UPEI shines as host of the 2019 Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Worldwide Case Competition
Students from 16 of the world’s top international business schools converged on UPEI for the 24th Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Worldwide Case Competition championship. Over a week of intense competition, students drew on every ounce of skill, training, and teamwork they had to prove they are the best of the best.
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.
Following a qualifying round that took place in November 2018, the top 16 teams advanced to the championship round last week at UPEI. Teams competed in a series of head-to-head matches, with as little as three hours between the time they received their cases and the moment they presented their solutions to expert judges.
“The 2019 Championship Round of the NIBS worldwide case competition provided us with the opportunity to showcase the UPEI Faculty of Business, the City of Charlottetown, and the Province of Prince Edward Island to over 80 students and team coaches from nine different countries,” said Dr. Jurgen Krause, dean of the Faculty of Business at UPEI. “The week-long event opened with a welcome by the Honourable Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island, included a tour of the Island, and closed with a gala reception at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. NIBS 2019 was a resounding success, and the competitors, their coaches, and other attendees were full of praise for the event organizers here at UPEI, our guest judges, and the overall event program. It is not surprising, then, that many of them want to return to experience what PEI has to offer in the summer!”
The success of the week was thanks in no small part to Mary Whitrow, Case Competitions Program Coordinator at UPEI. Whitrow was honoured with the NIBS Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution as organizer of the 24th NIBS competition.
“Hosting NIBS was an amazing experience for all involved,” said Whitrow. “The organizing committee and volunteers put their heart and soul into this event and made it memorable for everyone attending. The sense of community created and fostered at each NIBS competition is truly special. Thank you to the NIBS board for their encouragement and guidance in this process. We are honoured to have hosted this once-in-a-lifetime event with their support."
UPEI’s NIBS team, made up of Faculty of Business students Hani Mayaleh, Taylor Meek, Alec Brown, and Olivia Lantz, gave a spectacular effort, but the championship this time around went to worthy competitors from the University of Guelph-Humber.
“NIBS was my biggest academic challenge in my university years, as well as the most valuable experiential learning experience so far,” said Lantz, a fourth-year student from Charlottetown.
“NIBS was a tough and fun experience all at the same time,” said Brown, a Charlottetown native in his fourth year of the BBA (Accounting) program. “The week was filled with hours of analyzing cases and preparing presentations, as well as meeting and eating with others from around the world.”
“NIBS was perhaps the most challenging week of my university career, but also the most rewarding in terms of the international friendships that were made and the learning experiences,” said Hani Mayaleh, a native of Syria currently in his third-year of the BBA program, specializing in Finance and Accounting.
“I am beyond grateful for my experience at NIBS!” said Taylor Meek, a fourth-year BBA student from Charlottetown, specializing in Accounting. “The opportunity to network at an international level and compete against the best resulted in an unforgettable 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.
