Regulation

1. Context and objectives

1. The Consulting Challenge is an initiative by PricewaterhouseCoopers/AG – Assessoria de Gestão, Lda. (hereinafter referred to as PwC), aimed at promoting and energizing the Advisory area by challenging students from various colleges and universities to work together and propose a solution to a PwC case study.

2. Solving the presented case study will contribute to the personal development and training of the event participants.

3. The scope of the proposed case study falls within PwC’s Management Consulting services.

4. Additionally, the event aims to identify student profiles and select participants for an internship at PwC, depending on their performance.

5. The competing teams must present their proposed solution to a panel of judges.

6. The members of the winning team of each edition will be awarded an invitation to an interview for a potential internship in PwC’s Advisory area, as well as a monetary prize (FNAC voucher) and a training session (topic to be defined).

7. The Consulting Challenge FY26 will include two editions, held in Porto and Lisbon.

2. Partnerships and Collaboration

1. The Consulting Challenge is supported by the collaboration, logistical assistance, and promotional efforts of its partner junior enterprises and student associations: JuniFEUP, from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto; NEEGI, the Industrial Engineering and Management Student Group from Instituto Superior Técnico; ShARE-UP, a student association; and Junitec, the junior enterprise of Instituto Superior Técnico.

3. Definitions

For the purposes of this regulation, the following terms shall be understood as:

1. Team Captain: the member responsible for communicating with PwC and who will be contacted whenever it is necessary to confirm any information.

2. Case: a hypothetical situation developed by members of the Consulting Business Unit, reflecting a relevant issue within the area’s scope of activity.

3. Teams: groups composed of higher education students, with preference (though not exclusivity) given to the fields of Management, Economics, Engineering, and Finance.

4. Jury: a panel of three (3) judges appointed by PwC’s Advisory area, selected to evaluate the participants’ performance in solving the proposed case study.

5. Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I]: the first phase of the event, corresponding to the more quantitative and analytical assessment stage. Further information about this phase is provided below.

6. Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II]: the second phase of the event, corresponding to the more qualitative assessment stage. Further information about this phase is provided below.

4. Student Eligibility

1. All students may apply to the Consulting Challenge, although preference may be given to students in one of the following years:

a) 3rd year of a Bachelor’s degree;

b) 1st year of Master’s Degree;

c) 2nd year of Master’s Degre.

2. Students must register in teams of 4 (four) to 5 (five) members.

3. A maximum of 20 teams per location (Porto and Lisbon) will be accepted to participate in the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I]. If the number of applications exceeds this limit, PwC reserves the right to select the participating teams based on an analysis of the candidates’ CVs.

4. Additionally, throughout all phases of the Consulting Challenge, PwC reserves the right to select only those students whose profiles and characteristics are considered relevant and who demonstrate the desired quality in solving the proposed challenges.

5. For the Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II], 6 (six) teams will be selected according to their performance and evaluation in the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I].

6. Candidates must meet these requirements by the application deadline.

5. Applications and team selection

1. Teams may submit their applications until 6 April 2026. Applications must be submitted through the PwC Portugal website, using the form provided.

2. For the registration to be considered valid, the following mandatory information must be provided clearly and completely in the application form:

a) Team name;

b) Number of members (4 or 5);

c) Team captain;

d) Individual information from each participant:

i. Full name;

ii. Email;

iii. University attended;

iv. Degree attended;

v. Academic level;

vi. Current year of study;

vii. Curriculum Vitae (PDF format).

3. When completing the application, the team must ensure that each member confirms compliance with both the Commitment Statement and the Image and Personal Data Rights Statement.

a. The Commitment Statement confirms the presence of all team members in the Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II], should the team be selected for this phase.

b. The Image and Personal Data Rights Statement authorizes PwC, with the consent of all participants, to capture images and videos throughout the event.

4. If the application does not meet the mandatory requirements and/or does not include all required information, the registration will be considered invalid and the team will not be eligible to participate in the Consulting Challenge.

5. Acceptance of the teams for the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I] will be communicated by 7 April 2026. A confirmation of registration will be sent to the participants.

