University Canada West finished first in the national MBA Games held January 5 -7 at Brock University in Ontario.

Hosted by Brock’s Goodman School of Business, UCW was the top school out of 16 competing universities from across Canada. The MBA Games feature spirit, sports and case competitions.

It was only UCW’s second time at the national MBA Games and follows last month’s first-place showing at the BC MBA Games.

“After finishing fourth in our first time at the competition in 2023, we came back with a ton of experience and the aim to bring home the prestigious Queen’s Cup,” said Urvish Subodh, MBA Games team head coach and UCW faculty.

And win it they did, finishing first in sports, where the team went unbeaten in dodgeball and won two of three basketball games. UCW was second overall in the spirit competition. The University was paired with Ivey School of Business and together they raised over $14,000 out of the $37,000 raised for this year’s charity partner, the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Recovery College program.

“With limited time to prepare after winning the BC MBA Games in December, the hard work, dedication and perseverance of the team was evident in their performance,” Subodh said. “As a coach, I could not be prouder. Our diverse team represented their cultures, languages and the values we stand for at UCW on the national stage.”

The MBA Games is considered the largest Master of Business Administration competition in Canada and brings together the best of academia, industry and community.

Other competing schools were host Brock University’s Goodman School of Business, University of Alberta’s Alberta School of Business, Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business, York University’s Schulich School of Business, Toronto Metropolitan University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, Dalhousie University, HEC Montreal, University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management, Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, Western University’s Ivey Business School and Université Laval.

 

The winner of the competition gets to host the following MBA Games, meaning UCW will host both the 2024 BC MBA Games and 2025 national MBA Games, which is a first.

“We have created history by winning both trophies,” Subodh said. “It is the first time that a university has held both trophies at the same time in the history of the national and BC MBA Games.”

The President & Vice-Chancellor of UCW congratulated the team on their victory.

“Congratulations to our exceptional MBA Games team for their outstanding performance at the national MBA Games. Their strategic brilliance, teamwork and dedication exemplify the spirit of excellence we cultivate at University Canada West,” said Dr. Bashir Makhoul.

“Their victories at the recent BC and national MBA Games competitions not only showcase their remarkable talents but also underscores the strength of our academic programs.”

The team’s co-captains, Uzma Khan and Jim Isaac, expressed what the win meant to the team.

“The intense competition beautifully showcased our team’s resilience, strategic acumen and unwavering determination,” Khan said.

“This triumph, following our win at the 2023 BC MBA Games, reaffirms our unwavering commitment to excellence. From humble beginnings in local competitions to the pinnacle of national success, our journey epitomizes passion, teamwork and an indomitable spirit.”

The co-captain agreed.

“It was a great honour to lead a team that would win the BC MBA Games, and it was a dream come true to lead a team that would bring home the Queen’s Cup,” said Isaac.

“Our team has won a competition that brought together many of the top business schools in Canada that, on average, have existed for over 50 years. It is no ordinary feat and a testament to the role that UCW will play in shaping the business world in Canada and internationally.”

Published on January 11, 2024.