High school students learn business fundamentals
Some area high school students spent the day learning more about the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Management program on Wednesday. As part of Experience Management Day, students networked with peers from other schools and participated in teambuilding exercises — including the Marshmallow Challenge — which involves building the tallest structure possible in 18 minutes, using 20 spaghetti noodles, a metre each of tape and string, and a marshmallow to go on top.
They also learned business fundamentals such as accounting, finance, human resources and labour relations, international management, marketing and supply chain management.
Students took part in a management-focused competition to better familiarize them with the Centre for Financial Market Research and Teaching (Trading Room).
Management professors organized a role-playing session to give students the opportunity to apply management concepts to real-world business problems.
The day wrapped up with an awards ceremony and prizes for the top participants in each of the activities.
“Today is a fun day for high school students,” said Shamsul Alam, an associate dean in the Faculty of Management, as well as a professor of finance. “Today, they come to find out what management is all about.”
He said the events scheduled for the day include a number of fun, experiential learning projects which will also show the students what the university has to offer them in terms of learning in the field of management and finance.
“It’s about reinforcing the idea that we’re here (as an education option) and that we care about them getting the best management education and experience,” he said.
“So it isn’t only the academic side, but we also give them experiential learning so they can engage with professionals in the industry. It’s about how they can become career-ready.”
Alam said a number of vital skills are needed to be successful in management, including communication, networking, relationship-building, a positive attitude, breadth and depth of subject matter, good literacy skills and field expertise.
“All of this goes together, so (students) can put it in a portfolio of knowledge that will help them succeed,” he said.
“How to succeed in life, and how to build a career (are core themes of the event),” he said. “Wherever they want to go in life, how can they take that path so they will be successful?”