NEWS

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, a team of APU students achieved an impressive second-place finish at the Corning Case Competition held in New York City, USA, hosted by Cornell University. This marked the first time that a Japanese educational institution assembled a team selected as a finalist in this prestigious competition.

The Corning Case Competition is one of the main events of the Cornell Emerging Markets Institute (EMI) Conference, a leading annual forum in the United States focused on discussing trends and phenomena in emerging markets. This year, 705 students from 154 teams representing 48 institutions across 15 countries and regions participated in the event.

In this competition, teams are tasked with identifying and proposing solutions to real-world challenges faced by businesses and executives in global markets. This year’s case centered on challenges faced by an electric vehicle (EV) company in Vietnam. During the preliminary round held in September, teams submitted presentation slides and recorded presentations for evaluation. Out of the initial 154 teams, eight advanced to the final round.

The finals took place in person at Bloomberg Auditorium, Cornell Tech, NYC, where each team delivered two rounds of presentations followed by Q&A sessions. Teams were evaluated on several criteria, including the depth of their analysis, the realism and strategic nature of their proposals, the clarity of their short- and long-term plans, risk mitigation strategies, the innovativeness of their ideas, and the persuasiveness of their presentations and responses. APU’s team impressed the judges with their structured approach, particularly their use of the 3P analysis (People, Planet and Profit) for every solution they presented, earning them a well-deserved second place. The judge also commended their storytelling skills and how effectively they tied together different aspects of the case to create a cohesive and compelling narrative.

[Results]
1st Place: Vin University, Vietnam
2nd Place: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
3rd Place: Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, USA

The APU team was composed of enthusiastic students from the School of Management. They practiced extensively under the guidance of Associate Professor ACKARADEJRUANGSRI Pajaree solving past cases and even tackling blind cases that she provided for them. After being selected as finalists, they also received additional mentoring from Professor ALCANTARA Lailani, whose feedback helped refine their final presentation.

Members of the winning APU team, OnsenTamaGO

• ADE Putri Aulia Wijharnasir (GSM, Indonesia)
• ASSER Ossama A. A. (GSM, Egypt)
• KATARINA Jocelyn Chandra (APM 3rd year, Indonesia)
• NICOLE Indrani J. (APM 3rd year, Indonesia)
• JHA Ashmi (APM 3rd year, India)

＜Comment from Ms. JHA Ashmi on the award＞

Participating in the Cornell EMI Corning Case Competition was a challenging yet rewarding experience. Competing with top teams from around the world pushed us to think creatively, adapt quickly, and work collaboratively under intense conditions. Representing Japan and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University on such a prestigious platform was both a responsibility and a privilege, and we’re proud to have placed among the top teams.
Our success was not just the result of individual efforts but a reflection of the spirit of teamwork, resilience, and shared purpose that defines APU. We’re grateful to our mentors, supporters, and everyone who believed in us along the way. We hope our experience inspires others at APU to pursue opportunities that push boundaries and fuel growth.

＜Message from Associate Professor ACKARADEJRUANGSRI Pajaree＞

Congratulations on your outstanding achievement, Team OnsenTamaGO! Your hard work, dedication, and ability to find both critical and creative solutions through teamwork have truly paid off. As one of your mentors, I couldn’t be prouder of each of you for securing 2nd place in the Cornell EMI Corning Case Competition!

The APU School of Management (SOM) has obtained two prestigious international accreditations: AACSB, a global standard for top business schools, and AMBA, an internationally recognized accreditation for postgraduate management education. These accreditations ensure that SOM provides world-class business education. From the undergraduate level, students have opportunities to participate in various business case competitions. These include the CFA Institute Research Challenge, a globally recognized competition in the finance industry, and the APU Global Business Case Challenge (GBCC), which is hosted by APU students and attracts top talents from business schools around the world.

Just like Team OnsenTamaGO, you can be one of the case challengers and your case solutions can change the game!