
#realworldchallenge
In partnership with ON AIR COLLECTIVE, an Omni-Channel Creative Agency with a leading track record of transforming brands, OWN Academy invites you to join our online competition targeting students to ANALYZE, IMAGINE and REFLECT on how COVID-19 has left its mark on our world.

Our #realworldchallenge Winners

How should we move on from this
#realworldchallenge that is a global pandemic?
REAL WORLD CHALLENGE by OWN Academy is an online competition series targeting students of ages 12 to 19 that prompts them to analyze, imagine,and reflect on how COVID-19 has left its mark on our world. It is a timely opportunity for students to consider our gains and losses from this trying time, to ruminate upon the concomitant societal concerns, and to envision the route ahead. By encouraging students to express their ideas creatively, OUTBREAK: WHAT’S NEXT? is the name of the first competition that serves as a critical and effective space for discussion, innovation, and exploration.

Key Stages
SUBMISSION
4 May 2020 – 15 June 2020
SHORTLISTING
16 June 2020 – 19 June 2020
ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS
27 June 2020, 3 PM HKT

Strategic Partner

Internship Partners
Sponsor
Partner Schools
Implementation Patrner
Supporting Organizations
Hey changemakers!
COVID-19 is everywhere and is affecting everyone in the very here and now. It has taken away far too many lives and livelihoods and is disrupting our day-to-day in the most unexpected ways possible. How can we move on from this global pandemic – where do we go from here?
Did you know that 91% of the student population has had their education disrupted and that’s 1.5 billion students around the world?
Schools had been in suspension for the past months, international exams were canceled and our learning routine turned upside down. Many cities are still under lockdown and international travel may not return to normal anytime soon. We are approaching the summer months but the reality is that students around the world may continue to be stuck at home. If normal summer experiences are no longer available, how can we keep this summer productive and meaningful?
Every crisis is an opportunity. Welcome to OWN Academy’s Real World Challenge – Education Edition. We want to hear your creative ideas for an alternative learning engagement over the summer. Let’s brainstorm effective and innovative project ideas where students can have fun and learn at the same time.
Give us your best project ideas for the summer that students can participate in and make this summer not only exciting but memorable.

KEY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
Here are some questions you need to answer with the 200-word submission.
- What is the topic/theme/subject related to your project idea?
- What is the goal of this project?
- What will be created in the end?
- What would students need to do to achieve the goal?
- What type of students do you think would be excited about this?
KEY QUESTIONS
Here are some questions for inspiration and are not required to be answered with the 200-word submission.
- What is an interesting & innovative project idea that students can do under the CoViD-19 situation this summer?
- How can we engage like-minded students around the world for a global project?
- What type of projects can solve impactful problems?
- What was a project you loved that other students can benefit from?
Expectations
We want your most quirky, weird yet engaging project idea in 200 words or less, supported by a visual, static, or moving. It can be an inspirational quote, a video, a meme, a GIF, just be creative. The video or picture can either be of original works or of someone else’s work as long as we give credit where credit is due. Regardless, the visuals should support the purpose of your idea.
Judging Criteria

INNOVATION
Are your ideas substantial and fully developed? Did you think out of the box? What is your differentiating factor?

FEASIBILITY
Is your idea practical?
Can it be done?

