build up good habits in managing personal finance. Players' task is to earn the virtual million through making various investment- and life-related decisions The game allows them to gain practical skills, to name a few: managing own budget, constructing investment strategies, but also assessing acceptable risk levels. During the game, players play one out of four available characters. Beginning their virtual life, they are on the threshold of professional career, take first job and try to accumulate money earned on their own. Apart from well-aimed investments, though, they have to care about the living standard, fulfillment of every-day needs and constant improvement of their skills. A complex scenario of the game provides for simulation of real life, taking into account such aspects as increasing costs or unpredicted misfortunes. The game is available on the website uwm.gra.1milion.edu.pl.
The final live game will be accompanied by a panel of experts who will talk about key issues for the young - good start on the job market, possible development paths and manners to develop career. They will also discuss what is crucial while beginning the professional career, in what ways the education system helps them and if opening one's own business is worth the effort.
So far, as a part of the "First Million" game, 8 competitions have been carried out, with 5 of them at universities in various cities of Poland. In total, more than 23 thousand people have attempted to earn the virtual million.
