Future-proofing our future leaders with the summer experience of a lifetime.
Empower and inspire your students through authentic educational experiences designed to ignite creativity and innovation. Students will learn to be global innovators and work together to design solutions that will shape the future, creating a journey of learning that’s as impactful as it is unforgettable.
How can we leverage emerging technologies to craft inventive solutions for addressing critical societal challenges?
Students will…
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Race Pedagogy
Design Thinking
Students will learn the fundamental skills of human-centered design, the right mindsets to understand human needs, the ability to switch between divergent and convergent thinking during the creative process, and the power of iteration to frame problems and develop solutions.
They’ll also experience “building to think” – a fundamental principle that allows us to bring our ideas to life and refine them in real-time.
Social Thinking
In today’s technology-driven world, many students are lacking social skills. At Global Innovation Race, students will learn how to collaborate while building trust and safety in groups.
Learning to make space for vulnerability and transparency, they will begin to interact with reduced awkwardness and more openness leaving with an international network of lifelong friends and fellow innovators.
Entrepreneurial Thinking
In a rapidly changing world, it’s crucial to know how to create compelling, sustainable value in any field we choose. The key is to think like an entrepreneur. By understanding potential markets, developing a strong value proposition, and creating a path to financial sustainability, students will be well on their way to success.
Students will also learn sales and marketing skills, so they’ll be able to effectively communicate the value of their ideas.
Meet the Team
Designed by Stanford Educators & Industry Experts
Glenn Fajardo
DMA Chief Learning Officer • Lecturer at Stanford d.school • Former Director of Co-Design Practice @ TechSoup
Glenn Fajardo connects to create, exploring how we can be creative together when we are far apart and in different cultural contexts. He has been part of the Stanford d.school teaching community since 2014 and was the Stanford d.school’s Distributed Learning Teaching Fellow in 2020.
For 14 years, Glenn has been a practitioner of virtual collaboration, working with people and organizations across six continents engaged in social impact work. Glenn is the co-author (with Kursat Ozenc) of Rituals for Virtual Meetings: Creative Ways to Engage People and Strengthen Relationships.
Glenn was formerly the Director of the Co-Design Practice of the TechSoup Global Network at TechSoup, a nonprofit social enterprise founded on the belief that technology can be a powerful enabler for greater social change. Formally trained in nuclear engineering sciences and public policy, Glenn also plays electric bass and likes to cook in other people’s kitchens.
Chris Bennett
DMA Learning and Engagement Specialist • Affiliate, Stanford University Graduate School of Education • Game Designer
Chris Bennett is an award-winning Game Designer and Stanford invited lecturer who has combined creative ideas with digital engagement to reach millions of players with his credited games. Chris teaches, studies, and practices ways to apply his science of Game Design Thinking to improve lives in the real world.
Chris has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment software industry, including three very successful franchises; The Sims, Diner Dash, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour.
Chris has talked about games and game design for major media outlets, including NBC TV, NPR, Forbes.com, and the San Francisco Chronicle. He is called on by organizations such as Stanford University, University of California Berkeley, and USAID for his game design expertise.
About Digital Media Academy
Led by Stanford educators and industry experts, the Digital Media Academy has been preparing the next generation of global leaders with world-class STEAM programs since 1999.
Our programs have been taught in world-renowned institutions like Stanford, NYU, Georgetown, UCLA, Oxford, and McGill University. Today, we’ve left our mark in over 1,000 schools across 125 countries, introducing 500,000+ students to the world of STEAM.
Our vision is a world where STEAM education is the standard in all K-12 schools globally. Through cutting-edge experiences, we aim to unlock the full potential of every school, educator, and student and prepare the next generation of global leaders to succeed in a digital future.
Upcoming GIR Experiences
What alumni are saying…
How it works
All stages of your group’s Global Innovation Race (GIR) experience are taken care of from arrival at your program destination, all the way through to departure. You’ll have support from our experienced team the entire time!
“We flew all the way from Beijing to join the Innovation Race and were super excited to see the diverse groupings. We saw students coming out of their comfort zone and trying to face their social awkwardness. They had a great experience working with other groups from schools around the world. Additionally, today we must develop the soft skills and executive skills to work in the AI era, and the groups and tasks that DMA created helped the students to come out and develop those skills. ”
Sam Rajesh
2023 Chaparone, Beijing World Youth Academy
Leading STEAM Schools in the World
Schools that attend the 2024 Global Innovation Race will receive a one-year base membership to our Leading STEAM Schools in the World (LSSW) membership program.
Developed by Stanford educators and researchers, LSSW combines consultation, curriculum, and a global community to help schools prepare our future leaders for a digital world.
Subscribe to GIR updates with our STEAM Connect Newsletter
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