UoM wins 2026 HSBC Undergraduate Business Case competition
The University of Mauritius (UoM) has secured first place in the HSBC Undergraduate Business Case Competition (Mauritius) 2026. Held from April 7 to April 9 at the Curtin Mauritius campus, the intensive event brought together student teams hailing from several higher education institutions to demonstrate their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. The winning team will now represent Mauritius at the international finals in Hong Kong in June.
Organized by HSBC in collaboration with the British Council, the competition called for teams to analyze a twenty-page real-world business case within a strict three-hour window. An interesting aspect is that participating teams worked without internet access or teacher guidance.
The next step for the teams was to propose a structured strategy during a presentation and face a demanding question-and-answer session from a multidisciplinary jury. Curtin Mauritius clinched second place, earning praise for its deep analysis and grasp of the core business issues.
The Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Mauritius, Hajrah Sakauloo, stressed the importance of the event that helped prepare students for the professional world.
“At HSBC, we believe in nurturing future talent and providing students with the tools to excel in their studies and careers,” said Hajrah Sakauloo, adding, “The HSBC Mauritius Undergraduate Business Case Competition creates a unique environment to empower our youth, so that they make a stronger positive impact in the world of work after their studies.”
She added, “2025 marked the completion of a decade since Mauritius students started participating in the HSBC Hong Kong University Asia-Pacific business case competition. This regional competition has been held in Hong Kong each year since 2008. Let us not celebrate only the winners but also all the participating teams for their dedication. It is inspiring to see young minds tackling real-life business challenges and presenting their solutions confidently.”
This year’s final selection jury featured professionals from various sectors as follows: Audrey Deegan, CEO of Step by Step, retired Head of Business for the Indian Ocean, and Dean Emeritus of African Leadership College, Charles Crowl, Professional Certified Training Professional and Coach, Rishi Nursimooloo, Barrister at Law and Founder of Dukesbridge Schools, Melwyn Madelon, Senior Project Manager at VALID, Ashiti Prosand, Head of Legal and Company Secretary at HSBC, Naweid Fakeermahamood, Programme Manager at the British Council.
The jury members evaluated the teams based on their relevance, ability to interpret financial data, and capacity to defend their hypotheses under pressure. The competition continues to serve as a vital link between academic training and modern corporate expectations.
The victorious team, hailing from the UoM, featured Kritin Deenoo, Drewshi Lea Yedlop Ramana, Siddharth Kumar Heeroo, and Yogesh Luchmun. The winners will now prepare to compete against top university teams from across Asia in a highly competitive international environment.
The results are as follows:
1st Place: University of Mauritius
- 2nd Place: Curtin University Mauritius 1
- 3rd Place: African Leadership College of Higher Education
- 4th Place: Middlesex University Mauritius
