USAID and Microsoft Collaborate to Hold Imagine Cup World Citizenship Competition 2015 Indonesia

Today's technological developments are certainly not only intended for entertainment or business interests. Technological developments are now believed to be something that can change the world for the better. Through that spirit, the giant technology company, Microsoft and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) collaborated to hold Imagine Cup 2015 World Citizenship Competition. This competition is open to students and students in providing technological solutions in people's lives.

Information about Imagine Cup. This global competition is an annual event organized by Microsoft to find the best young technology talents from all over the world, including Indonesia. This competition focuses on three categories namely; World Citizenship, Innovation, and Games. If you still remember, back in 2013, the representative team Indonesia had made an achievement proudly in the final stage of the Imagine Cup in the Games category.

This year in Indonesia, Microsoft Imagine Cup for the first time “arrived” USAID as a partner institution that is directly involved in Indonesia's development problems. In this competition, USAID plays a direct role in assisting as well as presenting real themes and issues that can be the theme of developing technology solution products from participants. USAID itself is a funding agency from the United States that focuses on the allocation of development to the education, health services, water and sanitation sectors.

“Technology can empower everyone, from college students, to global corporate leaders to make a difference. USAID is delighted to provide support for a technology competition that empowers young people to make positive changes in the lives of Indonesians and around the world,” said Derrick Brown, Deputy Mission Director of USAID.

From the written information we obtained, USAID provides nine theme options that must be a reference for the development of software application products by participants using the Windows, Windows Phone, and Windows Azure platforms. The nine themes are; Accountability and Governance, Climate Change Adaptation, Biodiversity Conservation, Clean Energy, Higher Education Leadership and Research, Integrated Pest Management, PERFORMANCE Good Governance, Sustainable Palm Oil Developmentand South-South & Triangular Cooperation.

The Imagine Cup 2015 World Citizenship competition is specially opened for students aged 16-25 years. In participating in this competition, participants are expected to have developed software application products according to themes that are ready to use, and can be presented well in an interactive video package. The deadline for submitting the video itself is February 26, 2015.

For competitions in Indonesia, this competition provides a special student solution award worth Rp 50.000.000, and not only that, participants from Indonesia also have the opportunity to win a grand prize worth US$ 50.000 from the global level in the final competition which is scheduled to be held in Seattle, United States of America.

[photo: Doc. DailySocial]