After Lingnan University’s first successful Business Case Competition (LUBCC) last year, LUBCC 2025 was held on 12 April. Sponsored by CPA Australia Ltd, it was co-organised by the Taught Postgraduate Programmes Office (TPO) of the Faculty of Business and the Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies (HKIBS). The competition aims to develop students’ analytical abilities, communication skills, and teamwork through effective and imaginative solutions for complex business cases. Eighty teams of 368 students signed up for the competition, about 30% more than last year. The increase is very encouraging, as it shows that more students are eager to test their limits and apply theoretical knowledge to real-life business problems.

In his welcome remarks, Prof Leng Mingming, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Chair Professor of Operations and Risk Management at Lingnan University, said, “I encourage all participants to take this as an opportunity to push your boundaries, showcase your analytical skills, and harness the power of teamwork. Remember, true learning often comes from facing challenges, and sometimes from embracing failure. So approach every problem with an open mind and a relentless drive, and, above all, enjoy the process.”

The competition received strong support from four leading government and business organisations: the Hang Heung Cake Shop Company Limited, Hoi Tin Tong, the Regional Crime Prevention Office (New Territories North) of the Hong Kong Police Force (RCPO) and the Sa Sa Cosmetic Company Limited. These organisations described their own business challenges, which the teams then had to analyse, apply suitable market strategies to, and propose solutions for using both their theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The Hang Heung Cake Shop asked how to modernise their brand and upgrade their product, while Hoi Tin Tong asked the teams to devise new strategies to change the brand’s traditional retail channels to B2B channels. The RCPO wanted them to organise an anti-deception publicity event to raise public awareness, and the Sa Sa Cosmetic Company asked for ways to attract new customers and bring back old ones.

After the preliminary assessments, 12 of the 80 teams were shortlisted for the Presentation Day and Award Presentation Ceremony, the last round of the competition and the final judging panel’s evaluation. After a fierce contest, the outstanding analyses and strategic design of Team 49 from the Associate Degree and Undergraduate (AD & UG) division for the Hang Heung Cake Shop Company, and Team 45 from the Research Postgraduate and Taught Postgraduate (RPg & TPg) division for the same case triumphed. They emerged as champions in their respective competition divisions, each winning a prize of HK$10,000.

Prof Liang Liping, Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies (HKIBS) of the Faculty of Business at Lingnan University, said in her closing remarks, ‘’I congratulate all awardees for their outstanding performances in the competition, and extend my heartfelt thanks to all staff and guests for the trouble they have taken and their contributions, which have made the event such a success.’’

The LUBCC 2025 Presentation Day and Award Ceremony celebrated both the achievements of the students and the faculty’s commitment to nurturing future leaders well equipped to tackle global challenges.