SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Business students from Saskatoon campus applied their critical thinking and problem-solving skills at the Western Canada Accounting Case Competition held at Bow Valley College (BVC) in Calgary this spring. This inaugural case competition, organized by BVC, brought together students from nine post-secondary institutions across three provinces.
Under the guidance of coaches Ryan Hamilton, Business program coordinator, and Rebecca McKee, Business instructor, students from Sask Polytech’s Business diploma and Business certificate programs utilized concepts from financial, managerial accounting, organizational behavior and business communication courses to make recommendations for a company’s management team to determine an accounting framework that supports exponential growth.
"This competition allowed our students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting," says Ryan Hamilton. "They were able to apply their theoretical knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by businesses in today's dynamic environment."
This case competition was also an opportunity for students to network and meet with peers from different polytechnics and colleges. Each program's unique delivery methods sparked discussions about individual learning journeys and fostered a sense of camaraderie.
To prepare for the competition, students engaged in practice case sessions that simulated the competition setting. Working through four sample Ivey cases, they honed their technical knowledge and refined their presentation skills.
Student Mridha Nazmul Ahasan shares, “This competition allowed me to show my capabilities to solve real life accounting problems and contribute as a strong team member. It was a proud moment to represent Sask Polytech in such a big event.”
Ezechukwu Agbalizu adds, “The accounting case competition was an opportunity to apply managerial and financial accounting principles to the real-world scenarios. For me, the experience sharpened my problem-solving skills through analytical thinking and time management. It was also an opportunity to showcase business initiatives through collaboration and teamwork.”
This was the first Western Canada Accounting Case Competition hosted by BVC. Sask Polytech students and faculty were very enthusiastic about participating in this competition and are looking forward to participating next year.
— Submitted by Saskatchewan Polytechnic
