Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior

The Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior (ICJ) is a global competition that allows youth aged 13-18, to develop and pitch concepts to solve the world’s most pressing challenges using AI. Prior coding or AI experience is not required, and the competition is open to any student anywhere in the world who is interested in learning more about AI. The program provides guidance to educators on effective and exciting ways to teach students about AI technologies. Educators are trained in how to form and mentor student teams, and how to help them to develop and pitch concepts or the competition. 

Scope of Work

Since 2022, Meucci & Company has managed the annual Microsoft  Imagine Cup Junior 2023 | Imagine Cup (microsoft.com)  Meucci supports planning, communications, marketing and outreach activities and knowledge management for the competition. We coordinate participation from over 70 countries, and hundreds of registrations from youth worldwide. Meucci also coordinates collaborations between Microsoft’s Education team and Microsoft’s Skills team members operating in field offices around the world. 

Approach

Meucci utilized a phased project management approach was used to streamline Microsoft team members and partner collaborations from around the world.   In addition, this approach facilitated a myriad of high-demand activities that were sensitive to the launch and timeline stages of the competition.  Specific activity highlights included the following. 

  • On-ramped hundreds of educators and their students to the competition 
  • Managed and hosted the virtual live hackathons run by a 3rd party  
  • Recruited and provided orientations to a diverse panel of global judges 
  • Provided recommendations to support the competitions enhancements  

Key Outcomes

Increased year over year, global participation of schools partners. Improved processes for registration and onramping contest participants.