UPEI hosts 2019 Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Worldwide Case Competition
Students from 16 of the world’s top international business schools have converged on UPEI for the 24th Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Worldwide Case Competition championship. Over a week of intense competition, students will draw on every ounce of skill, training and teamwork they have to prove they are the best of the best. This is the first time in the competition’s 24-year history that an institution in the Maritimes has been chosen as host.
NIBS is a worldwide association of business schools united by a belief in the importance of global perspective, cultural insight, and international experience in management education. Founded in 1993, the organization has more than 70 member institutions in over 30 countries.
“We’re delighted to be holding this year’s competition in Charlottetown, and grateful to the UPEI organizing team for making it possible,” said Hans van Oudheusden, president of NIBS. “It’s a testament to the excellence and international reach of the UPEI Faculty of Business. These students are some of the best and brightest anywhere in the world. The NIBS Case Competition gives them an opportunity to connect with their peers from other countries and see business from different perspectives. It’s a transformative experience that will connect them to PEI for the rest of their lives.”
Since 1996, a key component of the NIBS portfolio has been the Worldwide Case Competition. The process begins with a qualifying round, involving more than 30 top business schools from across Canada and around the world. Participants compete in teams of four—one team per school—and have eight hours to analyze a case and prepare a report with their recommendations.
UPEI’s Faculty of Business has enjoyed tremendous success over most of the last decade in case competitions around the world, including NIBS, punching well above its weight and drawing the attention of The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. This track record of success, wrote the Globe, “raised the profile of a business school that offers a four-year undergraduate business administration degree and an executive MBA program. The school has scored top-three finishes in at least four competitions a year over the past five years.”
The top 16 teams advance to the championship round, hosted this week at UPEI, where the winner is determined through a series of head-to-head matches. With as little as three hours between the time they receive their cases and the moment they present their solutions to expert judges, teams need every ounce of insight, training and teamwork they can muster. In each match, the deliverable is a 20-minute presentation, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.
A key element of the NIBS case competition is judging. While some competitions rely primarily on academics to evaluate the ideas and solutions proposed by students, NIBS also reaches out to senior managers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers who understand the realities of doing business. UPEI’s Faculty of Business has tapped its extensive network of alumni and industry mentors to ensure that teams are being judged by the best minds in Canadian business.
“We are very proud to be hosting this prestigious business competition as part of the celebrations for UPEI’s 50th anniversary,” said Jurgen Krause, dean of the Faculty of Business at UPEI. “It gives us the unique opportunity to showcase the excellent work being done at the Faculty of Business on the global stage. The success of this competition would not be possible without our NIBS organizing committee, chaired by Mary Whitrow, our devoted faculty and staff, and all the volunteers who are helping us ensure that the competition runs smoothly this week.”
The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.
