Twenty-three final-year petroleum engineering students from six Argentine universities stepped into the shoes of an oil and gas company's executive team as part of the Tecpetrol Challenge, the first business simulation of its kind organized by an industry operator.

Inspired by real-world scenarios, the competition gave participants a unique opportunity to experience the strategic and operational decisions that shape the energy industry.

What’s the Tecpetrol Challenge about?

The Tecpetrol Challenge is an educational competition that gives advanced undergraduate students the opportunity to experience strategic decision-making in an oil and gas company. Working through simulations inspired by real industry scenarios, participants step into the role of an operator’s executive team and tackle the kinds of decisions energy companies face every day. The competition forms part of Tecpetrol’s work to develop young talent and bring university students closer to the realities of the energy industry.

The winning team received a trip to Neuquén, where students visited the Fortín de Piedra operation—Tecpetrol’s flagship unconventional gas field in Vaca Muerta—and gained firsthand insight into operations at one of Argentina’s most important energy developments.

Ricardo Ferreiro, President of E&P, joined the participants during the competition and shared a few words of encouragement. “You could really sense their eagerness to understand what it's like to work in this industry. What struck me most was the enthusiasm they brought to taking part—that sparkle in their eyes. Seeing students so engaged, curious and eager to get out into the field gives me a great deal of confidence in the future,” he said.

Real-time collaboration

The competition took place at Tecpetrol's Training & Convention Center in Buenos Aires and brought together students from six Argentine universities: the National University of Comahue (UNCo), the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), the Arturo Jauretche National University (UNAJ), the National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), and the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology (ITBA).

Each team brought together five or six students from different universities, encouraging them to collaborate with people they had not worked with before and build new connections. Using a business simulator, they made strategic decisions across different stages of the energy value chain.

The exercise called for soft skills as much as technical knowledge. “We wanted them to work through real-life situations using both what they learn at university and the interpersonal abilities that are essential in any workplace,” said Felipe Harriague Castex, Talent Attraction Manager. “For some, it also became an exercise in self-awareness. They told us, for example, that they’d discovered they found it difficult to express their ideas or take more risks.”

For Alex Mejía, from the National University of Cuyo, “One of the most demanding aspects was responding to the many variables that can change from one day to the next within a company. It also helped me strengthen abilities such as teamwork and critical thinking,” he said.

Joaquina López, from the University of Buenos Aires, said the experience took her well beyond the academic world. “I learned to listen to other people, make decisions quickly, reach compromises and defend a point of view. It brought me closer to the industry. I’d never really thought about commercial issues such as pricing, and now I understand that these are going to be far more important once I enter the workforce.”

The first edition was a clear success, earning an average score of 4.8 out of 5 from the students taking part in the post-event survey.

The next stage of the challenge will take place in August, when the winning team travels to Fortín de Piedra to see firsthand how one of Argentina's most important gas fields operates. The visit will give them the opportunity to experience in the field what they managed through the simulator and deepen their understanding of the energy industry.

For Gianela Lonne, from the National University of Comahue, the competition offered “a very enriching experience because we’re used to learning from books, and the Tecpetrol Challenge brings us much closer to the industry. I think it’s incredibly important to keep organizing events like this with students from other universities. It gives you a clearer picture of your future career and makes you excited about what lies ahead.”