First-ever Curtin Sarawak – CIMA Business Game a hit

Miri – 10 June 2011 – The Accounting Club of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently co-organised with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) the first-ever Curtin Sarawak – CIMA Business Game, which proved to be a hit with the over 50 participants who took part.

Held in the Recreation and Events Centre at Curtin Sarawak, the event was open to students of all faculties of the university. Its main objective was to expose the participants to real-world situations which they would face in their future careers, and simultaneously build their leadership and critical thinking skills.

A total of 11 teams comprising of 5 members each competed for the top spot in the game, which tested their business acumen in the owning and managing of a fictitious mobile phone company in the current market scenario.

Organising chairperson Jong Shin Yng of the Curtin Sarawak Accounting Club, who is a final year Bachelor of Commerce student in accounting and finance, said the participants outdid themselves in handling the questions asked by the judges, exercising great teamwork and critical thinking skills.

In his speech during the opening ceremony, Professor Ian Kerr, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Curtin Sarawak, expressed his gratitude to CIMA for providing the participants an opportunity to learn outside the classroom and garner real-world skills.

Professor Kerr also congratulated the Curtin Sarawak Accounting Club for its outstanding efforts in hosting the event with CIMA, as well as the participants who took advantage of the opportunity to enrich their learning experience.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Alistair Inglis; Dean of the School of Business, Shamsul Kamariah Abdullah; Head of the Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems, Anbalagan Krishnan; Doreen Tan, a representative from CIMA; and the three event judges.

According to Chan Kwok Mow, one of Curtin Sarawak’s lecturers from the Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems and a Fellow of CIMA, it was the first time the Curtin Sarawak Accounting Club has collaborated with CIMA and both did a splendid job in making the event a success. He attributed its success to the enthusiasm of the participants and their readiness to confront the various scenarios presented during the game.

Chan, who was also a judge for the game, added that it was a good learning experience for the participants in addition to being a means of fostering stronger ties between the Curtin Sarawak Accounting Club and CIMA.

The other judges were fellow lecturers Fidella Tiew from the Department of Marketing and Management and Charmele Ayadurai from the Department of Economics and Finance, as well as Doreen Tan.

All teams were assigned their tasks a day before to allow them time to prepare business plans for the first segment of the game. Subsequent segments required them to handle simulated situations designed to test the effectiveness of their business plans, as well as their critical thinking skills and depth of research into market conditions.

Team Laser comprising second year accounting student David Chia, third year electrical engineering student Ting Yi Hang, foundation engineering student Kelvin Chai, and first year accounting and finance students Varian Foo and Cindy Lim, emerged the winners followed by Team Star and Team JL in second and third place.

The format of the game was modeled on the annual CIMA Business Game organised globally by CIMA whereby teams from various varsities would compete against each other.

For more information on Curtin Sarawak, visit its website at www.curtin.edu.my or e-mail enquiries@curtin.edu.my.

Group photo of participants, organisers and judges.

One of the teams eager to present its business plan.

A participant presenting his team’s product concept.

The judges listening attentively to a presentation.

Accounting lecturer and judge Chan Kwok Mow

CIMA representative Doreen Tan briefing the teams on their tasks.

A team hard at work preparing its presentation.

‘Team Laser’ posing with the judges, organinsing chairperson and Dean of School of Business.