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Case competitions at Telfer

Case competitions offer a platform for you to apply classroom learning to real-world business challenges. Participants form teams analyze a business scenario, develop a strategy and pitch their ideas to a panel of industry experts. Competitions enhance problem-solving skills, foster teamwork and provide an opportunity to network with industry professionals.

Case competitions in numbers

+2,000

students participating

+250

coaches and judges

+30

case competitions

Benefits of case competitions

Enhance key business skills including analytical thinking, strategic problem-solving, effective communication and teamwork when you participate in a case competition. Gain practical experience by applying theoretical knowledge to real business challenges. Set yourself apart for future career opportunities with the skills you build from practice to presentation.

Connect with peers, industry leaders and potential employers. Networking can lead to mentorships, internships, life-long friendships and job opportunities. Succeeding in case competitions can pave the way to exciting job offers and unique career pathways.

Engage in case competitions to immerse yourself in real-world business challenges, mirroring the intensity and dynamics of professional environments. These experiences will sharpen your essential skills, such as analytical reasoning, clear communication, and effective teamwork. Moreover, they will instill resilience, guiding you through both victories and setbacks with grace and determination. All of this takes place in a vibrant, supportive setting that combines educational advancement with the excitement of competition.

Case competitions provide an opportunity for students to be immersed in situations that mirror life in the business world: analysis under pressure, communication, teamwork and, especially, handling success and failure with grace and grit. All of this in a safe, supportive, and fun environment.

— Stéphane Brutus Dean of the Telfer
School of Management

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Participate in case competitions

Internal competitions

The Telfer School of Management hosts four internal case competitions annually.

The challenges let you show your abilities and engage in a dynamic learning experience, while also connecting with classmates, alumni and the greater Telfer community. Our key internal case competitions include:

Facilitated by our very own Telfer Competitions Committee student club, the Telfer Internal Case Competition replicates the case competition experience, helping you prepare for future competitions.

Teams of three students analyse a business case and develop a creative solution. Solutions are then presented to a panel of judges, usually comprised of industry experts.

Discover the Telfer Internal Case Competition

The Koppel Cup is a one-of-a-kind learning journey that provides a platform for more than 1,000 students in their first semester as Bachelor of Commerce students to delve into a Canadian company and propose innovative solutions to a business challenge. This competition is a pivotal part of each student’s grade in their “Introduction to Business Management” course. The top-performing student teams showcase their ideas to a panel of judges for a chance at winning cash prizes.

As a third year BCom student, you compete in the TelferINTL Case Competition. You tackle global business issues and showcase your solutions to experts. Enhance your critical thinking and foster team collaboration, while competing for prizes as part of a graded deliverable in ADM 3318 International Business.

DISCOVER THE TelferINTL Case Competition

External competitions

As a student, you can participate in various case competitions across the country. Some of these competitions include:

The Jeux du Commerce (JDC) is Eastern Canada's largest case competition, designed for undergraduate business school students. It features numerous competition categories including: academics, social, sports, participation and contribution. Apply in the spring to compete the following year.

Jeux du Commerce Central (JDCC) is an annual competition tailored to undergraduate business school students in Central Canada. It features academic cases, parliamentary-style debates, sports tournaments, social competitions and charity contributions across business disciplines.

Happening Marketing is a leading interuniversity marketing competition in Eastern Canada. It features numerous categories including quizzes, social issues, sports and various marketing case study types such as B2B, experiential, digital and strategy.

The Financial Open is a premier academic competition in finance and accountancy in Eastern Canada. With over 350 participants from multiple RÉFAEC (Regroupement étudiant des facultés d’administration de l’Est du Canada) universities, its goal is to foster interest in careers in finance and accounting while offering you a platform to engage with industry leaders.

Enactus is a global organization that empowers student entrepreneurs to compete in impact challenges and social entrepreneurship competitions. Through Enactus uOttawa, you can run real initiatives, inspiring excellence and innovation while making an impact in the community.

John Molson School of Business Sustainability Challenge
Maple Leafs Sport & Entertainment Global Partnerships Case Competition
Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) Case Competition
Haskayne School of Business's Digital Innovation Challenge Case Competition
CFA Research Challenge

Battle on Bay Case Competition
Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investment Challenge
Rotman International Trading Competition
McGill Desautels Business Ethics Case Competition

Students are able to identify and apply to participate in competitions that enhance their classroom learning and support our core Pillars and academic programs.

If you’ve found an external competition you’d like to compete in on behalf of Telfer, we want to hear from you. Funding, training and coaching may be available.

To apply for funding to let you or your team participate in a case competition, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Case competition preparation courses

Two women sit at a judge's table at a case competition, conversing while participants sit behind them.

ADM 3993 Case study analysis and presentation (3 units)

Develop strategic perspective and contribute to the understanding and integration of business activities by introducing new analytical tools and enabling the development of communication skills through a case study approach. Prepares students to participate in case competitions and operate in high performance organizations by simulating executive level analysis and presentations. Case study topics combine the various business issues of small and large enterprises (strategic direction, growth, human resources, financial issues, international business, entrepreneurship).

Course component: Lecture

Prerequisites: All administration (ADM) core courses at 1000 and 2000 levels.

A man and a woman in a conference room actively discuss a case in a group.

ADM 3994 Preparation and participation to business cases I (3 units)

Preparation and participation for a case competition. Analysis of a variety of business cases. Training in topics that are specific to the case competition. Admission is restricted and selection is made by a committee and/or the professor who will coach the case team.

Course component: Theory and laboratory

Prerequisites: The course ADM 3993 is corequisite to ADM3994. Reserved for students enrolled in third or fourth year having maintained a CGPA of at least 6.0 and completed all 1000 and 2000 level core courses in administration (ADM) of their option.

Two young professionals present at a case competition in front of a Telfer backdrop.

ADM 4994 Preparation and participation to business cases II (3 units)

Preparation and participation for a case competition. Analysis of a variety of business cases. Training in topics that are specific to the case competition.

Course component: Tutorial

Prerequisite: ADM 3994. Admission is restricted and selection is made by a committee and/or the professor who will coach the case team.

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Thank you sponsors, judges and volunteers

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, judges and volunteers for generously dedicating their time and expertise to support students in succeeding at case competitions. Your commitment plays a key role in shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.

Experiential learning through case competition participation is an incredible way for students to apply learning, get themselves out of their comfort zone and closer to what they’ll experience in the world of work. Based on what I see and what students tell me, they’re also a lot of fun!

— Stephen Daze Head Coach,
case competitions

Results

Jeux du Commerce (JDC)

1st Place: Finance
3rd Place: Accounting, MIS/OIS

Jeux Du Commerce Central (JDCC)

1st Place: Marketing, Pickleball, All Star Cup
2nd Place: International Business, Volleyball
3rd Place: Participation
MVP Award

Happening Marketing (HM)

1st Place: Surprise Case
3rd Place: General
Coup de Coeur - Contribution

Omnium Financier/Financial Open

1st Place: Stock Simulation
2nd Place: Corporate Finance
3rd Place: Surprise Case
4th Place: Quiz
Delegate of the Year award

McGill Desautels Business Ethics Case Competition

3rd place overall

Enactus Canada

Regionals:
1st place: Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Challenge, Innovation and Impact Challenge
2nd place: Desjardins Youth Empowerment Challenge, TD Entrepreneurship Challenge

Nationals:

Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Challenge
National Champion – University of Ottawa

Collaboration Award – University of Ottawa & University of Saskatchewan

ENGCOMM

Best Speaker Award - Sumayya Kheireddine

JMSB Sustainability

Finalists