Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2023
(organized by JA Singapore and sponsored by Accenture)
Dear Principals / Head of Departments / Teachers,
Junior Achievement Singapore cordially invites your students to participate in The Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2023, a challenge focusing on addressing business and community related problems and challenges identified by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Sustainability Innovation Challenge provides a platform for students to develop ideas that can help make the world a better place. The goal of this competition is to inspire, motivate and challenge students to develop and pitch innovative ideas to the world’s most critical environmental and social issues we are facing today.
Accenture has recently launched its third annual Sustainability Innovation Challenge, a global initiative that encourages companies to develop innovative solutions to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. This year, for the first time, the challenge has a special focus on engaging youth.
Singapore has set forth a ‘whole-of-nation’ sustainable movement and a 2030 Green Plan for industries to commit and develop responsibly around the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals – among the initiatives include using cleaner energy, reducing carbon emissions, keeping the environment clean and saving precious resources.
Junior Achievement Singapore cordially invites your students to participate in The Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2023, a challenge focusing on addressing business and community related problems and challenges identified by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Sustainability Innovation Challenge provides a platform for students to develop ideas that can help make the world a better place. The goal of this competition is to inspire, motivate and challenge students to develop and pitch innovative ideas to the world’s most critical environmental and social issues we are facing today.
Accenture has recently launched its third annual Sustainability Innovation Challenge, a global initiative that encourages companies to develop innovative solutions to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. This year, for the first time, the challenge has a special focus on engaging youth.
Singapore has set forth a ‘whole-of-nation’ sustainable movement and a 2030 Green Plan for industries to commit and develop responsibly around the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals – among the initiatives include using cleaner energy, reducing carbon emissions, keeping the environment clean and saving precious resources.
Theme of the Challenge:
Teams compete and solve for the challenge by establishing innovative and potentially viable solutions for the following theme.
Sustainable Systems & Communities - How might we rewire cities, schools, and neighbourhoods for sustainability and regeneration?
Sustainable Development Goal Examples:
Exploration Areas Examples:
Students Learning Objectives:
Students Learning Components:
Teams compete and solve for the challenge by establishing innovative and potentially viable solutions for the following theme.
Sustainable Systems & Communities - How might we rewire cities, schools, and neighbourhoods for sustainability and regeneration?
Sustainable Development Goal Examples:
- Quality education (Goal 4)
- Affordable and clean energy (Goal 7)
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9)
- Sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11)
- Responsible consumption and production (Goal 12)
- Peace, justice and strong institutions (Goal 16)
- Partnerships for the goals (Goal 17)
Exploration Areas Examples:
- Sustainable cities
- Regenerative design
- Decarbonization
Students Learning Objectives:
- Support employment relevant 21st century competency development
- Explore the UN Sustainability Development Goals and Singapore Green Plan 2030 to identify ways businesses/communities/individuals can address these consequences and support fair sustainable development
- Further develop idea-generation and teamwork competencies, as well as collaboration techniques
- Empower students to be problem finders and change makers
- Provide an opportunity for students to display their innovative ideas and passion while being mentored by volunteers to complement their learning journeys
- Gain experience in sustainability and develop the skills in areas such as:
- problem-solving
- design thinking
- entrepreneurship
- pitching and presentation skills
- innovation and collaboration
Students Learning Components:
There are three distinct, yet interrelated components: a pre-challenge Design Thinking and Pitch & Presentation workshop, an innovation challenge competition, and 6-months local mentorship for the winning team to support the implementation of their idea.
- Pre-Challenge Workshops – Design Thinking and Pitch & Presentation: Students are required to attend the Pre-Challenge Design Thinking Workshop to systematically identify the user and the problem they are solving, and the Pitch & Presentation Workshop to prepare them for their presentation at the National Finals.
- National Innovation Challenge (National Finals): The student teams compete and solve for the challenge identified by establishing innovative and potentially viable solutions.
- Acceleration Activities: The winning team will then go on to receive USD 3,000 seed funding and participate in structured, ongoing 6-months mentorship activities to support the increased and next-level development and implementation of solutions that they started during National Innovation Challenge.
Student participation Criteria:
- Ages: 17- 21
- Grade level: ITE & polytechnic
- Course of study: Any discipline
- No of students per team: 5 students per team
- No of teams: 30 teams
- No of mentors: 30 mentors (1 per team)
Timeline:
Dates (2023) |
Activities |
May to June |
Recruitment and Registration Deadline |
Sat 24th June, 9am – 4pm |
Design Thinking Workshop |
Fri 7th July, 9am – 12pm |
Pitch & Presentation Workshop |
Sat 15th July, 9am – 6pm |
National Innovation Challenge (National Finals) |
1st August 2023 - 31 Jan 2024 |
Acceleration Activities: Seed Funding and 6-months Mentorship for the Winning Team |
We believe that this competition will provide students with a unique opportunity to use their knowledge and creativity to shape the future of our world and we hope you will encourage your students to participate.
Registration: Please register as a team via the link by Monday 12th June 2023.
https://bit.ly/JASustainabilityInnovationChallenge2023
https://bit.ly/JASustainabilityInnovationChallenge2023
About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement (JA) is one of the largest global non-profit organizations dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges of young people by educating and empowering them to transform their future and own their economic success.
Through the delivery of cutting-edge, experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship, Junior Achievement effectively broadens the canvas of possibility for young people and enriches their ability to both engage in their own economic development as well as contribute to the strength of their families, communities and economies.
The 123 country JA Worldwide network is powered by over 500,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching more than 10 million students around the world annually. In partnership with businesses and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential. More information about JA is available at www.jaworldwide.org and www.ja.org.sg.
About Accenture:
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology, and operations. With over 738,000 employees located in more than 200 cities across 50 countries, Accenture work at the intersection of business and technology to help clients across a range of industries improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. Accenture is committed to creating a positive and lasting impact on the world through its sustainability initiatives.
Junior Achievement (JA) is one of the largest global non-profit organizations dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges of young people by educating and empowering them to transform their future and own their economic success.
Through the delivery of cutting-edge, experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship, Junior Achievement effectively broadens the canvas of possibility for young people and enriches their ability to both engage in their own economic development as well as contribute to the strength of their families, communities and economies.
The 123 country JA Worldwide network is powered by over 500,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching more than 10 million students around the world annually. In partnership with businesses and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential. More information about JA is available at www.jaworldwide.org and www.ja.org.sg.
About Accenture:
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology, and operations. With over 738,000 employees located in more than 200 cities across 50 countries, Accenture work at the intersection of business and technology to help clients across a range of industries improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. Accenture is committed to creating a positive and lasting impact on the world through its sustainability initiatives.