Case analysis and competitions help students develop business sense and critical thinking skills. Through the process they discover real-world business issues for themselves and gain international exposure. The School of Business and Management at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School) has concluded this season’s case competitions by winning multiple international titles. This best ever performance is the result of the School’s continued effort to promote a case-study learning culture combined with an experience-sharing platform initiated by students.
In the first half of 2015, five undergraduate teams were chosen to participate in five international case competitions against peers from top business schools around the world. Three teams bagged trophies in the top three, including a team that came out on top at the Belgrade Business International Case Competition held in Serbia in March. The four-member team was tasked to prepare and present two separate cases on raising brand awareness for global companies. They outperformed 11 teams from top business schools including teams from the University of Pennsylvania, the National University of Singapore, and the University of British Columbia.
“Working closely as a team is our key to success”, said one of the teammates and a second-year undergraduate Hillary Juan. “We practiced many times and learned a lot of practical skills from the School. However, during the highly demanding competition we just had to trust our teammates and rely on each other to respond quickly to the challenges given.”
Another two HKUST teams shone respectively at the Scotiabank International Case Competition organized by the Ivey Business School, in Canada in March, and the International Case Competition organized by the Maastricht University, in the Netherlands in April. They both took home second runners-up positions.
As a young and energetic university, HKUST is known for its entrepreneurial and “can-do” spirit. A group of self-motivated students started a student-led Case Analysis Team (CAT) in 2014 with an aim to create a platform for students from different business programs and study years to share case competition experience. CAT gathers students with experience in case competitions, to share their knowledge and experience with current contenders in a structured approach.
“We train each other and arrange workshops by inviting alumni and faculty to share their advice on case analysis and business problem solving,” said Kenneth Chan, a head committee member of CAT and also one of the team members who won in the Netherlands.
Professor Emily Nason, Associate Dean, Director of Undergraduate Programs and Faculty Advisor of CAT, congratulated all participants and winning teams on their accomplishments. “Our curriculum is designed to prepare students to handle real world issues that they are going to face anywhere around the world in the future. Case competitions not only provide an excellent learning platform for students to learn how to solve real-life business challenges, but also an exceptional opportunity to learn from and compete with the brightest students around the world. The School will continue to work with CAT by engaging faculty and alumni to encourage, train and support students to participate and excel in case competitions both locally and overseas.”
Media Enquiry:
HKUST Business School
Mr John Poon
Tel: (852) 3469 2090
Email: johnpoon@ust.hk
