Cashflow 101 Game Introduces Students To Financial Literacy

By Norhidayyu Zainal

SERDANG, March 2 (Bernama) -- The CASHFLOW 101 board game took centre stage at the ASEAN University Cashflow Challenge 2026 held at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) recently, offering students a practical introduction to financial literacy through interactive simulation.

About 200 students from universities across the region participated in the programme, where they navigated simulated monthly salaries, unexpected expenses and investment opportunities in a structured environment designed to reflect real-life financial decision-making.

International financial author Robert Kiyosaki, best known for his book Rich Dad Poor Dad, said the game was created to cultivate practical financial thinking rather than relying solely on theoretical instruction.

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“The game — play the game, you learn. You cannot learn without doing something. It’s impossible. But when our schools punish you for making mistakes, you don’t do anything. You are afraid to make a mistake. But mistakes are how we learn,” he told Bernama after launching the programme here.

Kiyosaki said the board game simulates what he describes as the “rat race” — the cycle of earning a salary without building assets — and encourages participants to think beyond employment towards asset ownership and cash flow generation.

The challenge aimed to expose students to fundamental financial concepts, including budgeting, investment planning and risk assessment, in a more engaging and experiential format.

He also stressed the importance of understanding financial statements as a foundation for financial success.

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“A financial statement is what a banker wants to see. It is the only game that teaches accountancy,” he said.

The programme is jointly organised by the Centre of Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability (CEM), Sultan Abdul Samad Library (PSAS) and the University of Malaysia Student Entrepreneurship Council.

Director of CEM UPM, Associate Professor Dr Hizmawati Madzin, said the challenge aligns with the university’s aspiration to produce graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also financially literate and globally competitive.

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“The ASEAN University Cashflow Challenge 2026 serves as a strategic platform to cultivate financial literacy among undergraduates,” she said.

She added that initiatives such as the challenge complement academic learning by exposing students to practical financial decision-making skills that are essential in today’s economic landscape.

“Through interactive simulation approaches such as CASHFLOW 101, students gain a practical understanding of cash flow management, risk assessment and asset building beyond classroom theory,” she said.

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She added that cross-institutional collaboration also creates opportunities for international networking among ASEAN university students, thereby strengthening the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Meanwhile, UPM Board Member Mohamad Sabrie Mohamad Salleh said initiatives such as the ASEAN University Cashflow Challenge 2026 reflect growing recognition that financial literacy must extend beyond textbook knowledge.

He noted that although students may graduate with academic qualifications, many remain unfamiliar with the mechanics of inflation, debt structures and long-term financial sustainability.

“Programmes like this help bridge the gap between theory and real-world financial realities,” he said.

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Among the participants, Vishnu, 22, a Bachelor of Social Science (Economics) student from Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the Cashflow game introduced him to practical financial concepts such as earning dividends and managing money through simulation.

“It was our first time playing the game and we learned how to sell, earn dividends and better understand cash flow,” he said.

Wong Ch’ng Yin Chloe, 20, a Business Administration student from Universiti Malaya, said the game helped her appreciate the importance of managing finances wisely.

“We should control money and not let money control us. The game helped me learn how to manage and invest my money,” she said.

Meanwhile, Information Technology student Muhammad Rafiq Fikri Rosnizam, 24, from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, said the simulation provided insight into business and investment decision-making.

“The game involves elements such as shares and investing in companies, and it helps us assess whether a financial decision is worthwhile,” he said.

-- BERNAMA