Faculty of Management

In January, the Faculty of Management was proud to send another contingent of sharp and ambitious students to the annual JDC West case competition, held this year at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

The students competed in several competitive categories, taking second-place honours in Accounting and third in Entrepreneurship.

Team member Robert Alston found the experience exceeded his expectations.

"My feedback is all positive - JDC West was better than I expected," said Alston. "I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was truly an academic competition...the prestige of placing was definitely important to all teams, sponsors, and recruiters alike."

Dean of Management Robert Ellis applauded the efforts of the team.

"The Faculty of Management is proud of the successes of our students." said Ellis. "This year’s team represented us well and I would like to offer congratulations on their second- and third-place finishes.”

Team member Megan Tiffin, who competed in the Accounting category, experienced an extra level of challenge when one of her group members was unable to participate due to illness.

"The accounting team was shorthanded by one member; we were the only team out of 12 to complete with two people rather than three," said Tiffin.

Despite the setback, this year the U of L placed in the top three in accounting for the first time, and Tiffin was enthusiastic about the event overall.

"The competition was a very fulfilling experience. I was approached by a representative of EMCO (one of JDC's main sponsors this year) who asked me to consider them as an employer once I graduate."

Alston shared some additional observations and advice regarding the competition.

"Lots of job opportunities have arisen from JDC. If there is anything I can pass on to the U of L for next year, it is that...any student that wants to advance in their field should participate." Added Alston, "The Networking alone makes it all worth it. Many companies are there looking for talent if you are willing to approach them."

JDC West is the largest student-run business case competition in Western Canada. It is a three-day event showcasing student achievement in academics, athletics and corporate social responsibility.

For more information about JDC West at the U of L, please visit the JDC webpage.