The Final Rounds of The Spring 2017 Universal Case Competition

The Top Speakers

Another semester of successful completion of the Universal Case Competition. The Organizing Committee, comprising of three students in different roles, of this semester's Universal Case Competition did an excellent job of managing the event from start to finish. They also had eleven FIC student volunteers to help them with the running of the day to day activities. Initially, the Case Competition attracted thirteen teams but due to concerns with assignments, exams and other student commitments, only nine teams confirm participation.

Team Innovation

Of these nine teams, all were invited to compete in the final rounds of the competition which was held earlier today in SFU's Discovery 1. The Case Competition rules and format were still the same as previous semester's competition. The only change that was visible, was the change in the officials of the competition. Two of the four officials were alumnus of FIC and SFU. And they were the former students in the PreMaster Business Program.

Spring 2017 UCC Volunteers

This semester's competition went really well. The first presentations started on time at approximately nine o'clock in the morning. By the time all the participants had completed their second presentation, it was already past noon. The judges took about twenty minutes to deliberate on the final results and decided on the three competition winners. They also named three best speakers from among all the competition presenters.

Former FIC Student Wins The Coast Capital Savings Venture Prize Awards

One of the entrepreneur team that won the recently concluded, Coast Capital Savings Venture Prize has a team member that is a FIC alumni. The Frontrvnners, who won the small business category is a start up designer apparel company comprises of three young business entrepreneurs from the Beedie School of Business. The venture competition attracted about thirty teams from amongst students, faculty, staff and alumnus of Simon Fraser University.

Team Frontrvnners

Included among the teams that participated were restauranteurs, sports promoters, high school sports programers, biomedical engineers and special interest groups. I was invited to join the panel of judges for the final rounds presentations this semester in SFU Surrey. I heard all the final round pitches and helped to select the winning teams. In fact there were at least four FIC alumnus involved in the team presentations, of which I recognized.

Valentines Day in Fraser International College

Valentines' Day in FIC

Students, staff and faculty of Fraser International College were invited to gather in the atrium of Discovery 1 to celebrate Valentines' Day during the noon break time. There were poem writing, badge making, meeting with friends, and some light refreshments. The activities were mainly focusing on building goodwill and friendship among the members of this community. Everyone managed to walk away with some fond memories.

Making Friends

I was there with the students for about ten minutes. In fact I went up to my classroom and invited the students seating in my classroom waiting for the class to start, to come down to the activity. There were about fifty students from my rough estimate, joining in the Valentines' Day event. And it was really good see students taking the time off to relax and have fun. There were certainly many happy faces. Events like these, although small but can be impactful.

Model United Nation in Fraser International College

Delegates Representing Ukraine

I attended the final session of the Spring 2017 Model United Nations in Fraser International College earlier today. This is a model meeting of the United Nations heads of governments that is organized in Fraser International College by a committee of student alumnus. This semester, there were no less than twelve teams competing for the various awards. Each team comprises of two members representing a selected country. And these representatives are delegates to the country they represent in the session.

Model United Nations in Session

The Model United Nations sessions started off with the ten minutes presentations by delegates of each country, presenting their views and points on the motion of role of The United Nations as a peace keeper. It took slightly more than two hours for each of the country's delegates to present their country's stand on the role of The United Nations before a recess was called. And when the meeting was called to order again, it was for the debate session.

Spring 2017 Model United Nations

I have been attending the Model United Nations in Fraser International College since the program started and over the years seen a vast improvement in number of participants, quality of presentations and the intensity of the debates. And this morning was nothing short of excitement and intensity. There were students going at each other and can't wait their turns to speak. Everyone of the delegate just wanted to be heard. This is a very good sign of student participation and wanting to make a difference.

BUS216 Completing Week 5 into the Spring 2017 Semester

BUS216 Group Discussion Session

This new business course that I am teaching this semester is already into the sixth week. The students have had completed five quizzes, two major component of the course, and the other group project assignment just started. The first few weeks was tough for most of the students but they slowly got adjusted with the pace of work in the class. I have scheduled the weekly lessons in such a way that they are equally spread out in the full thirteen weeks.

Team Discussion

With this new business course, my work load seems to be much more as I also provided out of class support during my office hours. I have been filling up with appointments during the past few weeks in my office hours. Normally, I will be busier during midterms and final exams or around those times. A part from my business students, I have another group of students that will seek my support with their extra curricular activities.

FIC Spring 2017 Universal Case Competition

One of the Participating Teams

The first rounds of the Universal Case Competitions concluded today with thirteen teams taking part viewing for the the eight spots available in the final rounds. We have extended invitations to six FIC alumnus to participate as coaches as well. All the coaches were assigned to two teams each and each coach will recommend one of their charges to proceed to the final rounds. The organizing committee will pick the other two teams to join the six coaches' choice in the finals.

Leonid from Kazakhstan

This semester's competition saw an increase in participating teams, comparing to the same semester last year. We initially planned the first rounds over three consecutive days of competition but the snowstorm that hit the campus caused the campus authorities to shut down the campus for half a day from noon on Wednesday. So, that day of competition had to be postponed. Quickly, the organizing committee combined the teams presenting on Wednesday to Thursday.

Felix from China

The first round case topic for this semester was "Discovering Alternative Energy Source for The Future Consumption of a Over Populated World". Just like in the previous semesters' competition, the participants stepped up to the occasion. Some of the teams' presentation quality was really beyond that of first year university students. With the first round concluded, the finalist teams will receive a new topic and have one week to prepare for the final rounds.

Snow Day Campus Closure

At the Start of the Snowstorm

We have been hit by a snowstorm so bad that causes the SFU authorities to close the campus from 2.30pm onwards. The road conditions were bad enough to cause the campus closure. Even the buses stopped operating and many students were stranded on the campus. The bus service may operate again at a later time depending on road conditions. I was still in class when instructed to allow students to go home before getting stranded.

An hour later in the Snowstorm

The only other time the SFU campus was closed was during last semester's exam period. Also due to bad road conditions from snowstorm. This winter season has seen the most campus closure in a very long time. Bad road conditions are not seen only on the Burnaby mountain but in many parts of British Columbia's lower mainland. Even the SFU Surrey campus was closed due to bad road conditions.

Spring 2017 Progressing Well

Individual Presentation

The Spring 2017 semester is progressing well into the fourth week of classes. I am teaching the newly introduced BUS216 Essentials of Business Communication course this semester. In the BUS216 course, we are already in the second quarter of the course with individual presentations just started last week, and at the final phase of executive summary, a business writing component in the course. Students in the BUS216 course have also been introduced to their respective teams in preparation for the team project.

Team Discussion

As for the FIC Instructor Mentorship Program, I have been assigned with thirty three students this semester which I have yet to meet them all. But, last week I had the opportunity to meet with some of the students that have accepted my invitation to meet up during my office hours. This mentorship program help students to discover alternative plans to accomplish their career goals and aspirations. The program presents a unique opportunity for the students to tap on the experiences and expertise of the different instructor mentors.

Team Project

I have also conducted the first two of the Moodle Learning Session for Instructors. And in between the Mentorship Program, Moodle Learning Sessions, and my assigned sections, the UCC Case Competition is progressing well into the third stage. On top of all these, I am involved with the Royal Canadian Air Cadet League of Canada, in their Effective Speaking Program as a volunteer facilitator. This program has just started about two weeks ago.