STUDENTS of the University of Asia and the Pacific Master of Science in Industrial Economics emerged runner-up in the ASEAN-Australian Youth Summit Case Competition.

The group is composed of Scott Gabriel Tiamson, Josh Cody Ong, Ethan Gabriel Lee, and Catherine Beatrize Salazar who worked behind the theme ‘Breakthroughs in Mental Health’.

The event was hosted online by ASEAN Youth Organization of Australia.

The students were given one week to create a mental health program that could be implemented by local government units and non-government organizations across ASEAN to deal with the rising problem of mental health.

The group represented Aureum, a case competition pool operating under the university’s debate society ‘Forum’,  and founded by Tiamson.

“Excellence is something well known to UA&P students. But it remains contained within the university’s four walls. I believed that participating in various competitions would be a tangible way to project this message outside UA&P,” Tiamson said.

The honor came three months after the group also bested 177 teams worldwide to place fourth with an honorable mention in Consult for America Case Competition.

Presenting to a panel of CEOs, business executives, and strategy consultants, the team prepared an innovative solution for small businesses in Philadelphia to cope with the changes in the business landscape brought about by Covid19.

“We prepare our members for the ‘real world’ by giving them the opportunity to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical endeavors outside the classroom,” Ong said.

“Through case competitions, members get to have a hands-on and realistic experience in proposing solutions to and recommendations for complex problems faced by businesses. Aureum serves as a platform for students to gain valuable experience and skills while challenging themselves to continue learning in more ways than they can imagine,” he added.

Lee also said the group is looking forward of representing the university in future international competitions.

“We will always maintain a golden standard of performance in being academically competitive and to consistently exhibit excellence, showcase professionalism, and demonstrate perseverance in all our efforts to bring honor to the school.”