SIFE Australia is pleased to announce that the following university SIFE teams have been short-listed by an independent panel of judges to participate in the Final Round of the Individual Topic Competition (ITC), to be held between 09:00 and 12:00 on Saturday 12 July.

N.B.  Teams short-listed for several ITCs will need to choose their participation time(s) carefully to avoid clashes.  In addition, teams are reminded that this event runs in parallel with the Semi Final Round of the Championships.  This may add further complexity to the prioritisation of resource allocation.

Notes for finalist teams:

1. The competition aims to provide students with the opportunity to participate in a business meeting.  Therefore students are expected to conduct themselves as they would at a real business meeting.  A significant percentage of the judges’ assessment of success in the ITCs depends on how effectively the students conduct the business meeting.
2. Teams will be expected to chair the meeting and observe the formalities of introductions, including the shaking of hands.  They should establish the structure of the meeting, which may or may not include the use of an agenda and the exchange of business cards (where relevant).
3. Teams may use the 15 minutes in any way they like - including part presentation (up to 5 minutes maximum), part reading time and part discussion - but should advise the judges of this at the outset.  For example, students may elect to use the whole 15 minutes as open discussion.
4. Cue cards and written speeches are strongly discouraged as this would not be in accordance with the way a normal business meeting is conducted.
5. Students are strongly encouraged to show the judges their projects.  This may include bringing a laptop to demonstrate a financial literacy software program, or tabling booklets, products or other tangible outcomes of projects.  The business meeting is very much a ‘show and tell’ environment.
6. Laptops are allowed to be used as part of the presentation or to show a program/product.  SIFE will not provide any audio visual or other equipment, such as screens or overhead projectors.
7. There will be no set-up time.  Students are required to enter the meeting room and immediately commence proceedings.

A final briefing session for teams will be held in the Queens Room on Friday 11 July, immediately following the Regional Awards Ceremony at which the Semi Finalist teams and presentation times will be announced.  This session will be used to determine the choice of ITC presentation time from the following options:

Congratulations and good luck to all the finalists!