Think “The Apprentice” without Donald Trump and reality-television silliness.

MBA students at Kansas University will be participating in two international case competitions. A team of students get a “case” detailing a business situation involving a real-life company and have 24 hours to research a solid answer.

KU is hosting the 2009 CIBER International Case Competition in April.

They then present to a panel of company executives and faculty members, who judge the teams. A group of KU students traveling to Guangzhou, China, will also participate in a similar competition there in May.

Frank Marshall, assistant dean in the School of Business, said the experience was good for students, as it gives them practical experience solving a real-life problem.

“They get immediate feedback from a panel of experts,” he said. “And they get all the right kinds of feedback.”