VIU Students Competing in Canada's MBA Games Jan. 2-4

The countdown is on for 30 Vancouver Island University (VIU) students who are preparing to compete in Canada’s MBA Games Jan. 2 through 4 in Hamilton, Ontario.

The group of pre-MBA (Master of Business Administration) and MBA students have been preparing for the competition since September, including fundraising to meet their goal of $40,000 to cover costs for travel to the event. Fundraisers on campus and in the community have also raised $1,000 to support the MBA Games 2015’s chosen charity – Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada.

“Our goal is to raise $10,000 more for charity,” says Omar Karim, captain of “Team VIU” attending the Games.

Team VIU will compete in three categories at the MBA Games: an academic competition based on development of the best solutions to business cases in finance, marketing, human resources and strategy; an athletic competition involving basketball, inner tube water polo, volleyball and dodgeball; and a “spirit” competition that includes teams’ charity fundraising along with their demonstrated teamwork, collaboration and school spirit.

“What we’re doing with the Games is demonstrating our theme of passion, inspiration and community,” says Karim. “What we’ve noticed is it’s really brought the community of our MBA program together – it’s given us a focus.”

Paul Kurucz, an instructor in VIU’s Faculty of Management, has been mentoring the MBA Games team this semester, along with Brock Dykeman, director of the MBA program.

Kurucz points to the group’s diversity – team members are from nine different countries – as a point of strength and advantage in not only the competition, but also in completing the MBA program together.

“What makes the group particularly cohesive is their sense of openness to working together,” he says. “The diversity of the team is their strength, and they are building a strong foundation of trust through open communication and honesty.”

The 2015 MBA Games mark the first full team of competitors attending to represent VIU and the Nanaimo region.

Competing against MBA programs from across the country, VIU Team MBA has worked hard to not only fundraise, but also to raise awareness about the high caliber of students from all over the world who study in VIU’s MBA program, says Kane Lillywhite, the team member responsible for strategy.

“We’ve had lots of enthusiasm and support for the team from everyone in the MBA program, from faculty, and students across VIU,” he adds.

Kurucz, who will be attending the Games along with Dykeman to support the VIU team, says the benefits of entering the national competition will continue into the 15-months of hard work ahead for MBA students as they complete their graduate degrees.

“Their initiative, planning, ability to make things happen quickly, and their respect for one another strengthen our commitment as educators to them and their journey at VIU.”

If Team VIU wins at the Games, they will return with the Queen’s Cup and the opportunity to host the 2016 MBA Games in Nanaimo.

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More Information:
For more information on Team VIU MBA, see www.viumbagames.com
For more information on MBA Games 2015, see www.mbagames.ca
For more information on VIU’s Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in International Business, see https://www2.viu.ca/mba

Media Contact: 

Shari Bishop Bowes, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University

P:250.740.6443  C: 250.618.1535 E: Communications@viu.ca