Photo – left to right: Jewanjot Singh Bhullar, Sami Moujani, Vidhur Sharma and Casey Berthon
WINNIPEG, MB – Here is the task: an American granite company that makes statues of geese is floundering, but the owner is emotionally attached to the product. Provide a comprehensive cost analysis and recommend continuing or not. Prep time: 2 hours.
That was the challenge that four University of Winnipeg Accounting students – Jewanjot Singh Bhullar, Sami Moujani, Vidhur Sharma and Casey Berthon – faced this past weekend. The UWinnipeg team reached the final round of the case competition of the Gathering of Accounting Academics, Professionals and Student (GAAPS), a conference organized by the Asper School of Business Accounting Association in conjunction with Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba. Twelve teams competed in the event, which was held at the Delta Hotel..
“The striking highlight for me was the teamwork needed to get the job done,” said Vidhur Sharma, an international student originally from the Punjab region of India, now in his third year of an Accounting concentration at UWinnipeg’s Faculty of Business and Economics. “It was the best thing I’ve done at UWinnipeg because we had to apply everything we’ve learned in a real-life situation.” The UWinnipeg team had been practicing for the competition since November. “I was very proud how well our faculty advisor prepared us, we were able to present well in front of the judges.”
Sharma, who also studied in the United Kingdom, chose to attend UWinnipeg because of the small class sizes. “As a student I can personally connect with the professors here. It is perfect.”
“By participating in this competition I have learned how to work efficiently and effectively in a team,” said Casey Berthon, a fourth year Accounting student. “We became skilled in making decisions quickly and making professional presentations successfully and confidently. Dealing with case studies gave us an experience we can carry forward into the working world.”
It is the third time in the three years U Winnipeg has been participating that its team has reached the final round of the GAAPS competition.
In the end, the granite geese survived. The UWinnipeg team provided recommendations as to how the owner could better manage inventory and costs, which were well received by the judges.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
