HGEM Innovation Challenge
March 14 – 16, 2019
A Harvard College Student-Run Conference
In partnership with Harvard Club of the UAE, the Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the 2019 HGEM Innovation Challenge Dubai, organized by the Harvard Undergraduate Global Education Movement, will bring together over 100 delegates from different backgrounds and multiple speakers for a 3-day conference in Dubai, UAE.
About the Conference
The Middle East’s astounding growth over the past decades has not been without challenges. Solutions to wide-ranging crises remain elusive: education and healthcare access amongst refugees and minorities remain unaddressed and rising concerns around sustainability are still unanswered. The 2019 HGEM Innovation Challenge will focus on three tracks – Public Health, Education, and Sustainability – to guide delegates through the different aspects of international development concerns and to help them understand their role as citizens of the world.
Delegates will choose to join one of three tracks representing a diverse set of topics within the greater field of social entrepreneurship. Delegates will then engage in track-specific debate and seminar sessions featuring influential leaders from academia, business, and government. Throughout the event, delegates will also have the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with other conference attendees from all over the region.
After various rounds of debate, delegates will work in small teams on an impactful “Solution Proposal” designed to tackle real-world problems and stimulate ideas for future collaborative projects. These proposals are comprehensive in nature and incorporate various media forms, policies, and entrepreneurial ideas. Students will be challenged in open debate sessions about their ideas, before presenting a final round proposal at the end of the conference. Finally, delegates will have a chance to meet in more informal settings during events like dinners and panels led by Harvard College students.
Conference Venue
The Innovation Challenge is pleased to partner with the Ismaili Centre in Dubai for the first innovation challenge in the MENA region. The centre is situated next to Dubai Healthcare City in central Dubai. It is 15 minutes from the heart of Dubai’s financial and commercial center and 10 minutes from Dubai International Airport. The center’s air-conditioned multi-complex facility sits on large grounds and encompasses various historical buildings that have been visited by distinguished guests, ambassadors, and global leaders.
Ismailimail 