Business: Learning in Action

The annual business dean's case competition brings together some of Lakeland's best and brightest against similar teams from across Alberta.

Each team is given a business and a problem and they put together a complete package of how to solve the particular business case.

While the team is limited to 5 members, going through real business cases is also a classroom exercise.

Metrix Group LLP is our team's official sponsor.

And by the way, Lakeland has won this competition and also placed in the top 3 five times since the competition started in 2006. The 2018 business case competition placed 3rd (photo above).

For over 20 years the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce members have met and mingled with Lakeland business students through Chamber Connect.

Who you know is often a critical part of business success. Get started with Chamber Connect networking events.

You may even meet your future employer at one of these events.

You'll also meet with guest speakers, some of whom are alumni, who come to your classes throughout the year.

You have the opportunity to choose a co-op placement between first and second year of our business administration diploma.

Not only are you putting what you learned to use in the real world, you're getting a taste how to interview for a job and of where jobs might take you along a career path.

Learn more about Heather Healy and Angela Robinson's experience in the world of accounting and insurance.

Creating a marketing plan for a business is one example of the work-integrated learning projects business students tackle.

A recent example is the local company Rec-Tech that approached Lakeland for students to develop marketing plans for its Can-Am Spyder and Ryker 3-wheeled motorbikes.

The only thing more exciting was giving the wheels a test drive.

Put your skills to work. Accounting major students have helped real people do their income taxes over two decades.

Students volunteer their time to help seniors, students, low-income families and newcomers to Canada with their annual income taxes. They are helped by alumni and faculty. Partnerships with local businesses and organizations support the clinics.

At the start. just over 400 income tax returns were done. That figure has climbed to more than 600.

Students even continued to provide the tax preparation service through the COVID pandemic.

Individual students have set goals for the number of income tax returns they'll do.

Organizing a pep rally that included a 50/50 and half time performances were all part of a work-integrated learning project requested by the athletics department.

Local middle and high schools were invited to attend the typical back-to-back Rustlers women's and men's basketball games in late November. The school with the most fans won 25% of the 50/50 pot.

Traditional Punjabi dance  was one feature, while a local group later rocked the gym with some hip-hop.

Students organized, promoted, danced, sold tickets, announced, threw t-shirts and even donned the Rowdy costume for the event.

When administrative professional students go out on their 3 week practicum they are bringing more than office skills, they've also worked on dressing for success.

The class started co-hosting the event in 2022. Dress for Success is for all students and is aimed at helping make a great first impression.

Local business people also sharedtheir thoughts and tips.

Indigenous Student Council and the Lakeland's business school are co-hosts.

2022 Dress for Success

Lloydminster's annual Inspiring Women conference has benefited from the skills and time of administrative professional students.

Since 2019 the admin professional students have joined the organizers to help put together the conference.

Tasks have included co-hosting, marketing, decorating, scheduling session moderators, running the registration table, acting as escorts to seat attendees, organizing door prizes, engaging with an online audience through social media and administering a survey.

Field trips can provide perspective, inspiration and a competitive advantage.

Real estate appraisal and assessment students often find themselves doing a variety of field labs.

For example, a tour through different types of agricultural lands in the area helps them understand that part of assessment (see photo below).

You'll pull out a tape measures on a site to put together the details for a home or industrial assessment.

Or, you could find yourself abroad comparing what appraisal systems in places as far flung as Vietnam, Brazil and Greece.

You'll be comparing Canada’s ad valorem taxation system with that of the country you're visiting. A trip to Mérida in Mexico also touched on financing, values and ownership.

Invest in yourself through Synergy Speakers' Corner.

You practice and learn to be a more confident speaker through Synergy Speakers' Corner.

The club, founded in 2015, also focuses on building student leadership skills.

If you complete 5 out of 7 speaking projects, you receive a Competent Communicator Level 1 certificate.

You also have the opportunity to lead and organize activities.

Public speaking skills increase your value by 50% says one of the club's organizers.