JSGS students compete in the 2024 internal case competition

JSGS hosted its annual Case Competition on November 8, bringing together students in public policy to tackle real-world challenges.

By Benjamin Frietag

This year's competition focused on the theme of "Modernizing Saskatchewan's Public Service: Pathways for Reform".

Participants were tasked with addressing a fictional yet highly relevant scenario involving the Government of Saskatchewan. The case presented to the students depicted a critical Cabinet meeting where newly appointed ministers discussed the urgent need for public service reform. The challenges highlighted included outdated processes, difficulty in retaining talent, and the pressing need for digital transformation. Students were required to propose actionable reforms that balanced financial constraints with the need for a more agile and responsive public service.

The competition was strong, with teams presenting innovative solutions within two hours of receiving the case. Each team had ten minutes to present their proposals, followed by a Q&A session with our esteemed volunteer judges. A special thanks to Greg Tuer, Sameema Haque, Kendra Gellner, and Sheldon Green who performed admirably as Ministers and had the challenging task of selecting a winning team.

“This year’s case, while fictional, challenged students with a series of practical realities facing public administration in Saskatchewan and across Canada," said Sheldon Green, Director, Executive Education.

"Considering the short time-frame given to the competition teams, the students did a great job and I’m sure learned a lot about public service complexity."

Congratulations to the winners of the JSGS Case Competition!

  • Bazal Khalid
  • Eunice Essah
  • Robin Muigai Gaithuru
  • Sebastian Eger

The JSGS Case Competition continues to be a cornerstone event, fostering critical thinking and practical problem-solving skills among future public policy leaders. Congratulations to all participants for their hard work and innovative ideas, and a special kudos to winning team for their outstanding performance.

“It was an honor to welcome students and our esteemed judging panel to the 2024 JSGS Case Competition, a tradition that continues to grow and inspire each year," Dr. Justin Longo, JSGS Associate Professor.

"The dedication and enthusiasm of our student competitors are what make this event truly special.”

JSGS will select its national team members from all participants in the local competition. Good luck to them this winter.