InnovEd 2023
Innovation for the Education Sector (InnovEd) is a project organised by the NPCC in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education Science and Technology and the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD). The objective is to promote and instil creative, critical and innovative thinking among students. InnovEd aims to evoke and foster creativity in schools which will better prepare students for further education and employment. InnovEd targets all secondary schools and MITD Centers in Mauritius and Rodrigues.
Guidelines to participate in InnovEd 2023
General
1.1 Registration for InnovEd 2023 is open to students of all State Secondary Schools, Private Secondary Schools, MITD Centres and Polytechnics in Mauritius and Rodrigues. The deadline for registration is 30 January 2023.
1.2 Student participation is voluntary - students who would like to participate in InnovEd should obtain permission from the head of institution.
The Topics for InnovEd 2023 are as follows:
• Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Applications of VR include entertainment (particularly video games), education (such as medical or military training) and business (such as virtual meetings). VR is taking off in education with an increasing number of schools adopting the technology. VR allows students to experience destinations from across the world without ever having to leave the classroom. Students are encouraged to work in teams and use VR to address problems at school.
• Healthy Lifestyle
Healthy Lifestyle comprises balanced diets, performing regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and drugs and getting plenty of rest. 'A sound mind in a sound body' concept has to be promoted among everybody in the family and at school. Students are advised to work in teams to identify innovative ways to promote a healthy lifestyle.
• Waste Management
Waste management refers to the various schemes to manage wastes. The nine Rs, namely, Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle and Recover can be applied to effectively manage wastes. Students are required to apply the 9 Rs as far as possible to come up with innovative projects.
• Blue Economy
Blue economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem. The blue economy has diverse components, including established traditional ocean industries such as fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, but also new and emerging activities, such as offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities as well as marine biotechnology and bio prospecting. Students are encouraged to conduct research on the opportunities in the blue economy.
• Inclusive Education
Inclusive education is education for everyone including persons with disabilities. Successful inclusive education happens primarily through accepting, understanding and attending to student differences and diversity, which can be physical, cognitive, academic, social, and emotional. Students are encouraged to explore the diversity at school and to develop creative projects promoting inclusiveness.
• AgriTech
Agritech refers to the use of technology and technological innovation to improve the efficiency and output of agriculture. Put simply, it is the application of technology to improve all elements of the farming and growing process. Students are encouraged to research on the different types of Agritech solutions to present an innovative project for food security.
• FinTech
Financial technology (FinTech) is used to describe new technology that seeks to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. FinTech can include everything from straightforward mobile payment apps to complex blockchain networks housing encrypted transactions. Facilitators are encouraged to guide students on the subject of FinTech and identify ideas that can be developed as an innovative project in the financial sector.
Teams may choose from the following themes to address one of the above topics:
• Interactive Media
• Cultural Heritage
• Design
• Languages and Publishing
• Performing Arts
• Visual Arts and Crafts
InnovEd 2023 will be rolled out as follows:
1. Registration
2. Team Formation
3. Project Identification & Prototyping
4. First Level Assessment
5. CREAThon
6. Second Level or Final Assessment
7. InnovEd 2023 Award
For the project implementation, schools will have to follow the five phases of the Design Thinking Process namely, (1) Empathise (2) Define (3) Ideate (4) Prototype and (5) Test.
Schools are encouraged to select the best team to participate in each of the six themes for InnovEd 2023. The Innovation Champion selected will be responsible to ensure a proper selection process at the level of the Innovation Club.
Each selected team participating in InnovEd 2023 should be coached by a designated facilitator proficient in the theme. Teams shall be composed of a maximum of five (5) students.
Projects will have to be submitted as per the template provided on the InnovEd platform at www.npccinnovation.org. Detailed instructions for submission will be provided on the platform.
Students who have participated in the earlier editions of InnovEd may participate again but must register for a new project idea. Innovations which have already been presented for other projects, conducted by other institutions cannot be entered for InnovEd 2023. Presentation of same will be disqualified de facto.
All resource materials to ensure smooth participation in InnovEd 2023 will be provided by the NPCC at www.npccinnovation.org