The 8th Global Competition on Design for Future Education (2025) kicks off on March 1st!
date：2025-03-03 12:23author：adminsource：Smart Learning Instituteviews：
On March 1, 2025, the 8th Global Competition on Design for Future Education (2025), which is co-organized by Beijing Normal University and UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), and supported by the Beijing Design Society, as well as domestic and international organizations, universities, and renowned science and technology enterprises, will kick off with the opening of the registration channel!
Since its launch in 2018, the competition has attracted more than 15,000 participants from over 40 countries and regions. As one of the annual activities of the World Digital Education Alliance, the competition focuses on the in-depth integration of education, design and technology, and brings together people from universities, primary and secondary schools, enterprises and other fields in the world to find high-quality solutions for the development of global future education.
Interdisciplinary is one of the most distinctive highlights of the competition. The competition advisor, Prof. Gu Mingyuan from Beijing Normal University said, “Facing the future, we need to cultivate students’ critical thinking, creative thinking, and practical thinking.” Participants cross-national, school, and professional boundaries to engage in dialogue and cooperation. Mentors from universities, enterprises, and various organizations provide participants with interdisciplinary knowledge construction and practical experience, helping them develop future-oriented thinking skills.
Innovation is the core driving force of the competition. The Co-Chair of the Judging Committee, Mr. Song Weizu, Honorary President of the Beijing Design Society, and Prof. Liu Dejian, Chairman of NetDragon, once pointed out respectively that “Education needs to be designed, and the methodology, the content as well as the path of education all need to be designed.” “It is necessary to learn to use systematic methodology to solve the difficulties in the teaching and learning process.” The competition encourages participants to propose original educational solutions based on design thinking and the application of new concepts, technologies, and methods.
Internationalization is another major feature of the competition. Participants from developed countries and regions and less developed countries and regions can design innovative solutions to different educational problems. Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar, Chair of the Governing Board of the UNESCO IITE, emphasized the importance of “selecting digital technologies that are available, affordable, and accessible to enhance educational inclusion.” The competition brings together participants from around the world, provides international expert guidance and networking events, and shares experiences in educational innovation, reinvigorating the development of education worldwide.
Since its launch in 2018, the competition has attracted more than 15,000 participants from over 40 countries and regions. As one of the annual activities of the World Digital Education Alliance, the competition focuses on the in-depth integration of education, design and technology, and brings together people from universities, primary and secondary schools, enterprises and other fields in the world to find high-quality solutions for the development of global future education.
Interdisciplinary is one of the most distinctive highlights of the competition. The competition advisor, Prof. Gu Mingyuan from Beijing Normal University said, “Facing the future, we need to cultivate students’ critical thinking, creative thinking, and practical thinking.” Participants cross-national, school, and professional boundaries to engage in dialogue and cooperation. Mentors from universities, enterprises, and various organizations provide participants with interdisciplinary knowledge construction and practical experience, helping them develop future-oriented thinking skills.
Innovation is the core driving force of the competition. The Co-Chair of the Judging Committee, Mr. Song Weizu, Honorary President of the Beijing Design Society, and Prof. Liu Dejian, Chairman of NetDragon, once pointed out respectively that “Education needs to be designed, and the methodology, the content as well as the path of education all need to be designed.” “It is necessary to learn to use systematic methodology to solve the difficulties in the teaching and learning process.” The competition encourages participants to propose original educational solutions based on design thinking and the application of new concepts, technologies, and methods.
Internationalization is another major feature of the competition. Participants from developed countries and regions and less developed countries and regions can design innovative solutions to different educational problems. Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar, Chair of the Governing Board of the UNESCO IITE, emphasized the importance of “selecting digital technologies that are available, affordable, and accessible to enhance educational inclusion.” The competition brings together participants from around the world, provides international expert guidance and networking events, and shares experiences in educational innovation, reinvigorating the development of education worldwide.
With the themes of Artificial Intelligence and Education, Metaverse and Education, Rural Education, Inclusive Education, Educational Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence and Engineering, the 8th Global Competition on Design for Future Education focuses on how to satisfy learners’ diversified learning needs through smart technologies, and explores the possibilities that technology can bring to the disadvantaged groups and underdeveloped regions. The competition will be held from March to December 2025, consisting of a main event and two calls for entries. The main competition will focus on project or case design, with four tracks: higher education, vocational education, K12, and enterprises. The Call for Entries consists of a call for posters and a call for videos, which will be invited and judged every month.
- Higher Education Track: March-July, for undergraduate and graduate students of various majors in colleges and universities worldwide, emphasizing interdisciplinary cooperation and encouraging the exploration of future-oriented educational problem-solving.
- K12 Track: March-August, for primary and secondary school teachers, kindergarten teachers, and those engaged in K12 education worldwide, encouraging the sharing of excellent teaching cases and emphasizing the application of new technologies, methods, and concepts to improve the quality of education and teaching.
- Enterprise Track: March-August, for employees in the education, technology, design and other related departments in enterprises, focusing on the innovative design of education products and their application cases, aiming to facilitate the digital transformation of education.
- Vocational Education Track: September-December, for students enrolled in various majors in higher vocational colleges, focusing on demonstrating hands-on ability and professional skills, combining with their major studies to propose education and tool optimization solutions, and shaping the great national craftsmen of the new era.
- Call for Posters: March-December, for teachers, students, and others engaged in education from around the world to demonstrate their visions for the future of education in the form of posters.
- Call for Videos: March-December, for teachers, students, and others engaged in education from around the world, in the form of short videos to create authentic problem scenarios, guiding learners to think critically within these situations.
Participating in the competition will not only have the opportunity to win substantial cash prizes but also to receive international certificates issued jointly by Beijing Normal University and the UNESCO IITE, which will be a brilliant addition to your life. Outstanding works will be included in the authoritative case collections and project libraries and may have the chance to be published by the internationally renowned publisher Springer. Additionally, award winners will have opportunities to be invited to international conferences hosted by BNU (e.g., Global Smart Education Conference, AIGC Workshop, etc.), as well as related activities organized by the World Digital Education Alliance. Free training sessions, exchange workshops and guidance sessions will be held throughout the preparation and competition period, providing participants with a comprehensive platform for learning and growth.
This is not only a stage to show your talent but also a golden opportunity to realize your educational dreams! For more information about the competition, please visit the official website of the Global Competition on Design for Future Education (https://gcd4fe.bnu.edu.cn/en/index.html ), and let’s work together for better education opportunities for human beings!
This is not only a stage to show your talent but also a golden opportunity to realize your educational dreams! For more information about the competition, please visit the official website of the Global Competition on Design for Future Education (https://gcd4fe.bnu.edu.cn/en/index.html ), and let’s work together for better education opportunities for human beings!
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