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Innovation Competition

DA Global is thrilled to bring the Innovation Competition back to the Global Impact Conference! The Innovation Competition is a unique aspect of the Global Impact Conference that champions creative and innovative approaches to advancing student success, workforce readiness, and organizational impact through access to global education. 

Whether it is supporting student academic success or positioning them to tackle the greatest challenges and opportunities of the future, global education is a high impact practice that prepares students to succeed academically and professionally. The Innovation Competition celebrates bold and transformative ideas from student leaders, higher education professionals, and community stakeholders that ensure all students have access to these impactful opportunities. The 2025 Innovation Competition brought many ambitious ideas and the winners have been announced!

Check back soon for information on how to submit your idea for the 2025 Innovation Competition.

WHY AN INNOVATION COMPETITION?

Now in its 6th year, the DA Global’s Innovation Competition aims to support a culture of innovation and recognize new ideas and solutions that can create positive change, break down barriers, and provide access to global education for all students.

Selected presenters will compete during the 2025 Global Impact Conference. Presenters will be judged by a panel of experts in international education.     

Learn about past recipients of the Innovation Competition here

AREAS OF FOCUS FOR 2025

An award of $5,000 and $1,500 will be distributed to the top two innovation proposals that support global inclusive excellence in one or more of the following areas:

Addressing barriers to accessing global learning opportunities for historically under-supported student populations

Providing inclusive support to ensure all students participating in global education are positioned to succeed, academically, personally, ad professionally.

Linking global education to career preparation and success

Supporting the academic, personal, and career success of inbound international students

Advancing student success and institutional impact through engagement with globally diverse local communities.

ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION CRITERIA

Both students and professionals are eligible to participate in the Innovation Competition. Individuals or teams of higher education institutions, international education organizations, private sector companies, professionals and graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to apply. Completed applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

Innovative and/or creative qualities of the project

Potential direct impact of the proposed project on the field of global education

Applicant’s demonstrated interest in and/or expertise on the proposed topic

Requirement: Applicants must be registered or plan to register for the 2025 Global Impact Conference. Applying for the Innovation Competition represents a commitment to attend the Global Impact 2025 . The opportunity to apply is available only to those who plan to attend the conference for educational and networking purposes, and not to those who wish to attend exclusively for the opportunity to present in the Innovation Competition. Selected presenters will be offered the Early Bird registration rate.

COMPETITION DATE & AWARD LEVELS

Members of the Conference Planning Committee reviewed all submissions and identified the most promising ideas that were presented on October 31, 2025  during the closing plenary of the 2025 Global Impact Conference.

Awards:

1st place – $5,000

2nd place – $1,500

All Pitches – Global Recognition