Dell today announced Forward Tutoring as the winner of the Dell Education Challenge, a global competition for university students with entrepreneurial ideas to improve education, both in and out of the classroom.

Forward Tutoring team members (Photo: Business Wire)

The competition received more than 400 project entries from around the world, proposing solutions to today’s biggest issues in education, including those identified in a recent poll commissioned by Dell. Global poll respondents said technology gives students a more personalized experience that they value, but added that technology needs are not being met in schools today.

The Dell Education Challenge expands Dell’s partnership with the Dell Social Innovation Challenge, the world’s largest platform to launch and accelerate student social innovators, managed by The University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Forward Tutoring is an online platform where students earn credits for volunteering in their communities and redeem those credits for tutoring from other qualified students; tutors in turn can earn scholarships and internships from supporting organizations. The project was one of four finalists who traveled to Dell World to compete for a $10,000 grand prize and other support to advance their innovative ideas. Forward Tutoring will use the funds to support burgeoning university chapters working to bring accessible online tutoring to communities.

Three other finalists also traveled to Austin for the competition. Finalists comprised:

• Gyan Knowledge Lab, which sets up hands-on learning labs for primary students in India to keep them engaged in their education and prevent drop-outs. Gyan Knowledge Lab took home the second place prize.
• e-Education for GAZA, which seeks to overcome geographic barriers to quality education for Gaza’s children with learning difficulties through video curriculum, where Gaza’s teachers can connect with education experts in their subject matters.
• Next Step Leaders, which provides leadership development training for highly effective teachers in roles such as department chairs or grade-level leaders. Teachers receive 360 degree feedback, personalized assessments, whole group leadership training and individualized one-on-one coaching.

Another seven Promising Projects were chosen to receive $1,000 each to advance their ideas. All projects in the Dell Education Challenge are automatically entered in the 2013 Dell Social Innovation Challenge, which supports promising young social innovators working to solving the world's most pressing problems by providing teaching, training, start-up capital, and access to a network of mentors, advisers and like-minded student social entrepreneurs. Projects compete for more than $350,000 in cash awards and other prizes to bring their ideas to life. Entrants must post projects by Jan. 28, 2013 for consideration in the 2013 challenge.

For more information, visit www.dellchallenge.org.

Quotes

“Words cannot express our appreciation to Dell and to all of our supporters. Innovation in education is accelerating at a breathtaking speed — and we're so excited to be a part of the movement. Forward Tutoring will use this incredible accomplishment to help us spread our mission of providing high-quality free tutoring to students, regardless of location or financial circumstances. We can't wait to help usher in an era of fundamental changes to education that don't stop at the classroom door.”

David Chi, Forward Tutoring

“When students are given the opportunity to express their ideas for improving education, and when they are provided the tools and support to make these ideas a reality, transformation in learning whether in or out of the classroom happens. We are encouraged to see the enthusiasm and ideas from students around the world who participated in the Dell Education Challenge, and we look forward to working together to see the winning ideas come to fruition.”

Mark Horan, vice president of education, Dell

“We are thrilled to congratulate the winner of our first international spotlight challenge. We believe that education is one of the most important issues of our time and we are excited to support young social entrepreneurs who provide solutions in this area. We plan on doing more spotlight challenges focusing on issues of global concern as we shift to a year-round model of student engagement.”

Suzi Sosa, executive director, Dell Social Innovation Challenge

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. For more information, visit www.dell.com.

About the Dell Social Innovation Challenge

The Dell Social Innovation Challenge identifies and supports promising young social innovators who dedicate themselves to solving the world's most pressing problems with their transformative ideas. We provide university students with a global network of like-minded social innovators, world-class teaching and training, as well as with start-up capital and access to a network of mentors and advisors. Our challenge was launched in 2007 by the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service in the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. In 2008 Dell became our title sponsor, lending its name and resources. Dell announced a $5 million gift to expand our efforts worldwide at the close of the 2011 challenge to engage more than 60,000 students a year. Since our launch, more than 15,000 students from 105 countries have proposed more than 4,500 ideas. We've awarded more than $450,000 to more than 50 student teams around the world. In 2013 we will provide mentoring to over 300 teams of students and award over $350,000 in prizes including $60,000 for the grand prize winner. Learn more at www.dellchallenge.org. Follow us on Twitter @DellSocialInnov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DellSocialInnovation.

Dell World

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