The “Business Escape Challenge: Can You Unlock the Mystery” interactive competition has come to a successful close. The event was organised by UCLan Cyprus’ School of Business and Management, in partnership with the Youth Board of Cyprus. It took place over February 6-7, 2025, at UCLan Cyprus, providing participants with a unique experience to build critical thinking, collaboration and innovative solutions.

Open to the public, the competition drew second- and third-year high school students, as well as sixth and seventh-grade students from private schools. Participants developed key skills such as teamwork, analytical thinking, collaboration, argumentation and problem-solving under time constraints. By solving business and logic puzzles, they managed to “escape” from specially-designed escape rooms created at the Larnaca premises of UCLan Cyprus University.

The students formed teams of up to six members, and overcame creative challenges by solving puzzles and mysteries in five themed escape rooms: 1) Accounting and Finance, 2) Business Management, 3) English Language, 4) Tourism and Hospitality, and 5) Marketing and Advertising.

At the end of the activities, the winning teams for each day of the competition were announced and awarded cash prizes and scholarships for studies at the British University of Cyprus. Dr Andria Michael, Course Leader of the English Language and Literature programme, as well as the organiser of the competition, expressed her excitement at the students’ dedication and effort, encouraging them to continue developing their entrepreneurial thinking.

Head of the School of Business and Management, Professor Loukas Glyptis, also hailed the event at the student award ceremony.

“We are delighted to see that the Business Escape Challenge is becoming established within the school community as a valuable tool for developing critical skills,” he noted. “These are skills essential not only for the successful pursuit and completion of university studies, but also for the students’ future professional careers. It is an honour for UCLan Cyprus and the School of Business and Management to play a meaningful role in achieving these goals.”

The “Business Escape Challenge”, held by UCLan Cyprus’ School of Business and Management, and similar initiatives offered by the University, play a significant role in fostering creativity and collaboration among young people. At the same time, such events enhance their skills and broaden their knowledge, providing them with valuable tools for their professional future.