YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University students recently earned global recognition for their innovation, teamwork and strategic thinking, placing ninth out of 61 teams from more than 10 countries in the Global Scaling Challenge 2026.
The international competition focused on real-world business growth and scalability.
The YSU team – Akriti Parajuli, Tanishka Agnihotri, Aleen Kanan and Lojein Yacoub – developed a comprehensive global scaling strategy for Applied Surface Engineering. Their work addressed real-world challenges across multiple industries and culminated in a professional presentation delivered to a panel of industry experts.
“Placing ninth in such a highly competitive, global field is an achievement we are incredibly proud of,” said Omer Genc, faculty adviser. “The students demonstrated outstanding performance throughout the entire challenge and represented Youngstown State University with professionalism and excellence.”
Participation in the Global Scaling Challenge provided the students with experiential learning. They applied classroom concepts to real-world business problems while developing critical skills such as market analysis, strategic planning, teamwork and professional communication.
“It is always a pleasure to support students through meaningful experiential learning experiences like this,” Genc said.