For immediate release

March 7, 2011

Team of Kwantlen business students beat all Canadian universities in high profile western marketing competition

(Surrey, B.C.) A team of Kwantlen Polytechnic University business students finished ahead of rival teams from the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the University of Alberta at the prestigious Intercollegiate Marketing Competition (IMC) on February 26. The team finished in third place behind two American competitors.

Kwantlen's Erin Spiller, Amanda Ovenden and Sean Krause went toe to toe with seven other teams at the marketing-focused business case competition. Though the teams typically train for months leading up to the competition, Kwantlen's team was formed only two days before the start of the day long competition.

"The team did an amazing job coming together at the last minute," says Chamkaur Cheema, an instructor at Kwantlen's School of Business. "Other teams trained for up to five months in preparation for this competition and our team came together in a matter of hours. I think that this is a real testament to the calibre of Kwantlen's Business Department and its students. Next stop for the team? They'll be going to Singapore to compete in the annual APEX Global Business IT Case Competition organized by Singapore Management University."

"For that competition, the team's got a bit of time to prepare," smiles Cheema. "They look forward to representing the University strongly in an international arena."

Now in its eighth year IMC draws competitors from across western Canada and the western United States. The competition requires, third and fourth year business students to demonstrate their creativity and problem-solving skills while creating a marketing plan for a real world client. This year students were challenged to design a marketing campaign, which would attract younger consumers to a credit union. Teams were given three hours to prepare their marketing strategies before presenting their work to a panel of industry experts.

"The team's performance—especially on such short notice—is a remarkable testament to both the students and the rigor of our business programs. We focus on graduating well-rounded individuals who are ready to work and ready to lead. This team exemplifies that." remarked Arthur Coren, dean, Kwantlen School of Business.

Kwantlen School of Business is one of British Columbia's largest undergraduate business schools and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). For more information on Kwantlen's School of Business, visit: http://www.kwantlen.ca/business

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs including business, liberal arts and science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 17,000 students annually have a choice from over 135 programs including bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations.

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For more information about Kwantlen, contact:

Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kwantlen.ca