Case competition information

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

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

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

Check out five more reasons you should consider participating in case competitions at AU!

1. Strengthen your teamwork and leadership skill

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

2. Earn course credit

Beyond the real-world experience that comes from competing, there are other benefits. Students may be eligible to earn course credits through ADMN 499 or ACCT 499. Please consult with your student advisor first to determine eligibility.

3. You could win cash prizes!

AU participates in two case competitions each spring. For the CPA Education Foundation Challenge, there is a first prize of $10,000, a second prize of $5,000 and a third prize of $2,000, divided among team members.

The Alberta Deans of Business Competition is hosted by a different post-secondary institution each year. There is a first prize of $4,000, a second prize of $2,500 and a third prize of $1,500, divided among the team members.

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. The meetings begin in October followed by an in-person practice weekend in January, additional online cases, and the in-person competitions in March.

Case competitions are typically held in-person in Canada. AU covers the cost of travel within Canada, food and accommodation. The Faculty of Business also covers the cost of case studies and textbooks.

5. Build your CV

Participating in case competitions looks great on your CV. In the past, being able to talk about their competition experience in interviews has helped students land jobs.

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 Edmonton or 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 8 hours to respond to the case as presented 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 2027, it will be jointly hosted by NAIT and King’s College, both located in Edmonton.
• The case is based on a small company and is typically strategic in focus.
• Each University is allowed one team of four. The competition is over three days.
• Each team has 8 hours to respond to the case as presented 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:

• Example Practice Weekend Schedule
• Example CPA Schedule
• Example Alberta Deans 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 for the first two cases, then 15 minutes for the CPA and 10 for the Alberta Deans for the remaining cases.

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 sample Practice Weekend 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 or ACCT 499 (if open) 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 or ACCT 499, please contact an AU-FB Program Advisor at the AU Service Centre to confirm if ADMN 499 or ACCT 499 can be used toward your certificate or degree.

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