We've received 300 applications from 1000 students across 29 countries. The top 150 teams will hear if successful by 19th Oct
We've received 300 applications from 1000 students across 29 countries. The top 150 teams will hear if successful by 19th Oct
Convergence.Tech & Trybe.ID are proud to continue our annual community initiative by launching this 2020 Challenge.
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact globally, and the Education industry had to adapt almost overnight. The pandemic has highlighted the merits for a future of blended learning alongside new technologies but has also exacerbated the societal digital divide and mental health concerns.
Our 2020 Challenge aims to use COVID-19 as a catalyst for change and seeks to create new technology solutions for the education sector which will address mental health, digital wellness, equity, and diversity issues. With this, we hope to empower a challenge to the status-quo and enable educational success for all children globally.
The Challenge follows in the spirit of a Hackathon, in which teams of students globally are encouraged to work collaboratively to design a viable solution to our 2020 Problem Statement.
To take part in the Challenge, teams of 2-6 students must submit a Registration application (now closed). Before the start of the Challenge, there will be a Conference with a series of presentations led by industry experts in their respective fields. These presentations will discuss some of the opportunities and challenges faced by the education sector and others around the world. The presentations are intended to provide background knowledge for participants, as well as stimulate ideas and discussions for them during the Challenge. Non-participants are also able to join this Conference - more details available here.
Teams will then have ten days to develop their solutions. We do not specifically designate a certain issue that the teams must solve, rather we leave it open-ended to inspire different ideas and voices from across the world. Teams can solve an issue they find interesting, one that affects their community, or something they're inspired to change - although we ask that solutions are based around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education.
They will then submit details about their proposed solutions which will be reviewed by us. The groups creating the best proposals will then be invited to pitch their solution to a panel of specialist judges and CAD $22,000 in prizes will be rewarded to the winning teams.
Throughout the Challenge, students will get access to world renowned subject matter experts and expert mentor advice. In addition, we will offer teams free training courses to help them in the Challenge and grow their digital skillset.
We will also issue Digital Credentials for successful completion of the training courses and completing the Challenge.
The Challenge this year will be fully virtual and is open to all High School, College & University students globally. This event is completely free and we encourage teams from a broad range of backgrounds globally to participate, especially those groups currently under-represented, so that we can capture a diversity of perspectives in the solutions that emerge.
This is a challenge which attracts those groups interested in using the potential of digital technologies to improve educational outcomes for children worldwide. Whilst not essential, we suggest that teams should be composed of both 'technical' and 'non-technical' students to ensure solutions are successful - details on suggested team composition can be found here.
Please note that registration has now closed for 2020.