Students from 16 of the world’s top international business schools have converged on UPEI for the 24^th Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) Worldwide Case Competition championship. Over a week of intense competition, students will draw on every ounce of skill, training and teamwork they have to prove they are the best of the best. This is the first time in the competition’s 24-year history that an institution in the Maritimes has been chosen as host.

NIBS is a worldwide association of business schools united by a belief in the importance of global perspective, cultural insight, and international experience in management education. Founded in 1993, the organization has more than 70 member institutions in over 30 countries.

“We’re delighted to be holding this year’s competition in Charlottetown, and grateful to the UPEI organizing team for making it possible,” said Hans van Oudheusden, president of NIBS. “It’s a testament to the excellence and international reach of the UPEI Faculty of Business. These students are some of the best and brightest anywhere in the world. The NIBS Case Competition gives them an opportunity to connect with their peers from other countries and see business from different perspectives. It’s a transformative experience that will connect them to PEI for the rest of their lives.”

Since 1996, a key component of the NIBS portfolio has been the Worldwide Case Competition. The process begins with a qualifying round, involving more than 30 top business schools from across Canada and around the world. Participants compete in teams of four—one team per school—and have eight hours to analyze a case and prepare a report with their recommendations.

UPEI’s Faculty of Business has enjoyed tremendous success over most of the last decade in case competitions around the world, including NIBS, punching well above its weight and drawing the attention of The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. This track record of success, wrote the Globe, “raised the profile of a business school that offers a four-year undergraduate business administration degree and an executive MBA program. The school has scored top-three finishes in at least four competitions a year over the past five years.”

The top 16 teams advance to the championship round, hosted this week at UPEI, where the winner is determined through a series of head-to-head matches. With as little as three hours between the time they receive their cases and the moment they present their solutions to expert judges, teams need every ounce of insight, training and teamwork they can muster. In each match, the deliverable is a 20-minute presentation, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.

A key element of the NIBS case competition is judging. While some competitions rely primarily on academics to evaluate the ideas and solutions proposed by students, NIBS also reaches out to senior managers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers who understand the realities of doing business. UPEI’s Faculty of Business has tapped its extensive network of alumni and industry mentors to ensure that teams are being judged by the best minds in Canadian business.

“We are very proud to be hosting this prestigious business competition as part of the celebrations for UPEI’s 50th anniversary,” said Jurgen Krause, dean of the Faculty of Business at UPEI. “It gives us the unique opportunity to showcase the excellent work being done at the Faculty of Business on the global stage. The success of this competition would not be possible without our NIBS organizing committee, chaired by Mary Whitrow, our devoted faculty and staff, and all the volunteers who are helping us ensure that the competition runs smoothly this week.”

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL SPACES FOR THIS PROJECT ARE NOW FILLED

A UPEI Faculty of Education research project is seeking children in grades 4 to 8 who need a little extra help with math, or simply enjoy doing math. Beginning March 5, students will be invited to a free, eight-week after-school program. In these one-hour sessions, students will have an opportunity to develop foundational skills in key areas which act as building blocks for higher-level math.

The program will begin with strategies for addition and subtraction and move onto multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals.

This after-school program is part of a UPEI Faculty of Education research project. Students will complete short pre- and post- assessments for each lesson and provide feedback on the different strategies used to teach mathematics.

For more information, or to sign up your child, contact Dr. Tess Miller at tsmiller@upei.ca. Please indicate your child’s grade level and ability as struggling, doing okay, or excelling. Parents will be emailed a letter of information describing the study and a letter of consent giving your child permission to participate.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

Every week, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes two student-athletes for their achievements and dedication to their respective sports. Congratulations to Jane McLaughlin and Milorad Sedlarevic, the UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for February 11 to 17!

Jane McLaughlin is a fifth-year nursing student from Fortune, PEI and a forward on the UPEI Women’s Basketball team. The Panthers won their final two home games of the season over the weekend, completing the first perfect home record for the women in 30 years. McLaughlin notched five points and four rebounds in 20 minutes of play on Saturday’s Senior Day win over Acadia University. “Jane had a great weekend for us, specifically helping pull us out of a tough stretch on Friday night with her shooting,” said coach Matt Gamblin. “In the bigger sense, Jane has had a great season and a exemplary career with the Panthers. I’m just happy to have been a small part of it in this, her final year of eligibility.”

Milorad Sedlarevic is a fifth-year business student from Jesenice, Slovenia and a forward on the UPEI Men’s Basketball team. The Panthers split a pair of games against Acadia University over the weekend to close the season. Sedlarevic had an outstanding game Saturday, putting up 25 points, shooting six for seven from the three-point line. He also pulled down a season-high eight rebounds. “On his final night as a Panther at home, in front of the home-town crowd, Mickey pulls off his best performance of the season in a must-win game against Acadia to keep the Panthers’ playoff hopes alive,” said coach Darrell Glenn. “Mickey is very deserving of high praise. He has an unbelievable work ethic and leads by example in that regard every day at practice.”

Go Panthers Go!

This year, Vagabond Productions takes its audience back to the Renaissance, but not for a visit with the familiar playwright you might expect. It isn’t very often directors and theatre troupes venture into the realm of the Renaissance without Shakespeare being involved in some respect. This year, however, Dr. Greg Doran and the cast and crew are presenting a show that has no known author.

Don’t mistake that for meaning there won’t be familiarity. The classic Renaissance comedic stylings and flowing iambic pentameter are still very much present and accounted for. Vagabond is looking to take this show and run with it in an over-the-top fashion so uproarious laughter will be an unavoidable pleasantry. If you liked The Princess Bride, you’ll love A Most Pleasant Comedy of Mucedorus.

If you would like to catch a classic, family-friendly Renaissance-style show you have never seen before, make sure to head over to the Faculty Lounge in the SDU Main Building at UPEI from March 12 to 16. Doors open at 7:00 pm for a 7:30 pm start. Admission is pay-what-you-can, but space is limited. There are no pre-sale tickets available.

For more information, contact Vagabond Productions at gdoran@upei.ca, (902) 566-6013, or through its Facebook page.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

The next presentation in the Island Studies Lecture Series will examine lessons in renewable energy from the island of Samsø, Denmark. Jocelyn Plourde will lecture on his Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) research on Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building. All are welcome.

“From Policy to Action” is a research project that delves into the link between public policy and the deployment of renewable energy systems. At the heart of the research is a case study of the Danish island community of Samsø. Also known as the “Renewable Energy Island”, Samsø transitioned away from fossil fuel energy sources to being 100 per cent carbon-neutral in only ten years. As part of his presentation, researcher Jocelyn Plourde will discuss the details of Samsø’s transition, the role of public policy in that transition, and the lessons that communities like Prince Edward Island can learn from Samsø’s example.

Jocelyn Plourde has lived in PEI for more than a decade. He lives in Charlottetown and teaches high school math and sciences at École La-Belle-Cloche in Rollo Bay. Plourde obtained his degrees in sciences and in education at the University of Ottawa. His thesis, titled “From Policy to Action–Renewable Energy in Samsø, Denmark,” was written as part of UPEI’s Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program, which he completed in June of 2018.

Admission to the lecture is free and everyone is welcome to attend. The next lecture is scheduled for April 16. For more information, please contact Laurie at iis@upei.ca or (902) 894-2881.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.