Microsoft has launched the 2012 Imagine Cup technology competition challenging students from around the world to find solutions to the toughest problems of the modern world.
Photo: Last year’s finalists team, a snapshot from www.imaginecup.com
Since The Imagine Cup launch in 2003, over 1.4 million students have participated in the competition with 358,000 students representing 183 countries and regions registering for the Imagine Cup 2011 competition. Every year a new country is selected to be a platform for the worldwide competition. This year it is Australia, while last year it was the USA that hosted finalists of the 2011 competition.
The competition that lasts one year begins with local, regional, and online competitions. The Finalists go on to compete at the Worldwide Finals, which is hosted in a different country every year. To participate in the Imagine Cup 2012 students can choose from three team competitions—Software Design, Game Design: Xbox/Windows, and Game Design: Phone or take on the IT Challenge. Each of the 3 competitions suggests participants to imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems. IT students can take part without a team.
There is also a Windows Phone Challenge sponsored by Nokia. Students can to create software that can make a broad impact in the world. They can add device-focused utility, and finish with an outstanding Windows Phone user experience.
The requirements to enter the project is to be 16 years of age or older; be enrolled as a student at an accredited educational institution that grants high-school or college/university degrees (including home schools) at any time between 1 January 2011 and 31 May 2012; and not to be an employee or intern of Microsoft Corporation, or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary. Students from all countries except Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria can participate.
The Imagine Cup 2012 competition is your chance to:
- Solve tough problems facing the world today, and maybe even turn your ideas into a business.
- Learn new technological skills.
- Test yourself against the brightest students around the world.
- Make new friends.
- Win cash, grants , and prizes – plus, a chance for a free trip to Sydney, Australia, next July to compete at the Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals!
Students can join the Imagine Cup on Facebook or Twitter. Registration and participation is available on the dedicated web site.
