This course focuses on AI-based peer benchmarking in the international insurance industry. It is conducted in collaboration with our corporate partner, UNIQA, which is exploring how artificial intelligence can be used to systematically collect, extract and structure publicly available information on a selected group of national and international insurance peers – including (1) annual and interim reports, (2) investor relations presentations, (3) ad-hoc disclosures, (4) press releases, and (5) corporate websites.

The course centers around benchmarking (1) business topics (Segment reporting and business mix, reserve strengthening practices, ability to absorb and manage inflation impacts, investment yields and asset performance, corporate strategy, outlook and key industry trends, and other relevant strategic topics) and (2) financial KPIs (e.g., Return on Equity, Contractual Service Margin, Combined Ratio, Capital Generation, Solvency Position) The findings will support UNIQA in shaping its ongoing peer monitoring and benchmarking, with an emphasis on focused, actionable insights rather than generic observations.

The project result is an AI-enabled solution or model for peer monitoring and benchmarking that each group develops for different insurance products (Health; Life; Property and Casualty). The solution should provide national and international benchmarking data. Each groups will consist of four students from both technical and business backgrounds. An important aspect of the course is the interdisciplinary collaboration between technical and business students in the development of their AI-based benchmarking solution. Teams will present their intermediate findings and final conclusions to the corporate partner and faculty in presentations.

By the end of this course, students will have:
•    developed a strategic toolkit to conduct AI-based competitive and peer benchmarking analyses in a real-life industry context
•    applied theoretical frameworks and AI-based tools to assess peer performance, strategic positioning, and industry benchmarks
•    learned how to structure their storyline for C-level management
•    improved their presentation and project management skills
Students will be able to:
•    critically assess industry benchmarks and logically structure data-driven insights and recommendations
•    organize teamwork and structure their workload
•    improve their communication and presentation skills in front of a corporate partner
•    convincingly and coherently pitch their recommendations in a practitioner-oriented and professional manner

Students have to attend at least 80% of the scheduled sessions in order to meet the attendance requirements. However, there is a compulsory attendance for sessions 1, 4, and 7. Further, it is not possible to collect participation points in case of absence.

Classes will be interactive. The course will be taught in a blended format (lectures and presentations are in-person, coaching sessions are online). The principal teaching methods used will be lectures, group presentations, discussions and coaching with feedback for the groups.

The course grade will be determined as follows:
- Participation (10%)
- Mid Term Presentation (20%)
- Q&A Session Engagement (20%)
- Final Presentation (40%)
- Peer Rating (10%)
As a basic principle, all members of a group receive one grade for the group work. I expect that each group member contributes equally to the project work. The peer-rating is included in the assessment of the individual performance.
Grading scheme: <60% =5; 60-69%=4; 70-79%=3; 80-89%=2; 90-100%=1.

Prerequisites for WU students: completed course 1 (Foundations) and course 2 (Applications). The course is open to all exchange students with an interest in international business.

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