Starting during the 2024 fall semester, CALS will be hosting Case Competitions for undergraduates. Sponsored by the Renk Agribusiness Institute, these activities will allow for teams of CALS undergraduate students from different majors to work together on a real-world scenario created by a company or organization partner.
Stay tuned for more information on competitions this spring semester!
What is a case competition?
- A case competition is simply an academic competition in which students come together to solve a real-world scenario that is presented by a company or organization partner.
- This learning process, known as the case method, imitates or simulates a real-world situation by describing a significant issue and includes sufficient information in order to reach a conclusion.
- Students utilize their teamwork, critical thinking, analysis, and organizational skills to deduce recommendations that they support through a presentation provided to a panel of judges from the partner company or organization.
Why should students participate in a CALS Case Competition?
- Develop your teamwork, leadership, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, analytical, and presentation skills!
- Strengthen your resume and reference your experience during interviews!
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary team while applying concepts from your individual courses!
- Understand industry challenges and learn how academic work transfers to a business environment!
- Interact with professionals who are recruiting students for internships and full-time positions!
- Compete for prizes through a fun experiential learning activity!
Who is eligible to participate?
- All CALS undergraduate students are eligible to apply and potentially participate, pending the total number and quality of applications received.
- The application form will collect basic information from students, and the criteria used for selection include the following:
- A brief personal statement describing one’s background, experience, and/or interest in participating in the specific competition
- A commitment of time and effort over the time period, and the availability to attend the final presentation
- A priority on specific CALS majors identified by the employer partner
What is the format of a CALS Case Competition?
- Students will apply individually (see eligibility section above) and those selected to participate will be assigned to a team with a total of 4-5 members. A maximum of 5 teams will be allowed to participate in each competition.
- After all team members have been notified, the case scenario and grading rubric (including details on how teams will be evaluated) will be emailed to all participants.
- Teams will then be given 2 weeks to develop a 15-minute (maximum) PowerPoint presentation that addresses the challenge(s) identified in the case scenario and includes their specific recommendations supported with appropriate evidence.
- Presentations will be given to a panel of 2-3 judges from the employer partner who will evaluate and score each team’s presentation. Presentation order will be randomized. Immediately following each team’s presentation, the panel of judges will be allowed 10 minutes (maximum) of Q&A with the team members to create a meaningful dialogue through follow-up comments and questions.
- Teams will only be allowed to view other teams’ presentation and Q&A once their presentation and Q&A has been completed, and are not allowed to ask questions of other teams.
- Following the conclusion of the final team’s presentation and Q&A, scores will be totaled and the final placing of teams will be announced along with the awarding of prizes. A reception for all competing team members and employer partners will follow.
Questions?
- Email Jeremy Beach at jpbeach@wisc.edu