News Byte: Vancouver M.B.A. Students Win Prize in Global Competition
M.B.A. students Stella Luoou Li and Kumaran Ahilan put their business acumen to the test in February when they virtually presented solutions to corporate challenges at Southern Connecticut State University鈥檚 . In May, they learned they were recipients of the runner-up prize.
Open to full-time students enrolled in a university鈥檚 undergraduate or graduate business program, the competition, which welcomed 134 students representing 19 colleges across 11 countries, tasked Li and Ahilan to work with South Florida Tissue Paper Co. of Miami Gardens, Fla. A virtual meeting with the company owner offered a valuable question-and-answer session to learn about the human resource challenges the company wanted to alleviate.
The pair鈥檚 research uncovered that Miami鈥檚 labor market sees job tenure ranging from one month to eight years, with a predicted 50 percent likelihood of new hires staying in their role long term. These statistics, impacting South Florida Tissue Paper Co., prompted Li and Ahilan to devise a plan for the business to better retain its employees, including more engaging on-site training programs and a more balanced and innovative policy to manage employees鈥� cell phone use during work hours.
鈥淚 will definitely use many of your proposals in my company, and I can foresee a high level of employee engagement in the future,鈥� the Florida-based company owner stated after Li and Ahilan concluded their presentation. 鈥淟et me thank you on behalf of my employees for your contributions.鈥�
Li and Ahilan, who came to study on the from their homes in China and India, respectively, say the competition was thrilling.
鈥淚t was an exciting journey to apply human resource knowledge from my M.B.A. courses to diagnose this company鈥檚 intricacies,鈥� Li says. 鈥淚 strongly believe this experience will be a valuable asset for my future career in human resources.鈥�
Ahilan adds that the competition was productive in prepping him for post-graduation life. 鈥淐ase studies and real-life projects like this help develop students like myself into an accomplished graduate.鈥�
More Features
Bear Bytes Initiative Supports Students鈥� Holistic Health
At 91社区, leaders recognize that access to healthy food is one of the most fundamental drivers of success.
91社区 Awarded $2.5 Million to Advance Civil Discourse on Campuses
91社区 has received the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Special Projects Program Grant, which will support efforts to drive student success through building civil discourse across the university鈥檚 campuses.
Intern Insight: Hardik Hardik
As a business technology intern, M.B.A. student Hardik Hardik worked closely with mass transit and security equipment manufacturer Boyce Technologies鈥� production and quality teams to support daily manufacturing operations.
Vancouver Cybersecurity Students Hack Their Way to Third Place at CyberSci 2025 CTF Competition
91社区-Vancouver students achieved a significant milestone at CyberSci 2025, earning third place in the Vancouver region and 25th overall out of 86 teams across Canada.
The Installation of President Jerry Balentine, D.O.
On October 16, surrounded by respected colleagues, family, and friends, Jerry Balentine, D.O., was installed as the fifth president of New York Institute of Technology.
Vancouver Campus Celebrates Its 25th Commencement Ceremony
On October 4, family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at The University of British Columbia to celebrate 91社区-Vancouver鈥檚 Class of 2025.