COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior 2023 is now open for applications from school students aged 13 – 18. In its fourth year, Imagine Cup Junior 2023 is an exciting platform that enables children to learn about technology and how it can be used to solve some of the bigger challenges in the world.
Students compete in one of five?categories —AI for Earth, AI for Health, AI for Accessibility, AI for Humanitarian Action and AI for Cultural Heritage – and are mentored by Microsoft experts to bring their ideas to life. The deadline for applications is May 10, 2023.
Microsoft recently hosted the principals of several schools to brief them on the competition. The session was attended by the Hon. Minister for Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha, as well as the Secretary and officials of the Ministry of Education.
Imagine Cup Junior is the junior segment of Microsoft Imagine Cup, the premier global student technology competition which has been on for over two decades. Both offer students an opportunity to tap into their entrepreneurial skills and develop technology solutions for pressing local and global issues. Imagine Cup Junior is a great introduction to technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and is designed to be suitable for students at any level of technical proficiency.
“We need to act efficiently to keep up with the changing world that creates new knowledge and information at a rapid speed. It is important that we provide the right education, technology and skills for our future generation to keep up with this dynamic environment,” said Hon. Minister for Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha. “We are bringing programs together to educate and upskill our teachers and create more opportunities for our students. In this journey, exposing and educating our educators and students to emerging technologies such as AI is of paramount importance. Competitions such as Imagine Cup Junior 2023 launched by Microsoft create a global platform for our teachers and students to acquire new knowledge and test their skills to make them future ready citizens.”
Sook Hoon Cheah, general manager, Microsoft Southeast Asia New Markets, said, “Students today are the changemakers of tomorrow. They have the opportunity to shape our world – creating inspiring and inclusive projects using cutting-edge technologies to solve pressing real world problems of people, places and the planet. Students can unlock their skills with curated training and mentorship from Microsoft experts. They will work together with like-minded students and build resume-worthy skills.”
“We are proud to bring Imagine Cup Junior to Sri Lanka and create this opportunity for our own school students to encourage them to unlock their potential in using AI,” said Harsha Randeny, country manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka and Maldives. “Children aged 13 to 18 are determined to question existing norms and are willing to make a change in matters like social and environmental issues that they strongly feel about. With access to AI knowledge and Microsoft tools through Imagine Cup Junior, students will be empowered to develop their skills further. It builds the platform to create a digitally empowered workforce for the future.”