PRESENTATION
Can you communicate your idea with clarity and consistency? Is your visual submission relevant to your idea?
Selection Process
SUBMISSION
OUTBREAK: WHAT’S NEXT? is open for submission starting 4 May 2020 until 8 June 2020. You may participate either individually, or in a team of two people. Your submission should include a written format and a video or visual graphic. You may submit more than one idea for the competition.
JUDGING PROCESS
The teams of OWN Academy and On Air Collective will shortlist the top 15 entries. These 15 entries will pitch at the virtual event on June 27, judges will select the top 3 submissions as winning project ideas based on our judging criteria.
PRIZES
- Top 3 Winners will get cash prizes (will be sent via PayPal):
- 1st Place: $3,000 HKD / $380 USD
- 2nd Place: $2,000 HKD / $250 USD
- 3rd Place: $1,000 HKD / $120 USD
- Top 5 shortlisters will receive a Mentorship or Internship Opportunity (Can be offline or online)
- Ages 15 + : Internships with our partner organizations. This is where you can gain self-development opportunities, learn more, and get exposure to exciting industries. (*Paid internships are not guaranteed.)
- Ages 12 + : Mentorship opportunity through OWN Academy’s extensive network and obtain an experiential learning experience with industry experts.
- Internships will be selected based on the winner’s best interest
- [ONLINE] On Air Collective will host internships that are for students who are into Creatives and Public Relations
- [ONLINE] OWN Academy will host internships that would help on the execution of ideas and projects based on the submission
- [OFFLINE] Urban Spring will host an offline internship that supports the student’s interest in sustainability
- [OFFLINE] Explorium will host a 2-week workplace internship that will allow students to know how it is to be a Business Consultant
FINALE
On 27 June 2020, Saturday, each shortlisted participant will pitch their project ideas over a webinar to the panel of judges in 3 minutes for the judges to choose their top 3 favorite project ideas. Afterwards, the winners of OUTBREAK: WHAT’S NEXT? will be announced.
FAQs
How can I participate?
A submission button will be available starting 4 May, 2020
Who is eligible to participate?
The challenge is designed mainly for young people ages 12 – 19. However, we strongly encourage students below and above the age bracket to participate in OUTBREAK: WHAT’S NEXT? and will be evaluated on a case by case basis. We want to hear your voice and witness your creativity work magic.
Do I have to pay to participate?
No. All submissions do NOT incur any fees. We want everyone to be able to contribute their ideas without being deterred by financial costs.
Do I have to form a team?
You may choose to either participate alone as an individual or to form a team with one other person. Hence, it’s a minimum of ONE person, and a maximum of TWO per team.
What do you mean by the proposal?
It’s very simple, submit your idea in text (maximum 200 words) and with a visual to accompany it.
Can I submit multiple proposals?
Yes, you may submit multiple ideas.
What can I gain from this online competition?
You get to tackle a real-world challenge head-on. You will challenge yourself to imagine the many possibilities of our society post-COVID-19. You stand to win a cash prize and an exciting mentorship or an internship opportunity with our partner organizations.
Is it mandatory to attend the virtual event?
We strongly encourage everyone to attend the vitual event since the shortlisting and winners announcement will happen then, but shortlisted candidates must inform us a week prior to the finale if they are unable to attend.
Where can I see the virtual exhibition?
Who can I contact if I have further inquiries?
Contact us via info@ownacademy.co.
OUTBREAK: WHAT’S NEXT? COMPETITION RULES
OUTBREAK: WHAT’S NEXT? (the ”Online Competition”) is jointly organized by OWN Academy and On Air Collective (the “Organizers”).
The following set of rules describe terms and conditions that govern your participation in the Online Competition (the “Rules”). All submissions must adhere to the Rules, and all participants must fully and unconditionally agree to comply with the Rules. Should you disagree with any of the Rules, please do not participate in this Online Competition or submit your proposal.
1. AGREEMENT OF RULES
It is mandatory for any and all eligible people participating in this Online Competition (“Participant” or “You”) to review and accept these Rules. By accepting these Rules, Participants enter into a valid and enforceable contractual relationship with the Organizers regarding participation in this Online Competition and fully and unconditionally agree to comply with these Rules.
In the case of misbehavior or not abiding by these stated Rules, the Participant will be immediately disqualified from the Online Competition; the Participant’s submission will nullify entirely.
2. TIME PERIOD
The Online Competition will be launched on 4 May 2020 (Monday) and its submission deadline is 8 June 2020. Thereafter, it will conclude with a finale event in late June which includes a webinar, announcement of winners and a virtual exhibition. Participants can access the website comprising all information and content pertaining to the Online Competition at any point in time of the competition period, subject to possible IT maintenance operations. They can also submit their proposals via submission button between the launch date and the submission deadline. Dates and times in these Rules refer to HKT (GMT +8).
3. REGISTRATION
Participation in this Online Competition is free of charge and is without any payment obligation.
Along with the submission of proposals, all Participants must truthfully and accurately complete all required information of their personal particulars as requested on the submission portal.
Participants providing inaccurate, false or incomplete information will be automatically disqualified. Participants who will not provide the essential personal data necessary for the Online Competition will also be disqualified. Any intentional or unintentional mistake and inconsistency may result in disqualification from the Online Competition as well. The Organizers reserve all rights to process verifications regarding Participant’s identity, and/or email address. Should the Participant wish to back out from the Online Competition, s/he must contact the Organizers directly, via the contact information provided on the competition’s official website.
4. TEAMS
