HKU-Airstar Bank Joint University Case Competition 2024
We are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the HKU-Airstar Bank Joint University Case Competition (JUCC) 2024. Our HKU Teams have demonstrated exceptional analytical and presentation skills, securing the Championship and 2nd Runner-up position in the competition.
JUCC is the annual signature event of HKU International Case Society (HICS), a student-run organisation supported by the School. It serves as a platform for students to showcase their case cracking, analytical and presentation skills. 16 teams of elite students from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology participated in the 48-hour business case challenge and presented their solutions to the panel of judges.
This year, HKU Business School collaborated with Airstar Bank to present a real-world business case with the theme “Crafting a Profitable Future”. As a prelude to the competition, Mr. Eddie Rong, Head of Innovation and Payment at Airstar Bank, delivered a talk to participating students on April 1, 2024, sharing his insights and experiences in virtual banking and FinTech industry. The students greatly benefited from the workshop and gained in-depth understanding of the industry before case cracking.
The Division Round and Grand Final Round took place on April 14, 2024. In the morning, student teams were divided into four divisions and presented their ideas to a panel of judges consisting of executives from Airstar Bank and accomplished alumni representatives from participating universities. The top-scoring team from each division advanced to the Grand Final in the afternoon, competing for the Championship. The judging panel for the Grand Final included:
- Ting Jiang, Chief Financial Officer, Airstar Bank Limited
- Albert Koo, Chief Risk Officer, Airstar Bank Limited
- Christina Wong, Managing Director, Accenture Strategy & Consulting, Greater China
- Teddy Liu, Member of Council, Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Vincent Tam, Chief Advisor, Relearn Education Limited
After careful deliberation, the Grand Final judges identified the Champion, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up, Merit Team and the Best Presenter. They are:
Champion: NAWN Consulting (from The University of Hong Kong)
1st Runner-up: Mars Advisory (from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
2nd Runner-up: Vinco Consulting (from The University of Hong Kong)
Merit Team: Delta Consulting (from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Best Presenter: Mr. Adrian Lau from Delta Consulting (from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Miss Nori Law, Team Leader of the Champion Team and year 1 BEcon&Fin programme student from HKU, shared her experience in the competition, stating “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the HKU International Case Society and Airstar Bank for granting us the invaluable opportunity to delve into the realm of Hong Kong’s virtual bank and FinTech industry, enabling us to gain profound insights. I learned the importance of identifying the root cause of the problem and catering our strategies towards a target demographic to provide a more detailed and feasible solution.”
Additionally, Miss Joey Cheung, a member of the 2nd Runner-up Team and year 1 BBA(IBGM) programme student from HKU, added, “The journey itself taught me invaluable lessons about teamwork, time management, problem-solving, and effective communication. These skills will undoubtedly serve me well in future endeavours, making the JUCC experience truly rewarding and memorable.”
We would like to extend our congratulations to all participants and the winning teams of JUCC for your dedication, hard work, and impressive performances. Four students from the Champion team and the Best Presenter will be offered internship opportunities at Airstar Bank from June to August 2024.
More about the competition: https://ug.hkubs.hku.hk/student-enrichment/student-run-organizations/hku-international-case-society/hku-airstar-bank-joint-university-case-competition-2024
The Grand Final Judging Panel, Ms. Christina Wong from Accenture (2nd from the left), Mr. Albert Koo from Airstar Bank (3rd from the left), Ms. Ting Jiang from Airstar Bank (middle), Mr. Teddy Liu from Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (3rd from the right), Mr. Vincent Tam from Relearn Education Limited (2nd from the right), with Prof. Winnie Leung from HKU Business School (1st from the left) and Mr. Chris Park from HKU International Case Society (1st from the right).
Case Presentation by one of the finalist teams.
Prof. Winnie Leung (1st from the left), Ms. Ting Jiang (2nd from the left) and Mr. Albert Koo (1st from the right) with the Champion Team – NAWN Consulting.
Mr. Teddy Liu (1st from the left), Ms. Christina Wong (2nd from the left) and Mr. Vincent Tam (1st from the right) with the 1st Runner-up Team – Mars Advisory.
Mr. Teddy Liu (1st from the left), Ms. Christina Wong (2nd from the left), Mr. Vincent Tam (1st from the right) with the 2nd Runner-up Team – Vinco Consulting.
Prof. Winnie Leung (1st from the left), Ms. Ting Jiang (2nd from the left) and Mr. Albert Koo (1st from the right) with Mr. Adrian Lau (2nd from the right), The Best Presenter of JUCC 2024.
Everyone gave a “thumbs-up” after the competition.
Thank you for the support from the three supporting organisations, including Case Analysis Team from HKUST Business School, Case Competition Team from CUHK Business School and Business Proposal and Competition Club from CityU College of Business.
Student Sharing from HKU Teams:
Champion Team – NAWN Consulting
“I am thrilled to share that my team, NAWN Consulting, emerged as the Champion of the HKU-Airstar Bank Joint University Case Competition (JUCC) 2024. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the HKU International Case Society (HICS), HKU Business School and Airstar Bank for granting us the invaluable opportunity to delve into the realm of Hong Kong’s virtual bank and fintech industry, enabling us to gain profound insights. I learned the importance of identifying the root cause of the problem and catering our strategies towards a target demographic to provide a more detailed and feasible solution.
