What do you get when you take a group of high-achieving UTS students, give them a real world business problem to solve, and only 24 hours to do it in a creative, sustainable, and actionable way? The UTS Case Team.
UTS Case Team members for 2021, Jasmine Wong, Fahid Ifthekhar and Kate Macken.
UTS’ Case team competes in intensive problem solving challenges involving real life business problems.
The team recently achieved the incredible result of placing 2nd out of 85 teams at the 2021 Global Case Competition, hosted by Norwegian Business School. The teams were asked to come up with a creative and practical solution to world food inequality, in line with the UN Sustainability Development Goals, and present their case to a corporate judging panel, including representatives from the UN Food Systems Summit. Not only did they wow the judges, but they walked away with prize money of $4000 USD.
Only two years ago, UTS Business School’s Case Team were exploring the canals of Copenhagen. In 2020, like the rest of the world, they had to adapt to the new world of Zoom calls and digital connections.
“We definitely develop a great appreciation for what other people have to offer, and people’s different ways of thinking.” Jasmine Wong, President of the UTS Case Team
Travel restrictions have meant that the teams have had to virtually attend the global competitions, in locations such as Russia, Canada, and at Georgetown and Harvard universities in the United States.
Competing remotely has been an increased opportunity for a broad range of Business students to become involved in the Case Team, with members studying courses ranging from double degrees in Business and Creative Intelligence and Innovation, to the Bachelor of Accounting Co-Op Program.
Case Team President, Jasmine Wong, believes it’s the diversity of the Team’s members that helped catapult them to the top. “We definitely develop a great appreciation for what other people have to offer, and people’s different ways of thinking”
The weekly training sessions also provided a strong support network for the Team members during the uncertainty of the past year.
“We really became a tight-knit community during COVID”, says Jasmine.
Jasmine Wong, Fahid Ifthekhar and Kate Macken of the UTS Case Team, taking part virtually in the 2021 Global Case Competition.
Case Team member Fahid Ifthekhar credits his involvement in the team as helping to build a range of skills, including public speaking, critical thinking, and an appreciation for team work.
“It forces you to think creatively about real world business problems” notes Fahid.
But there’s no denying the students are keen for a return to face-to-face cases on an international scale. “Relationships formed at that student-level are very important for networking and cultural exchange, and also for inter-university relations” notes Michelle Cook, Course Director of the Bachelor of Accounting, and Coordinator of the UTS Case Team.
The Case Team will be recruiting for new members in a few weeks time for their 2021 intake, starting in the Spring session. For more information, check out their LinkedIn and Facebook.