Participants can choose to join the Online Competition either as an individual, or as a team of up to a maximum of 2 persons (“Team”). Each Team member must accept and abide by these Rules.
5. ELIGIBILITY
The Online Competition is open to every full-time secondary and university student, aged 12 to 19 including students who are both enrolled in education institutions and those who are home-schooled. Participants may be asked to present verification of their student identity when submitting their proposals. All identity documents that certify the Participant’s eligibility may be required prior to awarding any prizes.
6. DELIVERABLES
For the given time period of the Online Competition, Participants may upload their proposals (the “Deliverable”) in video, visual graphic or written form via submission button. Teams – be it as individuals or in pairs – are required to submit a proposal in an appropriate format by responding to the key questions as briefed on the competition website.
In order to be considered for the prizes, Deliverables must be relevant to the key question introduced in the Online Competition. Deliverables must consist of substantial solutions to stimulate our society’s recovery from COVID-19. Moreover, Deliverables must be in appropriate digital format (PDF, JPEG, MOV, MP4 etc. - can be orioginal work or credited inspiration work from others), and adhere to the digital specifications (4 minutes max. for videos, JPEG/ PDF for visuals, 200 words limit for the main writing piece) set out by the Organizers. All submissions must be in standard English.
In the case that submitted Deliverables cannot be accessed and opened, or if they are incompatible or unintelligible, Participants would be disqualified, and their submission will be voided from the competition process.
Participants must take extra caution to ensure that their Deliverables are produced originally and not plagiarized. If content from third party sources were employed in the creation of proposals, Participants must cite those sources, and obtain the necessary authorizations that grant them rights to use said sources. The Organizers reserve the right to disqualify any and all participants who do not credit their external sources. Proposals from every Participant should not infringe or violate rights of any entity including but not limited to intellectual property rights, privacy, competition law, confidentiality or any contractual right. Any Participant found to have breached the aforementioned Rules will be automatically rendered ineligible in the Online Competition.
Participants are held solely responsible for all expenses associated with their Deliverables, and are to assume all risk for faulty, incomplete, invalid or misdirected Deliverable.
Any Participant who does not submit his/hers Deliverable before the specified deadline will no longer be part of the Online Competition. S/he will also not be eligible for any of the prizes.
Participants will receive a receipt of acknowledgement once the Organizers have obtained their submitted Deliverables.
7. JUDGING PROCESS
The Online Competition consists of only one main round – Participants submit their Deliverables starting 4 May 2020 (12:00 am HKT).
Thereafter, the staff team from Organizers, OWN Academy and On Air Collective, will collaborate and curate the submissions before selecting the shortlisted top 15 submitted proposals, based on the competition judging criteria set forth by the Organizers.
The invited panel of judges will evaluate the shortlisted proposals based on a Pitching Competition on 27 June 2020 (Saturday) 3 PM HKT (GMT +8) which will allow 3 minutes for students to pitch their submitted Deliverables according to the following criteria:
Innovation: Are your ideas substantial and fully developed? Did you think out of the box? What is your differentiating factor?
Feasibility: Are your solutions long-lasting and pragmatic? Are they efficient and effective?
Presentation: Can you communicate your ideas with clarity and consistency?
Participants agree and acknowledge that the success of their proposal is not dependent on chance, but is rather, based on the substance of their content. Physical appearance, race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnicity, political affiliation and sexual orientation will not be factors under consideration.
The Organizers will invite a panel of judges (the “Judges”) to pick the top 5 entries from the selected batch on the same day (27 June 2020 (Saturday) 3 PM HKT (GMT +8)) as the OWN Academy webinar where the 3 winners of this Online Competition will be announced. Lastly, OWN Academy will also prepare a virtual exhibition to showcase some of the top Deliverables received in the competition.
8. PRIZES
1st Place: $3,000 HKD / $380 USD
2nd Place: $2,000 HKD / $250 USD 3rd Place: $1,000 HKD / $120 USD Top 5 shortlisters will receive a Mentorship or Internship Opportunity (Can be offline or offline) Ages 15 + : Internships with our partner organizations. This is where students can gain self-development opportunities, learn more, and get exposure to exciting industries. (*Paid internships are not guaranteed.) Ages 12 + : Mentorship opportunity through OWN Academy’s extensive network and obtain an experiential learning experience with industry experts. Winners are subjected to comply with the competition Rules, including, specifications of the proposal format, student identity eligibility and that their proposal abides by Section 6 (“Deliverables”). If a winner fails to meet the conditions of any of the aforementioned, they will not be awarded prizes. Cash prizes will be sent via PayPal and PayPal information shall be asked privately via e-mail.
In the case that the Organizers are unable to contact the winner repeatedly for more than one (1) month after the initial attempt to reach them was made, the Participant will be construed as having waived their right to claim the prize, and will henceforth, not be entitled to any of the prizes offered by this Online Competition.
In the case of the Participants internship opportunity as his/her prize, s/he must acknowledge and agree that the internship offerings may not guarantee compensation (i.e. paid internships are not guaranteed). If the prize as initially planned is unavailable, Organizers will be free to substitute another prize of similar value. Any such decision is at Organizers’ sole discretion.
9. COMMUNICATION
The Organizers may use the Online Competition for publicity, including for the Organizers’ advertising of marketing efforts throughout the duration of the competition and for a period of 1 year after the end of the competition, free of charge.
