56 opportunities found

Run by one of Spain's most prominent scholarship sponsors and one of Madrid's most notable cultural entities, this summer camp 100 km north of Madrid programmes activities within the realm of sciences, technology and entrepreneurship for high-ability students. Students across two age groups are presented with a problem to solve, and trained in STEAM and entrepreneurship methods they can apply to do so. For the strategic-minded -- participating in this Campus could conceivably a good first step towards eventually securing the Foundation's funding for graduate studies abroad. For more information visit here .   

Now in its tenth edition, the first leg of the Spanish Economics Olympiad is organised by participating universities across their catchment area, and is open to students of the Business Economics course in the Spanish national curriculum (although they may be open to considering participants from other systems). The contest is fundamentally an examination in Economics, including knowledge tests and written commentary, with the first phase usually held around May. The best 3 participants within each region advance to the National phase, usually held around June. The best 5 participants nationally, in turn, are selected to participate in the International Economics Olympiad, held for the first time in September of last year. For more information visit here  

The Spanish chapter of the First Lego League, the first leg of this competition happens at school -- any school wishing to participate must select its representatives from a competition between at least two teams.  Successful participants go on to compete at a Regional phase, which takes place between January and March, and again at a National one, usually held in March also. Groups of students across three age categories build and programme autonomous robots capable of performing a number of functions within the context of a competition. The best participants in the main category, 10-16, are invited to represent Spain in 1 of 6 global First Lego League events. Participants of national phases throughout the world further opt to be selected as one of 20 teams worldwide (out of 30,000+) to travel to California and participate in a pitch competition. For more information visit here . 

A local chapter of the International Olympiad in Informatics, the Spanish Informatics Olympiad holds two parallel qualifying rounds between February and March, through which at least 20 finalists are selected. At both stages, candidates are given a challenge around algorithm design and given a handful hours to solve it. Languages in recent editions have included C++, Python and Java. Distinctively, the Olympiad holds training sessions for months prior to the first tests. The best participants are invited to represent Spain at the International Philosophy Olympiad, usually held around August. For more information, visit here .   

A local chapter of the International Philosophy Olympiad, the first stage of the Spanish Philosophy Olympiad is the Regional one, which can be held as early in the school year as December. The best participants in each region go on to the National phase, which is held around May. At both stages, candidates are given a series of prompts, to respond to in writing, photo or film form. All candidates are invited to conform the Spanish delegation to the International Philosophy Olympiad, also usually held around May. As an aside, the sort of writing that this contest requires may be good exercise for students unaccustomed to the format of US university applications. For more information visit here . 

United World Colleges is an international group of IB schools that prides itself in bringing together 'deliberately diverse' groups of students in its schools.  As part of this effort, they offer yearly scholarships to study at a UWC up to 10 students in Spain, funding the last two years of schooling at one of 17 locations spread around 4 continents. UWC is one of the most recognised actors in secondary education and has the goal of promoting peace, justice, tolerance and solidarity by educating responsible, politically-aware citizens of the world. For more information visit here .   

The Clean Tech Competition is a unique, worldwide research and design challenge for pre-college youth. The program encourages scientific understanding of real-world issues and the integration of environmentally responsible energy sources. Each year, the Clean Tech Competition addresses an issue that is grounded in core technological competency areas and focuses on the next great engineering challenges. The competition is designed to foster a deeper understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related concepts, recognize outstanding talent, and prepare the next generation of globally competitive innovators.

Part of an initiative to promote literature and writing among teenagers across Spain, this competition challenges young writers to produce a fairytale or story for children, no longer than 8 pages in any of Spain's four official languages. The award ceremony for the 23rd edition of the Short Story Prize for high school and high school students will take place in the fall of 2020. For more information visit here .   

Contest designed to boost young learners' interest in classical literature, organised by the Community of Madrid, the Ministry of culture and sport, and the Madrid Association of Editors. Participants form groups of 3-6 students, and read select works of literature under the guidance of a teacher. They then use the material to record a video, and following the guidelines of the competition, submit it for consideration. In the video students read aloud a passage of the work they've selected, and relate it to contemporary work, ending with an argument for how they've drawn the connection between the classic and contemporary works. For more information visit here . 

