Victoria University (VU) Business Challenge

On 2nd July 2016, the annual Victoria University (VU) Business Challenge was held in Sunway College. Running for the 4th consecutive year, this event is designed to test students’ intellect, logic, problem-solving and entrepreneurship skills. The Sunway Marketing Department, VU staff and student helpers from Victoria University Business Club (VUBC) and Sunway CPA Australia Student Charter (SCSC) comprised the organizing team to ensure that the competition ran smoothly.

Ms. Greeja De Silva, Director, VU Undergraduate Programme, commenced the event with her welcome address and briefing on rules and regulations. The response from the Chinese Independent Schools this year, according to her was beyong expectation as the number of participating teams had almost doubled. The competition started off with booth presentations by 20 shorlisted semi-finalist teams from the various High Schools. The teams were required to showcase their business ideas within 3 to 5 minutes, to a panel of semifinalist jidges, three experienced lecturers from VU at Sunway Campus, namely Ms. Kalanithi Muthu, Mr. Sunil K. Sajnani and Pn. Haslinda Mohd. Yunus.

The top 8 finalist teams then moved into the final round of the VU Business Challenge, whereby they were required to present their comprehensive business ideas within 8 to 10 minutes before a panel of judges. The panelists comprised Ms. Greeja De Silva, Ms. A. Alagarani, Ms. Wong Lei Lei , Mr. Lee Ming Hao and Mr. Kenneth Wee, the latter 2 being VU alumni. Throughout the session, the audience showed endless support by applauding and cheering for their school teams.

When the judges had decided on the winners, it was announced that the champion for VU Business Challenge 2016 was team ‘One Click’ from Jit Sin Independent High School, Bukit Mertajam. Meanwhile, the 1st Runner-up was team ‘eaTsy’ from Chong Hwa Independent High School, KL and the 2nd Runner-up was team ‘Just Cut Salon’ from Chong Hwa Independent High School, KL. Also, the special award for the team with the Most Innovative Idea, was won by ‘eaTsy’ from Chong Hwa Independent High School, KL! All winners were awarded with VU programme bursaries together with cash prizes, individual trophies and certificates of commendation.

In a nutshell, it was truly an amazing experience for the audience who witnessed the students’ creative and ingenious ideas at such a tender age! For the participants – they gained knowledge of the importance of building up their entrepreneurship skills. It also provided them a golden opportunity to explore and express their potential business ideas and how to translate these into action. All in all, VU Business Challenge 2016 was a great success!