As the team leader, I would like to thank my teammates, Nikkia Lo, Anson Ng, and Wee Duangthip for their hard work in cracking this 48-hour case. It has been a memorable and precious learning journey for all of us.”
(by Miss Law Lok Yee Nori)
“I am honoured to have represented HKU Business School in JUCC 2024. It was a challenging yet rewarding experience that allowed me to sharpen my analytical skills and develop my teamwork abilities. I am grateful for my teammates’ diverse talents, which complemented each other and empowered us to crack the case within the 48-hour time limit.
Reflecting on the journey, I am grateful for the training provided by HICS, which transformed us from novices to confident competitors. Participating in a case competition with a time constraint was challenging but memorable. Representing HKU in JUCC 2024 was a privilege, and I look forward to joining more case competitions in the future. Our team also had previous experience working together, which made the case-cracking process more efficient. Despite the challenges posed by the extensive information and the technological nature of the Airstar Bank case, our hard work paid off.
Analysing Airstar Bank’s business model enriched my knowledge of the FinTech industry. The competition provided valuable insights and the judges’ feedback guided us to develop more robust strategies. Winning the first place was a recognition of our hard work and an encouragement for me to challenge myself further. I am grateful for my teammates’ dedication and efforts. I would also like to thank HICS, especially Mr. Chris Park, for their support throughout the journey.”
(by Mr. Duangthip Wee)
“To me, JUCC was not just a simple 48-hour competition, but a whole journey I experienced with my team starting from the first day of HICS. Throughout our time doing internal practices in HICS, my team and I had always aspired to compete at JUCC, making this victory a dream realised after countless hours of hard work and dedication. My teammates, more than just colleagues, have become lifelong friends whose camaraderie was indispensable on this challenging journey.
Beyond the trophies and accolades, the most rewarding aspect of this experience was the invaluable lesson in the power of team spirit. Experiencing its significance firsthand has been transformational and is something I will treasure forever. I am immensely grateful to HICS for their guidance and support in honing our skills for case competitions. Their pivotal role was instrumental in moulding us into a cohesive and determined team.
Reflecting on this journey, I am proud to see how much we have grown when we first embarked on our case competition journey at HICS. It was a profound honour to represent the support provided by HICS and to demonstrate our collective growth at JUCC.”
(by Miss Lo Nikkia)
2nd Runner-up – Vinco Consulting
“The HKU-Airstar Bank Joint University Case Competition (JUCC) 2024 was a meaningful and challenging experience that truly allowed me to develop my collaboration and critical-thinking skills. By staying with my teammates for 48 hours and formulating recommendations to help the virtual bank, Airstar Bank, we all learned a lot about the financial landscape of Hong Kong. Overall, I am enthralled to have been able to lead a team to represent HKU and place third overall.”
(by Mr. Sy Mateo Rafael Roman)
“Joining the JUCC 2024 was a significant milestone in my first-year journey, leaving a lasting impression of dedication and personal growth. Initially, JUCC appeared daunting, but as a member of HICS, the aspiration to participate became a driving force during our internal practice sessions. Yet, the true reward from this experience goes beyond any trophy or certificate; it lies in the extensive development of my soft skills.
Although we achieved 2nd Runner-up, I have no regrets. Witnessing the wholehearted commitment of my teammates during the intense 48-hour competition was a highlight. Together, we invested our best efforts, meticulously crafting recommendations, refining details, and ultimately creating a compelling presentation deck. The journey itself taught me invaluable lessons about teamwork, time management, problem-solving, and effective communication. These skills will undoubtedly serve me well in future endeavours, making the JUCC experience truly rewarding and memorable.
Once again, I am grateful to HKU Business School, HICS and the Airstar Bank for organizing this remarkable competition and providing a platform for growth. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who offered guidance and support throughout this journey. Your mentorship, feedback, and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping my skills and fostering personal development.”
(by Miss Cheung Lok Ching, Joey)
“Participating in the JUCC has been a transformative experience, fostering the development of my personal, communication, team building, and business analysis skills. Through the competition, I was able to challenge myself in a high-pressure environment and explore my capabilities in a real-world business setting. The intense nature of the competition pushed me to think critically and analytically, honing my business analysis skills as my team formulated innovative solutions. Collaborating closely with my team members allowed me to enhance my interpersonal skills, as we navigated differing perspectives, delegated tasks, and worked towards a common goal. Overall, the JUCC experience played a pivotal role in my personal growth, equipping me with the essential skills and experiences necessary to thrive in the business world. I would like to express my gratitude to Airstar Bank and The HKU Business School for hosting such a fruitful competition.”
(by Mr. Jung Seungwon, Matt)
“Participating in JUCC was an intense and rewarding experience. Within a mere 48 hours, our team collaborated closely, analysing complex business problems, refining our analytical skills, and crafting a compelling presentation. The pressure pushed us to think critically, adapt, and communicate effectively. Beyond competition, we gained lasting friendships, expanded our network, and learned valuable lessons in teamwork, resilience, and gratitude.”
(by Mr. Xia Yunchu, Kevin)
