REGINA — The Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty of Business and Management recently held its , celebrating the creativity and skills of Saskatchewan's emerging business and management professionals.
This event provided an excellent opportunity for 80 students to network with potential employers and industry experts while presenting their innovative projects. Twenty-one student groups participated, representing all four Sask Polytech campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon.
The showcase featured projects that explore various areas of business, including human resources, project management, supply chain management, financial services and accounting. Kristen Craig, dean for the Faculty of Business and Management, highlighted the importance of the event for both students and industry, noting, “This showcase is an incredible reflection of the creativity, collaboration and practical skills our students bring to the table. It’s inspiring to see how they’re applying their classroom learning to real-world challenges, whether through partnerships with industry or through projects that tackle emerging trends. Events like this show the strength of our programs and the bright future of business in Saskatchewan.”
| Photos courtesy Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Tourism Saskatchewan pitched a business challenge to students in the program. Brooklyn Friesen and her teammates developed a digital communications strategy aimed at enhancing business-to-business (B2B) communications. “Tourism Saskatchewan pitched a problem to the class and each group was tasked with working on a solution. We built target audience personas, pitched improved content for Facebook and LinkedIn, suggested creating an Instagram account for B2B and identified key performance indicators to track. It was great to collaborate with a real organization, to receive client feedback on our solution and present a project that aligned with their organization’s goals.” Friesen will be a two-time Sask Polytech graduate; she previously completed the Culinary Arts program and is a journeyperson chef. This spring, Friesen will be graduating from the Bachelor of Applied Management program.
April Rubbelke and her classmates worked with Thunder Creek Rehabilitation Association to update their job descriptions. Without dedicated human resources expertise, Thunder Creek’s job descriptions were out of date. Rubbelke shares the benefits of working with a real client, saying, “We called the incumbent of each position and updated each job description based on our interviews. Having accurate job descriptions makes it easier to evaluate the job the employee is doing and helps set expectations.” Rubbelke completed the Human Resources diploma in an accelerated, one-and-a-half-year format and will graduate this spring.
Alwyn Malekar is in the . Along with other members of his group, he focused on developing a project overview and analysis of the new Weyburn General Hospital. The students selected an ongoing project in Saskatchewan, allowing them to utilize real-time data and public information to construct a comprehensive project plan and review the progress and performance of the project. “I learned how public sector projects are carried out. I also gained valuable insights into SHA’s stakeholder management strategies and how a large-scale healthcare construction project is executed,” says Malekar. He previously earned a post-graduate certificate in Business Management from Sask Polytech and an MBA in logistics and shipping. Alwyn will be graduating from the Project Management program in December and is currently preparing to write the PMP® (Project Management Professional) certification exam.
The showcase’s Saskatchewan Science Centre location encouraged students and industry professionals to connect in an innovative, inspiring space. Craig explains, "The last two showcases were in Moose Jaw. We were excited to try a new, interactive venue in Regina. The Science Centre is a great space where industry professionals can engage with student work and interactive exhibits in a vibrant setting. Congratulations to all of our student participants!”
Facilitating connections between students and industry leaders was one of the main goals of the event. Craig emphasized the importance of local businesses attending, stating, "Employers networking with students is an event highlight. This is a great opportunity to learn about student projects that showcase the latest trends in business, technology and industry, along with exciting collaborations with industry partners.”
— Submitted by Sask. Polytech Media Relations
