Social Innovation Relay
The Social Innovation Relay (SIR) is an on-line global competition that challenges 15 to 19 year old students to come up with a new business concept that has a positive social impact. The initiative developed by JA-YE Europe was started in 2010-2011 and is specifically designed to increase access to entrepreneurship education and to boost the benefits associated with such education.
The SIR is a unique opportunity that encourages students to work in teams on the development of a solution to a societal challenge. During the process, they develop their ICT skills on the SIR Platform, and they receive advice and mentorship from volunteers.
Phases of the Competition:
1. On-line Registration - Students have to register and create an individual/team profile and take a look at the useful resources available.
2. Social Innovation Quiz - This tests the student's knowledge in the field of social innovation. Students are required to take the quiz at least once. The quiz was developed as an educational and learning tool for the students. The quiz can be taken more than once as it aims to increase the students' knowledge in the field. Each time the student takes the quiz, a random set of 15 questions are displayed.
3. Case Study Workshops - To enhance a better learning experience during the SIR competition, a workshop will be conducted by volunteers. Case studies will be presented during the workshop where existing and successful stories of social entrepreneurs will be discussed. The impact and the process of the social innovation are explained through the case studies.
4. HP LIFE e-Learning – HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs is a global program that trains students, entrepreneurs, and small business owners to apply IT and business skills so they can establish and grow a business, build successful companies and create jobs. Take the Social Entrepreneurship module online course via the link provided.
5. Socially Innovative Idea - In teams of 2 to 4 students, they submit a 300-word description of their social innovation solution to a societal challenge that they are addressing. The societal challenges can be in the areas of: education, health, environment, technology, poverty, economic development, human rights and energy.
6. Selection of Top 20 Ideas - JA Singapore staff and judges will evaluate and select the top 20 ideas within Singapore. These top 20 teams will proceed to the E-Mentorship Phase.
7. E-Mentorship Phase - Each of the top 20 teams chosen will be matched with a Volunteer E-Mentor. During this phase, students develop their ideas into a concept paper with the help and support of their E-Mentors. After their 1st face-to-face meeting, e-mentoring can take place through the SIR Platform, WebEx and emails.
8. National Final - judges will review the top 20 teams’ concept papers and then choose the top 10 teams to present their concept papers at the National Final. One winning team is chosen to proceed to the Global On-line Final.
9. Global On-line Final - The Singapore winning team along with the national winning teams from 8 other countries will participate in the final phase of the competition. For the Global Final, the teams will have to prepare a 3 minute video pitch of their social innovation as well as present their concept paper.
Students Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the societal challenges we face
2. Be able to identify societal challenges in their environment.
3. Identify and use sources of information about existing social innovations and social entrepreneurs.
4. Develop and improve their ICT skills.
5. Develop an entrepreneurial mind-set.
6. Develop and improve the following skills:
The SIR is a unique opportunity that encourages students to work in teams on the development of a solution to a societal challenge. During the process, they develop their ICT skills on the SIR Platform, and they receive advice and mentorship from volunteers.
Phases of the Competition:
1. On-line Registration - Students have to register and create an individual/team profile and take a look at the useful resources available.
2. Social Innovation Quiz - This tests the student's knowledge in the field of social innovation. Students are required to take the quiz at least once. The quiz was developed as an educational and learning tool for the students. The quiz can be taken more than once as it aims to increase the students' knowledge in the field. Each time the student takes the quiz, a random set of 15 questions are displayed.
3. Case Study Workshops - To enhance a better learning experience during the SIR competition, a workshop will be conducted by volunteers. Case studies will be presented during the workshop where existing and successful stories of social entrepreneurs will be discussed. The impact and the process of the social innovation are explained through the case studies.
4. HP LIFE e-Learning – HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs is a global program that trains students, entrepreneurs, and small business owners to apply IT and business skills so they can establish and grow a business, build successful companies and create jobs. Take the Social Entrepreneurship module online course via the link provided.
5. Socially Innovative Idea - In teams of 2 to 4 students, they submit a 300-word description of their social innovation solution to a societal challenge that they are addressing. The societal challenges can be in the areas of: education, health, environment, technology, poverty, economic development, human rights and energy.
6. Selection of Top 20 Ideas - JA Singapore staff and judges will evaluate and select the top 20 ideas within Singapore. These top 20 teams will proceed to the E-Mentorship Phase.
7. E-Mentorship Phase - Each of the top 20 teams chosen will be matched with a Volunteer E-Mentor. During this phase, students develop their ideas into a concept paper with the help and support of their E-Mentors. After their 1st face-to-face meeting, e-mentoring can take place through the SIR Platform, WebEx and emails.
8. National Final - judges will review the top 20 teams’ concept papers and then choose the top 10 teams to present their concept papers at the National Final. One winning team is chosen to proceed to the Global On-line Final.
9. Global On-line Final - The Singapore winning team along with the national winning teams from 8 other countries will participate in the final phase of the competition. For the Global Final, the teams will have to prepare a 3 minute video pitch of their social innovation as well as present their concept paper.
Students Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the societal challenges we face
2. Be able to identify societal challenges in their environment.
3. Identify and use sources of information about existing social innovations and social entrepreneurs.
4. Develop and improve their ICT skills.
5. Develop an entrepreneurial mind-set.
6. Develop and improve the following skills:
- team working;
- communication;
- presentation skills;
- gain self confidence;
- creative thinking.