The Asia-Pacific Communication Exchange Association (APCEA), in collaboration with China Mainland Students Associations University of Macau Student Union, organized the second APCEA Business Presentation Contest (ABPC). The event, sponsored jointly by the Macau Foundation, and the Tertiary Education Service Office, was a complete success.

The ABPC aims to enhance tertiary students’ professionalism in presenting business plans in English. The theme of the second ABPC focused on the novel business ideas to promote Macau and Macau tourism to various regions in the world.

The event was kicked off in January 2012 with a call for participation. A large number of submissions were received and the qualifying groups were asked to send in their proposals for consideration. Qualification screenings, by an expert panel of judges, were done in mid-February 2012. Each team was given a detailed review of their submissions and the judges decided on the 10 participating groups to proceed to the semi-final round.

During the semi-finals, held on March 17, 2012 in the STDM Auditorium of the University of Macau, the 10 participating groups were given the opportunity to showcase their work and were given rich feedback and comments from the judges. The presentations were judged on the quality of the English, the persuasiveness of the speech, the content and the relevance of the topic. Following the assessment by the judges, six groups of finalists were selected to proceed to the finals.

After careful deliberation by the judges, the six groups selected to participate in the finals were: AOE of Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI), ICX, Tigger , UMecy, A.S.S.K of University of Macau (UM), and MIKA of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST). All the participating teams impressed the judges and the audience with their fluent English and their innovative ideas to promote tourism in Macau.

On March 25, 2012 the finals were held in the afternoon in the STDM Auditorium of the University of Macau. The six qualifying final groups of participants were divided into two sessions. Each group presented their business ideas in front of the expert panel of judges and the audience. Assessment was based on the quality of English, the persuasiveness of the speech, the content, the relevance of the topic and the ability to answer questions from the audience.

The competition invited three judges, who have extensive business and teaching experience respectively in Business Administration, English Education and Public Relations industry. The three judges were: Dr. Javier Cuervo, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, Dr. Peter Jakubowicz, Chung Chi College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Ms. Joy Gong, Public Relations and Promotion Manager, Air Macau.

After all presentations were complete, the judges held a deliberation and decided unanimously that the students from the University of Macau, namely the A.S.S.K team, won the first prize and were awarded MOP5,000. Their topic was “Passing Passion – Flash Mob Festival”. The Second prize (MOP3,000) and Third prize (MOP2,000) went to ICX team (UM), and MIKA team (MUST).

The competition also named the two best speakers, they were: Fernanda Monolli (UM) and Cici Peng (UM). They were awarded mop 1,000 and souvenirs from sponsors.

The ABPC aims to enhance tertiary students’ professionalism in presenting business plans in English. The theme of the second ABPC is to promote Macau tourism and the development of industrial diversification. The organizers plan to expand the contest to the neighboring cities of Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Zhuhai next year.

The second ABPC is jointly sponsored by the Macau Foundation, and Tertiary Education Service Office. Other sponsors include Air Macao, LotusTV, Lord Stow's Bakery and Macau Closer, etc.

The event also received media support and coverage in Macau. Macau Lotus TV has an exclusive right to broadcast the contest event.

The news report in the Macau Daily News (商驕英語演講賽澳大奪冠) (March 26, 2012)

The news report in TDM English News (March 25,2012)