Microsoft Launches Imagine Cup Junior 2023 Empowering Top Innovations

Students want to change the world? Teachers and business mentors, want to open opportunities for amazing talent growth? Imagine Cup Junior (ICJ) 2023 is open for registration creating outstanding paths for students to learn about technology solving the world’s biggest challenges. Participants experience the impact that technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cybersecurity can have on the world. All for the benefit of humanity and Earth’s ecosystems.

The Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior is a global student competition for ages 13-18 where participation in ICJ, supported by educators, is via a Team Leader (such as an educator, instructor, parent, guardian— over the age of 18). ICJ covers a range of skills and is open to all students regardless of their technical proficiency. Through ICJ, educators utilize lessons to teach their students about AI technologies, students form teams, and apply these lessons to dream up a concept or idea to make a difference in their local community or world around them. Students explain their concept in a PowerPoint template and record a video to illustrate their concept. No coding is required.

New this year! Microsoft received feedback from last year that some teams would like to build a prototype for their concept so this year Microsoft is providing information to access Azure for Students where Team Leaders can add students to collaborate and create a prototype of their concept. Also new this year are Minecraft: Education Edition lessons on ethical AI for educators to use to add additional AI activities to support student learning.

Last year thousands of students participated in the challenge. The judges recognized 10 global winners (see my Forbes article) who created incredible concepts to address Microsoft’s AI for Good initiatives.

Imagine Cup Junior Resource Pack

Once registered, Team Leaders can access all the resources needed to educate students and run a great Imagine Cup Junior challenge. These resources include:

· Beginners Kit: includes six 45-minute lessons, student guides, submission template, judging criteria, and rubric.

· Deep Learning Modules: in-depth overview of the six technology modules that supplement the Beginners Kit, for more advanced learning. Modules include Intro to AI, Machine Learning, AI Applications in Real Life, Deep Learning and Neural Networks, AI for Good, and Cybersecurity.

· Team Leader Toolkit: includes student certificates, social templates, posters, and more to leverage throughout the challenge.

· Judging Criteria and Rubric: to understand what will be used by judges to determine the winners.

After a Team Leader provides lessons in the classroom—based on the Deep Learning Modules—they form teams of one to six students. Each Team Leader should encourage student teams to apply the lessons and then brainstorm concepts to help make a positive difference to the world. Concepts should be aligned to the Microsoft AI for Good Initiatives focused on Health, Cultural Heritage, Earth, Accessibility, and Humanitarian Action.

How are Imagine Cup Junior projects submitted?

Students illustrate their concept in the Imagine Cup Junior PowerPoint template. Team Leaders submit a completed PowerPoint template and link to a video illustrating the students’ concept at the same link where registration is now open.

Submissions for the 2023 competition must be uploaded to the Imagine Cup website by May 10, 2023. A panel of judges evaluates each team’s project based on Judging Criteria and Rubric.

The top ten teams will be announced on June 7, 2023, and receive trophies and prizes.

Imagine Cup Be Inspired!

Imagine Cup, the original program for ages 16+, from its beginning engaging more than two million student competitors. and the winners spotlighted in this Forbes story. Imagine Cup Junior in its fourth annual edition in 2023 allows younger students to engage in this most successful and iconic program.

Charu Thomas who competed in the 2017 Imagine Cup founding her own company Ox whose clients include top Fortune 500 retailers and is now an investor. Charu has gone on to be named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, AMP’s 2020 Future 50 list and much more. Be inspired from the video interview with Charu featured in this Forbes story: Top 11 Purposeful Leaders-Women Positively And Inspiringly Impacting The World.

[This article is driven by my global insights from working daily pro bono with more than one million CEOs, investors, scientists, and experts across 100+ projects.]