As the world has entered the era of information technology, the use of Internet and I.T is getting more and more popular. It has also become a very important tool for people to communicate, acquire knowledge, tackle problems or even market their business. Internet and I.T penetrate our everyday life and they tend to be increasingly indispensable for us. In view of these, there is a need to equip and educate the future leaders with the power of I.T.

InterChallenge is an international competition based on internet and information technology which is organized by ISOC-HK (Internet Society Hong Kong) and AIESEC. This competition will expose participants to the Internet-related challenges of some corporate bodies, Non-governmental organizations or different entities in reality. It aims to challenge them on the adoption of Internet and information technology in problem-solving. As the competition is not only open to all full-time tertiary students in Hong Kong, but also around the world, this allows ideas, experience and cultural exchange among individuals and organizations from private and public sectors as well as across borders. Our ultimate goal is to promote Internet and information technology as positive tools and environment enabling organizations, professions, and individuals worldwide to more effectively collaborate, cooperate, and innovate in their respective fields and interests which make contribution to the community work for the betterment of society.

This year our InterChallenge program will cooperate with One Laptop per Child Asia Pacific (OLPC APAC) to organize a case competition in the Asia Pacific region. The mission of OLPC APAC is increasing the awareness of difficulties faced by underprivileged children caused by limited access to technology and education. Despite of their passion and effort, there are still some challenges or obstacles that need to be overcome. Therefore this competition aims to facilitate them in their real-life operation by getting insights and suggestions from talents around the world. The winning proposal will be adopted and implemented by OLPC APAC.

Theme of this year:

"Enabling Access"- It will require participants to tackle the fundraising and marketing problems faced by One Laptop per Child Asia Pacific (OLPC APAC) in running its project in Asia. InterChallenge aims to facilitate participants in their real-life operation by inspiring their insights from talents around the world, through cooperation with One Laptop per Child Asia Pacific (OLPC APAC).

The Case:

Out of the challenges ahead, the OLPC would like fresh and practical ideas from you lot to help extend its wish and goal to continue to enable the underprivileged children in Sichuan to learn, explore, create and share. You are sincerely invited to design a campaign, a series of events or ANY OTHER PRACTICAL means of exposure that you can think of to achieve that. To be concise, we are looking for the following,

• imaginative fundraising initiatives with minimal budget
• donation appeals through innovative use of ICT
• creative sponsorship/partnership efforts to synergize resources
• increase in public and media awareness

Why we stand out?

1. Without Border: Participants are from worldwide.
2. Make the Impact: The winning proposal will be adopted and implemented by OLPC APAC.
3. Multifarious Opportunities: Summer/Winter Internships in OLPC APAC and participation in Internet-related International Conferences will be granted.

Eligibility:

University and tertiary students in Hong Kong and around the world

 

Target participants:

University and tertiary students in Hong Kong and around the world

 

Prizes & Rewards:

• Winning team:
  • Internship for the whole team (6-8 weeks) at One Laptop per Child Asia Pacific (OLPC APAC) or DotAsia in summer 2010 or winter 2011 with allowance
  • Sponsorship (including flight and accommodation) to international conferences in Japan (tentatively)
  • The winning proposal will be adopted and implemented by OLPC APAC
• 1st Runner-up team:
  • Internship for the whole team (6-8 weeks) at One Laptop per Child Asia Pacific (OLPC APAC) or other ICT-related Non-government organization in summer 2010 or winter 2011 with allowance
  • $6000 deployment sponsorship (NEW!)
• Other participants :
  • XO-laptop deployment trip (partly subsudized)

Application Procedure

Formation of groups:
maximum of 3 participants per group, all members can come from different universities.
Registration:
Register online or through the counters in stationed universities to enter the competition.

 

 

How can students participate?

Voluntary students have to form groups at a maximum of 3 participants and register online to enter the competition. Each entrant team will be provided with a copy of the real case from OLPC. A one-day training will also be provided to the local participants regarding the volunteering work in OLPC, Internet and I.T updates and skills in writing the proposal. In the first round, they are required to do their own research and submit a proposal limited to 15 pages to solve the problems stated in the case. After the screening process, each selected team (up to 20 teams) will be required to upload a 10-minute presentation video onto the official website. They will be judged by the invited panel

.

Season of the competition:

Phase I
Each team is required to submit a proposal limited to 15 pages (excluding a cover page but including an one-page executive summary , charts, graphs, posters ,appendix and other related materials) to solve the problems stated in the case. [suggested guide for the proposal will be uploaded on the official website]

Phase II
After the screening process, each selected team (up to 20 teams) will be required to upload a maximum of 10-minute presentation video onto the official website.

 

Our Prestigious Adjudicators:

Mr. Anthony Wong,

President of OLPC Asia Pacific [Former Director General of The Office of Telecommunications Authority, Commissioner of Innovation and Technology]

Mr. Charles Mok,

Chairman of Internet Society Hong Kong

Mr. John Fung,

Director of Information Technology Resource Centre, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service

Mr. Edmon Chung,

CEO, DotAsia Organisation

Mr. Ken Ngai,

Website Director, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

 

Juding Criteria:

A team who can create a most innovative, awareness-raising, cost-effective, sustainable and feasible campaign which can gather love and support, and finally raise sufficient fund to help the children in Asia will be the winner. Details of judging criteria will be uploaded on the official website.

 

Timeline of the competition:

December 2009	11th   21st	-Application Deadline (NOW posponed to 19th!!)   -Training Camp @ Cyberport ,10am- 6pm	Deployment trip and ICT-related activities will be arranged throughout the competition
January 2010	8th	- First round submission deadline
February 2010	10th	- Release of first round result
March 2010	17th	- Second round submission deadline
April 2010	mid-April (tentative)	- Release of second round result

Deposit Policy:

Each team is required to pay $60 deposit (updates!) to enter the competition. By signing up as a member of the ISOC HK for FREE online before the deadline of application, you will be entitled to a refund of $20. Each team must send AT LEAST one representative to the One-Day Training Camp in order to legitimize the claim over the remaining deposit. The refund, depending on the degree of completion of the aforementioned duties, will be paid to you upon check-out of the One-Day Camp.

 

 

PS. Please refer to the updates on our website for latest arrangement and details.

Online Application Closed

Enquiry:

Should any inquiries arise, please refer to http://www.InterChallenge.asia/ and email to info@InterChallenge.asia