Participants consents to the Organizers’ use of your full legal name, city and region of residence, and where necessary, the name of your education institution and your photograph/ image as well as any relevant personal information and content of your Deliverable associated with the Online Competition.
10. CONFIDENTIALITY
You understand that disclosure of your Deliverable to the Organizers or Judges does not establish a confidential relationship or obligate the Organizers or Judges to treat your Deliverable (or any related content) as secret or confidential. The Participant agrees and accepts that any information contained in the Deliverables submitted in the Online Competition may be publicly disclosed by the Organizers.
11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Your Deliverable represents your own original work, you have all necessary rights to disclose your Deliverable to Organizers and in doing so Organizer and Judge’s review and/or use of your Contribution, will not, to the best of your knowledge, infringe upon any other individual’s or entity’s rights.
Your Deliverables are entirely voluntary, non-confidential, non-proprietary,
and gratuitous. You grant to the Organizers an unrestricted, perpetual,
irrevocable, non-exclusive fully-paid up and royalty-free worldwide license to use any Deliverables, and any derivatives thereof, without permission or notification, to you or any third party. The license shall include the irrevocable right to reproduce, prepare derivative works (e.g. a publication recording celebrating a Deliverable), combine with other works, alter, translate, distribute copies, display, perform, license the Deliverable or parts thereof. You represent and warrant that you are the owner of all Deliverables and have all legal right and authority to grant Organizers the license and rights set forth herein. All necessary licenses, permissions, releases and consents required (including without limitation, privacy releases and/or publicity releases necessary for Deliverables depicting people, products, businesses, or other content) have been obtained for you to grant the licenses contained herein.
You agree to irrevocably release and discharge Organizers from any and all actions, causes of actions, claims, damages, liabilities and demands which you now have or hereafter can, shall or may have against Organizers with respect to your Deliverables, including in respect of how Organizers directly or indirectly use your Deliverable.
You are responsible for the content of your Deliverable and agree to indemnify and hold Organizers and Judges harmless from any damages, losses, costs, or expenses, including attorneys' fees, which Organizers and Judges may incur as a result of your Deliverable.
12. MODIFICATION SUSPENSION, AND CANCELLATION OF THE RULES AND ONLINE COMPETITION
The Organizer reserves the right in its discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Online Competition and these Rules, for any reason, at any time and without any liability, and to limit or restrict participation in the Online Competition, without prior notice to Participants. The Organizer will not be held liable for the modification, cancellation or suspension of the Online Competition and no compensation or remuneration will be due to the Participants. Participants should review these Rules (including any updates to these Rules) regularly and must waive all claims or disputes related to any amendment to these Rules by the Organizers.
13. DISCLAIMER
The Online Competition website (the “Website”), and any materials and information on the Website may include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. The Organizers may make changes or improvements at any time without notice. The Website, and materials and information on this Website are provided "as is" without any conditions,
warranties or other terms of any kind. Accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law, the Organizers provides the Website on the basis that the Organizers exclude all representations, warranties, conditions and other terms (including without limitation, the conditions implied by law of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose and the use of reasonable care and skill).
14. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Participants agree that Organizers, its affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, contractors, representatives and agents of Organizers and its affiliates exclude liability and responsibility for, and shall be released and held harmless by Participants for any claims, liabilities, or causes of action of any kind or nature for any injury, loss or damages of any kind including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages to persons, including without limitation disability or death in connection with the Online Competition and the use, inability to use, or the results of use of the Website, any websites linked to the Website, including but not limited to loss or damage due to viruses that affect your computer equipment, devices, software, data or other property on account of your access to, use of or browsing the Website.
The Organizers shall not be liable for:
- any consequences of a Participant’s disqualification pursuant to these Rules;
- any breakdown or failure, regardless of the cause, of any telecommunications network causing Participants difficulty in or prevents Participants from accessing the Website, from submitting the Deliverables on time, or from receiving Participant communications.
- any damages third party services, including third party prizes.
15. PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION
You are required to submit personal information and data in order to participate in the Online Competition. The Organizers will use the information collected to communicate with the participants regarding the results of shortlisting and to contact if there is a problem with submission (wrong link provided, file corrupted, etc.)
Your personal information will not be sold, exchanged, transferred or given to any other company without your consent, other than for the purpose of delivering the prizes.
The Organizers shall implement a security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information which may include:
16. APPLICABLE LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The Online Competition and Rules shall be governed by the laws of Hong Kong.
Any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with the Online Competition and the Rules shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Hong Kong SAR courts.