6. This competition may be cancelled at any time, without any liability arising for PwC Portugal.

6. Consulting Challenge phases and schedule

The Consulting Challenge is divided into two main phases: Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I] and Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II].
Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I] is a preliminary phase of the case study, aimed at selecting 6 (six) teams to advance to Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II]. This phase will take place virtually.
Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II] corresponds to the final phase of the event and will take place in person at PwC’s offices in Porto and Lisbon.
The different phases and dates of the Consulting Challenge are presented in the following table:

Consulting Challenge
Phase	Date	Location
Application submission	From March 16 to April 6	PwC Website
Notification of selected teams for the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I]	Until April 7	Email
Presentation of the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I]	May 12th	Virtual
Delivery of instructions/materials for the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I]	April 13	Email
Submission of responses for the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I]	April 14 (1 p.m.)	Email
Notification of selected teams for the Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II]	Until April 15	Email
Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II] - Lisbon	April 18	PwC Lisbon Office
Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II] - Porto	April 25	PwC Porto Office

The dates, locations, and means of communication identified for each of the phases are indicative and may be subject to change, to be communicated by email to all candidates.

5. The present competition will have a maximum duration of 15 (fifteen) days. For the purpose of counting the period referred to in the previous paragraph, the following should be considered:

a) Start: date of the presentation of the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I];

b) End: final session of the Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II].

7. Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I]

1. The Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I] consists of 3 (three) distinct phases and objectives:

a) PwC Presentation – an initial moment for participants to become familiar with the company and clarify any questions;

b) Testimonials – presentation of testimonials from winners and participants of previous editions of the Consulting Challenge, along with a Q&A moment;

c) Presentation of the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I] – disclosure of the case statement and clarification of the rules for solving it.

2. The participation rules for the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I] are listed below:

a. To solve the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I], support files will be provided after the presentation (these may be written in Portuguese);

b. Consulting external sources of information is not expected. If participants choose to include information not provided in the supplied materials, and if such information is not relevant, it will be disregarded during evaluation;

c. Teams will have 24 (twenty‑four) hours to solve the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I] and prepare their presentations;

d. Team solutions must be prepared in presentation format (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.), and supporting materials in Excel/Power BI/other tools used must also be submitted;

e. Presentations and the case solution must be delivered in English and may contain a maximum of 5 (five) slides;

f. After completing the case, one member of each team must send the presentation to the indicated email address by 13:00 on the specified date;

g. The announcement of the teams selected for the Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II] will be made after the evaluation of all presentations from the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I].

3. The solution for the Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I] will be evaluated by the designated jury, and the participants of the selected teams for the Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II] will be informed. A total of 6 (six) teams will be selected for this phase.

8. Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II]

1. The Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II] will take place in person at PwC’s offices. In the Porto edition, this phase will be held at the Porto Office (Porto Office Park, Av. de Sidónio Pais 93, 4100-467 Porto). In the Lisbon edition, this phase will be held at the Lisbon Office (Palácio Sottomayor, Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo nº16, 1050-121 Lisboa)

2. Participation rules:

a. External sources of information must not be consulted;

b. Teams will have 3 (three) hours to solve the case and prepare their presentations, using the materials provided by PwC (flipcharts and additional materials);

c. The presentation will follow this format:

i. 7 minutes for the team to deliver their presentation;

ii. 7 minutes for the jury to ask questions.

d. All team members must participate either in the presentation of the case solution or in the jury Q&A;

e. The announcement of the results will be made at the end of the day, after all presentations have been completed.

9. External support to the Teams

1. The presence of any team members, coaches, or assistants in sessions other than those in which the team is participating is not permitted.

10. Consulting Challenge Jury

1. The Consulting Challenge Jury will be composed of 3 (three) members appointed by PwC.

2. The Jury makes decisions by majority vote, and its decisions are final and irreversible, and cannot be subject to complaint or appeal.

3. The Consulting Challenge Jury reserves the right to distinguish only those students/teams whose work produced during the event meets the distinction criteria it considers essential and demonstrates the desired level of quality.

11. Evaluation

Each team’s performance is recorded using the official evaluation grids provided by PwC.

