Case competition information

From gaining real-world experience to course credit, business competitions benefit students.

Every year, Athabasca University students represent the Faculty of Business at regional business competitions.

Any Faculty of Business undergraduate student, no matter where they are in their program, is eligible to apply.

For students, these events provide an opportunity to test and refine their practical skills in presenting a business case.

But you don't have to take our word for it.

We asked Feng and other former AU competitors why students should consider joining a student competition team.

1. Strengthen your teamwork and leadership skills

For case competitions, such as the Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition and the CPA Education Foundation Business Challenge, teams solve a business challenge for an organization and then present their strategies and solutions to judges.

Some firms even have case studies as a part of their interview process, so participating gives you a competitive edge in the job application process.

"It was a great learning experience and a great way to connect with other AU students and faculty. The knowledge gained from this process has been extremely beneficial," said Lexie Pullman, a member of AU's 2022 case competition team.

2. Earn course credit

Beyond the real-world experience that comes from competing, there are other benefits. Students may also be eligible to earn course credits through ADMN 499 (please consult with your student adviser first to determine if this credit is eligible for graduation credit).

"Everyone brings unique and valuable perspectives to the team. This is an experience that I'll value for years to come and have learned so much from," said Trudy Slaght, a member of AU's 2023 CPA and Alberta Deans of Competition case competition teams.

3. Cash Prizes

We participate in 2 case competitions each year. Both are held in March (dates to be confirmed). The CPA competition is in Calgary. There is a first prize of $10,000, a second prize of $5,000 and a third prize of $2,000, divided amongst the team. We are allowed two teams. The Alberta Deans of Business Competition is hosted by a different post-secondary institution each year. In 2026, it will be at SAIT. There is a first prize of $4,000, a second prize of $2,500 and a third prize of $1,500, divided amongst the team. We are allowed one team.

4. Get to know your peers and professors

Students selected to compete on an AU team are guided by expert coaches at every step. Team members attend bi-weekly online meetings led by Faculty of Business experts in preparation for the case competitions. The meetings begin in October; there is a Christmas break, followed by the in-person practice weekend in January, additional online cases, and then the in-person competitions in March.

"The dedicated team of faculty and advisors involved with the case competitions were excellent and committed to helping all of us grow as students, communicators, and team members," said Keith Pritchard, a member of the 2022 case competition team. "This is a significant undertaking, but well worth it for motivated individuals who want to challenge themselves to learn and improve."

5. Build your CV

Participating in case competitions allows you to include this experience on your CV. In the past, this has created discussion points in interviews, where students have secured a position.

There are also valuable lessons to gain in terms of critical thinking, time management, and teamwork. These are all highly employable skills that you can add to your resume.

Any active full or part-time undergraduate student in a Faculty of Business program residing in Canada is eligible to participate.

You will be required to fill out a Media Consent Form

The CPA Education Foundation Challenge

• The competition is held in Calgary every year.
• The case is based on a large company and is usually strategically and accounting oriented.
• Each University is allowed two teams of four. The competition is over three days.
• Each team has eight hours to respond to the case as presented to them by the hosts.
• The response takes the form of a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation and questions from the judges.
• There is a first prize of $10,000, a second prize of $5,000 and a third prize of $2,000, divided amongst the team.

The Alberta Deans of Business Competition

• The competition is hosted by a different post-secondary institution each year. In 2026, it will be at SAIT.
• The case is based on a small company and is usually strategically oriented.
• Each University is allowed one team of four. The competition is over three days.
• Each team has eight hours to respond to the case as presented to them by the hosts.
• The response takes the form of a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation and questions from the judges.
• There is a first prize of $4,000, a second prize of $2,500 and a third prize of $1,500, divided amongst the team.

You will meet with your team of four online, 8-10 times between October and the practice weekend in January. The online team meetings (which can last up to 90 minutes) are facilitated by the Case Competitions Lead, academic experts and former students.

In total, you can expect to spend 5-8 hours per week developing your case presentation with your team.

The following sample schedules from previous years will give you an idea of what will be required:

• 2019-2020 practice weekend draft schedule
• 2019-2020 CPA Business Challenge draft schedule
• 2019-2020 Alberta Deans of Business draft schedule

To apply, please submit a letter of application and your current curriculum vitae (CV).

Letter of application:

• registered name at AU and student number;
• tell us which competition you are interested in and why you are interested in the competition;

Current CV:

• registered name at AU and student number;
• include any work experience and
• educational qualifications.

Deadline

There is no deadline for the application; the sooner you apply, the sooner you can secure a place on a team.

Please email your completed letter of application and CV to Dr Aris Solomon.

Online

The day and time are agreed upon by mutual consent. Usually, a weekday around 6:00 pm MT.

Teams present their analysis of a case using PowerPoint. The teams have 10 minutes.

There will be questions, discussions, and analysis.

Practice Weekend

In January, an in-person weekend session will be in Edmonton.

Over the weekend, teams will present 2 case studies, and a workshop will be held.

See the 2019-2020 practice weekend draft schedule for more details. Teams will present another case in February, after which they will decide how many more case preparations they wish to do.

The Faculty of Business covers the cost of travel within Canada, food and accommodation. The University has defined limits on each. Before travelling, consult with Dr Aris Solomon.

The Faculty of Business also covers the cost of case studies and textbooks.

For full participation in the case study competition, you may register for ADMN 499 and receive 3 credits toward your degree. You will need to pay regular course fees. If you are interested in using your participation in the competition toward ADMN 499, please contact an AU-FB Program Advisor at the Student Support Centre to confirm if ADMN 499 can be used toward your certificate or degree.

Please note that you cannot receive course credit twice if you choose to reapply to join a team a second time.