UPEI duo sees success at first case competition of semester

The first case competition of the semester took place at Mount Saint Vincent University as the Nova Scotia institution hosted the 44th annual Atlantic Schools of Business (ASB) Conference, September 26-28. UPEI's dynamic duo of Cody Dawson and Alex Khan took home third place in the ASB Case Competition.

The conference, one of Canada's longest running academic business conferences, attracts close to 100 academics annually from institutions throughout Canada and across the globe. Case competitions have always been, and continue to be, an integral part of the conference, showcasing some of the talent and knowledge of the top business students in Atlantic Canada.

'Case competitions are an integral part of business education. The scenarios provide students with the ability to analyze real-world business situations and make recommendations as if they were business executives or consultants,' said UPEI's Dean of the School of Business Juergen Krause.

Eight teams competed in the ASB case competition, with a three-hour time limit to analyze, strategize, and prepare a PowerPoint presentation for a case they had never before seen, followed by a 12-minute presentation each, and five minutes for questions from a judging panel comprised of academic and industry professionals. The competition, while competitive in nature, is also used as a learning experience for students, as they get to watch the other teams present their strategic plans through various perspectives.

While most teams consisted of four students, UPEI's newly formed partnership of Dawson and Khan were not worried, and they were thankful for the opportunity to compete. 'There were many great benefits to competing at a case competition like this one,' said Dawson. 'At ASB, we were able to gain new perspectives and strategies that will be helpful moving forward. Placing in the top three just adds to the already great experience.'

Khan couldn't agree more. 'Being able to compete and meet students from other schools was an enriching experience. It was a privilege to represent UPEI and I am thankful for the opportunity,' he added.

UPEI's new case competition coach and former UPEI case competition student Mary Whitrow was thrilled with the team's achievement. 'I'm proud of the effort and eagerness the students demonstrated as they competed against some of the top students in Atlantic Canada,' she said. 'This finish is due to the team's hard work and commitment to excellence, and the much appreciated support from the School of Business.'

Krause also applauded the hard work and dedication by the students and their mentors that resulted in their overall success. 'I'm very happy that we are able to continue the tradition of our successful student case teams. It's always a great reward for the School of Business to see the accomplishments of our students, staff, and faculty when the teams demonstrate their acquired skills on a regional, national, or international level.'

UPEI congratulates Cody and Alex on their success!