Business students from across the region put their skills to the test on campus tackling real-world challenge
Regional high schools converged on University of Niagara Falls Canada’s downtown campus recently for an immersive case competition that challenged students to think like strategic consultants for an artificial intelligence company facing a dilemma.
Organized by faculty from the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (HBBA) program, along with the domestic recruitment team, the event saw more than 50 high school students step into the role of advisors to a fictional CEO of an AI firm, weighing three proposed strategic directions, and making the case for the best path forward. More than a dozen teams from five Niagara high schools presented their recommendations before a panel of judges in a format modelled on real-world business practice.
A learning experience beyond the classroom
For Jennifer Guglielmi, a business teacher at Notre Dame College School in Welland, bringing her Grade 9 and 10 students to the competition was an opportunity for them to bridge what they’re learning in the classroom with genuine experience.
“They get a little bit of experience, try something new and practice their problem solving,” she said. “It gets them out of the classroom and out of their comfort zones to do something different.”
The competition required student teams to collaborate under pressure and communicate a coherent strategic argument to a live audience. This marked the second year A.N. Myer Secondary School participated, business studies teacher Mark Walker said the students enjoy the opportunity to do something different and socialize with students from different schools in the process.
Walker said they’ve been trying to incorporate more case studies into their senior credits to better prepare students for post-secondary studies.
“We realize that’s how a lot of (business) studies are being evaluated now, it’s not just assignments and exams now, but case study application so we’re trying to give them that experience in high school,” he said. “Which is another reason why this is awesome to be able to come here, it’s more practice and exposure to that type of learning.”
Navigating the AI landscape
The case itself reflected the kind of complex, fast-moving decisions that today’s business leaders face. With artificial intelligence reshaping industries across Canada, students were asked to analyze competing strategic plans and defend their recommendations with evidence and reasoning.
“It’s very relevant because AI is such a prominent issue right now,” said Lucas Sacco, a Grade 11 student from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in St. Catharines. “When we go into this field, we’ll be experiencing issues like this with AI. Because it’s such an evolving issue in today’s world, I think it’s very relevant to the day and age that we’re in.”
Sacco said he sprung at the opportunity to participate in the competition when it was offered to his business class so he could gain real-world experience.
“This is obviously for fun, it’s a competition, but it’s the type of scenario you’ll see when you go into a business field. This team premise, where you’re working together and cooperating to present to somebody who’s going to judge your ideas, it’s very real-world grounded so I think it’s a good experience for that.”
For many participants, it was their first experience working through a business problem of this scale and presenting the solution publicly. Others, like Ella Rosco, also from Sir Winston, have participated in similar exercises in class. The Grade 11 student said the details helped to set this one apart.
“I like all of the different exhibits and how it was broken up into parts,” she said. “I like how we get to tackle it as a team.”
Building the pipeline for future business leaders
For the university, the competition is part of a broader commitment to engaging the next generation of business thinkers in the region.
“Through this competition, we invite high school students to engage with the HBBA program’s distinctive case-based teaching approach. This pedagogy lies at the core of our academic model, bringing real-world business challenges into the learning environment and immersing students in structured, decision-driven scenarios,” said Professor Kirti Khanzode, Associate Dean of the HBBA program.
Faculty from the program developed the case and provided guidance to students throughout the competition, reflecting a hands-on investment in experiential learning that extends beyond their own student body.
“In these settings, students are expected to think critically. They evaluate competing alternatives and then have to defend their decisions before a panel of judges,” Khanzode said. “This form of experiential learning not only deepens conceptual understanding but, more importantly, cultivates the judgment and problem-solving capabilities essential for success in today’s complex business landscape.”
The competition drew participants from Notre Dame College School, DSBN Academy, Sir Winston Church Secondary School, Laura Secord Secondary School, and A.N. Myer Secondary School, representing a strong cross-section of emerging business talent from across the region. The winning team from Sir Winston Churchill earned the top prize, returning to their school with a trophy and bragging rights.
UNF’s HBBA is a four-year honours degree that builds a strong business foundation for students and hones the digital skills needed in today’s business landscape. There are intakes in late September and January, and prospective students can apply directly at unfc.ca.