The jury must take into consideration, among other criteria:

Consulting Challenge: Crack the Data [Part I]
Criteria	Description	Weight
First Assignment Solution	Relevance of the analyses carried out regarding the problem Proper identification of the problem Focus on innovation and creativity in the analyses Feasibility of the proposed solution	30%
Second Assignment Solution	Solution directly aligned with the problem Consideration of alternative solutions Innovation and creativity Implementation and feasibility Solution supported by the information provided	35%
Presentation	Focus on key topics Clear and accurate presentation of content Communication of the solution using a storytelling approach Definition and execution of a clear structure and organization	35%

Consulting Challenge: Crafting Solutions [Part II]
Criteria	Description	Weight
Problem Analysis	Focus on key issues Identification of future perspectives Methodology	20%
Presentation	Content Presentation structure (alignment and flow) Presentation skills Teamwork and organization Time management	25%
Solution	Solution directly aligned with the problem Consideration of alternative solutions Innovation and creativity Implementation and feasibility Sustainability of the proposed solution	30%
Responses to the Jury’s questions	Clear and accurate answers Participation of each team member Ability to handle questions as a team	25%

12. Prize

1. Depending on the performance of the teams during the Consulting Challenge, the following prizes will be awarded to the respective members:

1^st place: monetary prize of 300 (three hundred) euros in a FNAC voucher, a training session delivered by the PwC team (topic to be defined), and an interview for all team members, with the possibility of being awarded an internship (type to be defined) to one or more members of the team;

2^nd place: monetary prize of 150 (one hundred and fifty) euros in a FNAC voucher, and a training session delivered by PwC (topic to be defined);

3^rd place: a training session delivered by the PwC team (topic to be defined).

2. PwC reserves the right to award these prizes only to the teams and respective students whose profile and characteristics demonstrate the competencies considered essential.

13. Omitted cases

1. All omitted cases in this regulation will be resolved by the jury and, subsidiarily, by the PwC team.

14. Data protection

1. PwC, in its capacity as the Data Controller and as the entity promoting the competition, undertakes to comply with the national and European legislation on personal data protection in force, namely Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (GDPR), as applicable at any given time in matters of personal data protection.

2. PwC will collect the following personal data

i. Full name;

ii. Email;

iii. University attended;

iv. Degree attended;

v. Academic level;

vi. Current year of study;

vii. Curriculum Vitae (PDF format).

3. PwC will collect and process the personal data listed above for the following purposes:

a Registration and participation of team members;

b. Advertising and promotion of the event;

c. Potential recruitment purposes.

4. Under the personal data protection legislation in force and within the scope of the purposes described, the members of the teams freely, expressly and unequivocally authorize PwC, through the competition registration form, to collect their data for the purposes indicated in points (a) and (b).

5. PwC, as the Data Controller, collects the personal data of team members for potential recruitment purposes, based on the performance of pre‑contractual steps, in accordance with Article 6, nº1, point b) of the RGPD.

6. PwC will share the data identified in point 2 with the competition jury, the PwC Consulting team, and PwC’s Human Resources department. The recipients of the data are bound by confidentiality obligations and by compliance with the RGPD. Personal data will not be disclosed to third parties for purposes other than those set out in these regulations, except where required by law or by order of a competent authority.

7. PwC undertakes not to process personal data for purposes other than those specified.

8. PwC has implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk, guaranteeing the protection of the personal data processed within the scope of this competition, namely, but not limited to, protecting such data against unauthorized access, accidental loss, destruction, alteration, or improper disclosure.

9. Any questions regarding how PwC processes the data subject’s personal data may be consulted in our Privacy Policy and/or directed to the email address pt_pt_data_office@office.com.

10. In accordance with personal data protection legislation, data subjects may exercise their rights of access, rectification, erasure, objection, restriction, and portability by submitting a written request via email to pt_consulting_recrutamento@pwc.com or pt_pt_data_office@pwc.com, or through our Privacy Portal. In all cases, they must provide proof of identity and specify the right or rights they wish to exercise.

11. Team members also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

12. The personal data of the team members will be retained only for the period necessary to fulfil the purposes described, that is, for the duration of the event, unless a longer period is required by law, and for a period of 2 years for recruitment purposes.

15. Contacts

1. All communications will be sent to the email addresses provided at the time of the team’s registration and, exceptionally, by telephone to the team captain’s contact number.

2. Any questions regarding this competition, namely the interpretation of this regulation or matters related to the format and content of the sessions, must be sent to pt_consulting_recrutamento@pwc.com, and all teams will be informed of both the question and the clarification provided.