From gaining hands-on experience to earning course credit, business competitions have real-world applications for students
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.
These events offer students a chance to test and improve practical skills in analyzing and presenting a business case. There are also valuable lessons to gain in critical thinking, time management, delivering concise presentations, and teamwork. These are all highly employable skills that help inform a strong resume.
Angel Kassem, 2026-27 case competition coach and member of AU's 2023 CPA and Alberta Deans case competition teams, credits the case competitions for giving her the skills needed to advance her career.
Working as an accounting analyst, Kassem found the case competitions extremely helpful in applying what she was learning in her courses to real life—with real business dilemmas and situations.
While the courses and competition are a time commitment, “honestly, the learning is worth it. I loved it,” she said.
So much so that she’s back again to coach this year’s cohort of students. “I love seeing the teams gain new skills. From when they first start, watching them learn more about each other, discover each other's skills and strengths and assign parts of the analysis to every person based on their skills and experience, and seeing them grow and learn and improve—it's very valuable and impactful.”
Need more convincing? Check out five more reasons why current competition coaches and former competitors suggest joining a team.
1. Strengthen your teamwork and leadership skills
For case competitions, such as the Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition and CPA Education Foundation Business Challenge, teams work together to solve a business challenge from an organization and then present strategies and solutions to judges.
"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 be eligible to earn course credits through ADMN 499 or ACCT 499. Please consult with your student advisor first to determine eligibility.
Trudy Slaght, 2026-27 case competition coach and member of AU's 2023 CPA and Alberta Deans case competition teams said participants come away with a great experience. "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," she added.
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.
Keith Pritchard, a member of the 2022 case competition team, said the faculty and advisors who helped "were excellent and committed to helping all of us grow as students, communicators, and team members. This is a significant undertaking, but well worth it for motivated individuals who want to challenge themselves to learn and improve."
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.
Kassem said the lessons learned in competition help people grow their careers. “These are new skills that you’ll learn that you can take to apply to your job or apply for better positions,” she said.
“These are not like fictitious case studies. It's actual business examples. Even though you're not really interacting with the business itself, you still somehow feel like you're contributing to help a real business problem come up with solutions that you can apply to your job or use when applying for better positions.”
Applying is easy
To apply, email your completed letter of application and CV to Dr. Aris Solomon: ariss@athabascau.ca.
If you're not sure how to craft a CV, check out the AU Faculty of Business student competition page, pick the competition you're interested in, and follow the instructions.