Universidad Camilo José Cela, a higher education institution ascribed to leading Spanish school group SEK, runs a yearly summer course in the vein of the summer experience at US universities. Designed for 'curious, exploring' upper-schoolers, the programme introduces students to experts in various fields including technology, architecture, health sciences and cooking.  The intention of the programme is to help students discover the possibilities of various professional pathways, as well as the scientific underpinnings of a central component of each professional pathway.  For more information visit here . 

Affiliated with the International Movement for Scientific and Technological Leisure and Intel's International Science & Engineering Fair for students, ExpoRecerca is an annual research fair taking place in Catalonia. Now in its twentieth edition, ExpoRecerca introduces secondary school students to the world of professional research by giving them the opportunity to present their work at a well-attended 3-day fair near central Barcelona. Although most participants are from Catalonia, ExpoRecerca encourages submissions from other regions of Spain, as well as from other countries. For more information visit https://www.magmarecerca.org/exporecerca

A 40-year-old player in the educational sphere, Bilbao's Fundación Novia Salcedo organises a bi-annual prize for initiatives supporting the social and professional transition of young people into adulthood.  Of the Prize's 6 categories, one is reserved to young individuals; while these would be expected to be adults, it is not impossible for a secondary school student, or group of students, to compete for the award. The Prize's jury will be evaluating initiatives on the grounds of credibility, social impact, and alignment with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Submissions may be in the form of ideas, projects or companies. For more information visit here . 

Backed by Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara and wealthiest Spaniard, the foundation's scholarship programme funds 11th grade studies in Canada and the USA for 4o ESO students at Spanish schools. The initiative covers 100% of necessary costs entailed in studying abroad for one year, and rewards 600 students throughout Spain, of which 100 in Galicia.  Although primarily intended as language immersion, the scholarship can be valuable to Spanish students looking to go on to study at an American university, particularly if from a non-international environment. Selection into the scholarship programme requires successful completion of English language tests as well as interview round. Please note, Covid-19 restrictions has affected the Scholarship Program in the following ways: The 2020/2021 edition, whose 600 participants had already started the training processes, has been canceled and the possibility of carrying out any activity that involves the movement of students to the...

Illustraciencia is an international competition for scientific and natural illustration. Open only to adult participants, this can be an interesting opportunity to a high schooler who has already turned 18. It could be, however, that the competition's organisers are persuaded to exceptionally accept a submission from an underage illustrator among the 40 works they will select to form a travelling exhibition. Illustraciencia is backed by major institutions including a governmental ministry, the national foundation for the sciences and technology (FECYT) and the National Museum of Natural Sciences. For more information visit here . 

Run by CSIC, Spain's national authority on scientific research, and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), Fotciencia is an annual contest for the best science- or tech-related photography. Restricted to adult participants, this can be an interesting opportunity to a high schooler who has already turned 18. It could be, however, that the competition's organisers are persuaded to exceptionally accept a submission from an underage illustrator among the works selected for the itinerant exhibition. Works are divided into two categories -- Microscopic and General -- and may bear on any theme such as cellular biology, food and nutrition, materials design, medicine or environment, ecology and agriculture. The sole requirement is that presented works bear some relation to science, which must be defended in an accompanying 500-to-1000-word introductory essay written by the photographer. For more information visit here .

The Princess of Girona Foundation is dedicated to the social and professional development of Spanish youths, and has for 10 years now awarded various prizes to young innovators standing out in various fields. The Prizes are awarded under the categories of Sciences (including humanities and social sciences), Social Entrepreneurship, Arts & Literature and Business. Although winners will typically be young adults, the age bracket is open for ambitious students in their last year of school. For more information visit here .

Manos Unidas, a Catholic NGO in the field of human rights and international development, runs this school competition for the best 70-second short on the theme of gender equality. The intention of the initiative is to educate students on common gender inequalities. Participants are expected to research, and reflect on, the issue, and then to work successfully as a group to shoot and edit a film project to in turn educate their peers on the subject. Backed by Banco Santander, the competition awards the winners of the Primary- and Secondary-School categories a 1-week summer camp and educational programme on international development.   18-year-old students may compete in the main adult category. For more information, visit here . 

