Deadline: 30-Jun-23
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia invites high school students to submit innovative solutions to local problems using STE(A)M disciplines and digital technologies.
The #SТЕ(А)Мchallenge, with the aim to support and award the best ideas of Serbian high school students, with the intent to solve local problems by utilising SТЕ(А)М* disciplines, digital technologies and data. UNDP believe that with digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain, robotics, etc. implemented in SТЕ (А) М fields, they may identify and offer different innovative solutions.
The challenge is to recognise a local problem in your local community – school, neighbourhood, municipality or the city, and to think of the way to solve it together with your peers by looking for answers in digital technologies and SТЕ(А)М fields.
The challenge is organised within the project “Building the critical computer skills for the future ready workforce“, implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Petlja Foundation, and with the support by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
The challenge is realized within the project “Building key computing competencies – towards the workforce of the future”, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Petlja Foundation, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
Award Information
- For the three winning teams: Entrepreneurial tour in Belgrade – a one-day visit to the relevant actors in the startup ecosystem.
- For the students: Vouchers to the amount of 300 USD per team member, for buying technological equipment.
- For the teachers: Vouchers to the amount of 300 USD per team member, for buying technological equipment.
What will the process look like?
- The challenge will be implemented in two competition rounds.
- During the challenge, between 26 May and 5 June, 4 info sessions will be held, where they intend to clarify the aim of the challenge to the interested teams and offer useful tools for preparation of the proposals.
- After the application deadline has expired, the committee will choose 5 to 10 best ideas that will receive targeted mentoring support in order to realise the ideas as digital solutions. The supported teams go to the finals where they will get the opportunity to pitch their solutions. The winning ideas from the first round will be publicly announced by 31July, while information on the three winning teams will they available by November 2023.
- The school teams selected by the committee, in line with the public call criteria, will receive the six-weeks support to develop their project ideas into final solutions.
- The finalists will present their solutions in person before the committee during November 2023, via pitch presentations, and the committee will subsequently select three winners.
Eligibility Criteria
- School teams from accredited high schools in the Republic of Serbia, consisting of 2-5 students, and led by 1-2 teachers can apply to the SТЕ(А)М Challenge. Both the students and the teachers can participate as members of different teams, but no more than 3 in total. Also, one team may include representatives of more than one school, i.e. the teams may consist of students from different high schools.
For more information, visit UNDP.