Accra Technical University (ATU) has added another proud moment to its growing record of practical and industry-focused education after students from the ATU Business School emerged champions of the South-East Zone of the eighth Graphic Business Tertiary Business Sense Challenge (TBSC).
ATU finished the three-way zonal final with 40 points, ahead of Pentecost University with 32 points and defending champions, the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), with 29.5 points.
The result placed ATU at the top of a competition that challenged students on business knowledge, quantitative analysis, problem-solving and decision-making. For the ATU Business School, the performance also offered a strong showing of its students against some of the country’s established business schools.
A difficult start, a strong comeback
ATU’s road to the title was far from straightforward. The team suffered a narrow 42–38 defeat to Academic City University in the quarter-final and could have exited the competition at that point. Their performance, however, earned them a place in the semi-finals as the best-performing losing team. That second opportunity changed the course of ATU’s campaign. The students returned to defeat Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) 26–17.5 in the semi-final, setting up a final against Pentecost University and UGBS.
The comeback would eventually become one of the defining parts of ATU’s campaign: a team that entered the semi-finals as the best loser would leave as South-East Zone champions.
Finding their way into the final
ATU did not have the strongest start in the final either. In the opening round, which covered basic and advanced business concepts, ATU scored nine points, behind Pentecost University and UGBS, which both scored 13.
The response came in the quantitative and applied analysis round. Faced with calculations involving equipment cost and depreciation, ATU picked up all six points available, while UGBS scored 0.5 and Pentecost University did not score.
The next round moved from calculations to business judgement. Using an article on bank staff fraud published in the Graphic Business, the students had to examine the issues and make recommendations. All three teams finished the round with 10 points.
ATU and UGBS then added six points each in the true-or-false round, while Pentecost University scored three.
By the time the competition reached the final riddles round, ATU had put itself in a position to win and the students finished strongly.
ATU scored nine points in the final round. Pentecost University added six, while UGBS failed to score. The result took ATU to 40 points, securing the South-East title ahead of Pentecost University and UGBS.
Putting the ATU Business School on display
The title comes at an important time for the ATU Business School as it continues to build an identity around practical business education and the preparation of graduates for industry.
What happened during the competition gives that ambition something concrete to point to.
The students had to work with figures, recall business concepts, interpret information, solve problems quickly and apply what they knew to business situations. These are also abilities expected of graduates entering today’s workplace.
Their performance therefore gives the University another opportunity to show the outcomes of the work taking place within the Business School from the classroom and student preparation to the guidance provided by faculty.
It also places ATU in good company. The final brought its students face-to-face with UGBS, the defending zonal champions, and Pentecost University. ATU came out with the highest score. For a Business School that is building its profile, results like this help tell its story.
From second chance to champions
There is also something memorable about how the title was won.
ATU had already lost once. The team had seen its chances of progressing reduced to qualification as the best loser. But when another opportunity came, the students grabbed it.
They beat GCTU in the semi-final and followed that performance by finishing ahead of two strong opponents in the final.
ATU, Pentecost University and UGBS will represent the South-East Zone at the national competition.
This time, they have their eyes on the ultimate prize. The South-East title is secured, but the journey is not over. The national stage awaits, and Team ATU is ready to make its mark.