The Harvard & Yale United Nations Delegation Crimson Tour is an educational experience enabling students to be immersed in a stimulating learning environment alongside other like-minded students from across the world. This tour offers those the chance to participate in the renowned Model United Nations Conference on the world stage. This event would ultimately challenge students against some of the best at the world’s most top prestigious universities. The tour involves the participation in intensive program of workshops, policy exercises and debating within the role of international decision maker. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with global leaders, learn from industry experts and be inspired for their own personal future. This experience also includes exclusive visits to the United Nations, the Pentagon, UN Foundation and Tiger Global Management. On the tour, students will have the chance to explore some of the world's top universities such as Harvard...

Open to students in the 2º de bachillerato in any school in Madrid, this initiative of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid seeks to further the understanding of the importance of research amongst young learners. Participants submit their research papers, in one of four pre-determined areas, and selected students proceed to present their research to a panel of experts at the university. Prizes include a certified diploma of participation and a year's worth of credits at UCM. For more information visit here . 

An initiative by ABC, a leading Spanish newspaper, to promote innovation and professional development in Madrid's youth, and equip them with the tools they need to succeed in their professional careers. Over the course of four phases, students learn business basics, come up with a project idea, develop their project, and present it to a professional panel. For more information visit here . 

Mensa, the high IQ society, is a forum that allows for intellectual exchange among its members. There are members in more than 100 countries around the world. Activities include the exchange of ideas through lectures, discussions, journals, special-interest groups, and local, regional, national and international gatherings; the investigations of members' opinions and attitudes; and assistance to researchers, inside and outside Mensa, in projects dealing with intelligence or Mensa. Mensa has many events for members, from the local to the international level. Several countries hold a large event called the Annual Gathering (AG). It is held in a different city every year, with speakers, dances, leadership workshops, children's events, games, and other activities. As a Mensa member, you are entitled to attend Mensa meetings anywhere in the world. Large national and regional gatherings are held frequently in Europe and in the USA. All national Mensa organisations throughout the world...

The NCSS Challenge is a programming competition open to all school students and teachers. The Grok Learning team have been running coding competitions like the challenge for over 12 years. The NCSS Challenge is unlike any other programming competition - participants are taught how to program as you go along, rather than expecting you to be an expert already. If you’re a seasoned coder, they have something for you too – the problems range from relatively simple to mind-bendingly hard. Starting on  Monday 17th February, 2020  and running for about 5 weeks, t he Grok Learning team will release notes and problems containing the information you will need to complete the week's programming challenges. Learning to code - or Programming is how sites like Facebook and apps like Instagram are made. Knowing how to program is like having a computing super power. Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates have all said that students should learn how to code. It’s a skill that not only...

The Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition is a one-hour problem solving competition designed to encourage student curiosity and promote multiple modes of thinking. Both teachers and students do not necessarily require previous computer programming ability, but the competition will help identify students’ computer programming potential—something that they might not normally have the opportunity to demonstrate. The competition is an ideal activity to encourage students to solve real-world problems. It is suitable for any mathematics class and the process helps students become more confident as they take on interesting new challenges. This competition has a mixture of multiple-choice and integer answers and incorporates unique ‘three-stage tasks’ that encourage students to develop informal algorithms and apply them to test data of increasing size or complexity. The original problems are designed to be quick to solve and highly approachable, and range in difficulty...

The Australian Informatics Olympiad (AIO) is an open national computer programming competition held annually in Australia. Students write short computer programs to solve four problems that vary in difficulty. The competition does not test computer literacy or knowledge but is focused on problem solving through programming skills. There are two papers—Intermediate for students up to year 10, and Senior for students up to year 12. Each paper consists of four problems, and students submit the source code for their solutions online during the three-hour contest. The AIO suitable for an IT class that has learnt some computer programming, or enthusiastic students that have taught themselves. Students will need some programming experience, in particular they must be able to write code that can open, read and write to files; declare variables and arrays; use loops, conditional (if) statements and simple arithmetic operations. The allowed languages are C, C++, C#, Java, Pascal, PHP, and...