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By participating in this contest (“Contest“), each person who applies or is nominated (“Applicant”) accepts and agrees to be bound by the following terms and conditions (these “Terms and Conditions”):
Introduction
The Varkey Foundation (“VF”) and Chegg, Inc (“Chegg”, together the “Parties”) are launching a US$100,000, Global Student Prize (“Prize”) to highlight the efforts of extraordinary students throughout the world that are making a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society beyond. The selection process will be audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (or such other firm as VF selects that is of a similar reputation in the charity sector in the UK).
Prize Timeline
🏆 Open for applications and nominations: 1 February 2024.
🏆 Entry deadline: 5 May 2024 at 23.59 (GMT+1). The system will automatically prevent entry submission after the deadline.
🏆 Successful entrants will be notified by mid-July 2024.
🏆 Top 10 finalists and winner announcement will take place later in the year.
Eligibility
To be eligible, an Applicant must:
● be at least sixteen(16) years old at time of entry;
● must currently be a student and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills program. Part time students as well as students enrolled in online courses are also eligible for the Prize. The Prize is open to students in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world.
● not be prohibited from participating in the Contest or receiving the Prize under the applicable law of their country;
● not, nor any connected person of an Applicant, have a criminal record;
● not, nor any connected person of an Applicant, have conducted themselves (by act or omission) in such a way as to bring the teaching profession, VF, its affiliates, any GEMS Education group company, or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, and subsidiaries (“VF Parties”)or Chegg into disrepute or to have been adversely prejudicial to the interests of any of them (as may be determined at the sole discretion of VF);
(A connected person of an Applicant is: the Applicant’s spouse, civil partner, any person with whom the Applicant lives as a partner in an enduring family relationship, siblings, a child or stepchild of the Applicant or Applicant’s sibling, a child or stepchild of an Applicant’s partner (if living with the Applicant and under the age of 18), or the Applicant’s parents; and any legal person, trust or partnership, the managerial responsibilities of which are discharged by the Applicant or any of the aforementioned persons, or which is directly or indirectly controlled by such a person, or which is set up for the benefit of such a person, or the economic interests of which are substantially equivalent to those of such a person).
How to enter
To enter, complete the application form and questions and follow the instructions on our Prize Platform
Support
If you have any questions on the entry process, please contact the organisers by email at info@globalstudentprize.org
Selection Criteria:
The judges will evaluate Applications based on the following criteria:
1. Academic achievement
Academic endeavour is what defines a student, and applicants for the Global Student Prize will inevitably have a strong record of academic achievement. Although evidence of this is likely to include excellent grades in formal studies, it can also include a record of prizes won for academic or project work; research that has been published or won other recognition; an outstanding reference from a supervisor or professor (for example, outlining contributions made to group work or a seminar); grants and fellowships; or videos of high-quality scholarly presentations made by the candidate. Students will also be able to demonstrate that they have overcome obstacles to their academic growth and have persevered to fulfil their potential.
2. Impact on your peers
Strong communities are essential to a thriving society – and our exceptional students will be those who have made a mark on their student community and changed it for the better. This may include supporting other students to continue in their studies, tutoring and mentoring your peers, or participating in college access initiatives that encourage applications from individuals in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. You may have helped other students tackle mental or physical health challenges, engaged in activism to support minority student groups, fundraised for a good cause, or simply carried out individual acts of support, courage, and generosity.
3. Making a difference in your community and beyond
The student leaders of the 21st century will embody our society’s highest values, and as such, they will often be engaged in promoting wider social change. Our judges look for evidence of a demonstrable impact on broader society, which can be either local, national or international. This may encompass activities such as volunteering with old and young people; giving free lessons to children in the local community; working at food banks and youth centers. But it could also include working with students in other parts of the world; taking part in national and global advocacy and activism on issues such as racism, sexism, climate change, and poverty. Alternatively, it could include creating platforms for social change, getting involved in refugee assistance programs or fighting cyberbullying.
4. Overcoming the odds
In a global society that faces ever-greater challenges, determination and perseverance are essential qualities for leaders of the future. Many of today’s most exceptional students have had to overcome significant barriers to reach higher education and achieve their goals – obstacles such as severe health problems, socioeconomic disadvantage, discrimination, frequent relocation, or family difficulties. Candidates may have lived in a warzone or a region that has seen environmental disaster – or pursued their education while under refugee or asylum-seeker status. Alternatively, they may have dealt with gaps in formal study beyond their control, taken on responsibilities such as being a carer/guardian, or raised a child while studying. In each case, the candidate’s personal journey will demonstrate an indomitable spirit in the face of difficulties that might have stopped others.
5. Creativity and innovation
Innovation is at the heart of what it is to be a student, and society increasingly looks to today’s young people to create tomorrow’s new platforms, artworks, movements, and ideas. Creative endeavour can take an immense variety of forms, and therefore candidates for the Prize may submit creative contributions from any field. You may have written a novel, recorded an album, founded a theatre company or directed a film; alternatively, if you have designed an app, built a YouTube channel, recorded a podcast or become a social media influencer, these endeavours can be just as creative as the traditional arts. Equally, you may have been involved in creating a social purpose organisation or some other type of service, using new technology or fresh ideas about how to connect people. Candidates will be able to show that they are looking at the world afresh and lighting a spark for others to follow.
6. Fostering global citizens
The future success of our society is entirely dependent on global citizens who can work together in the coming decades to solve the profound problems facing our world. Candidates will be passionate about the future of global co-operation, and may have shown this by working on joint projects with people in other countries (whether for pure research or for a practical aim), forging links between institutions, or taking part in exchanges. Candidates will have taken an active role in fostering cultural understanding, breaking down barriers, fighting ignorance on global issues, and using online platforms to share resources, information, and expertise. Their efforts may also have encompassed helping students in other countries to access education or improve its quality.
Selection Process
● Once the Application process has closed, Applications will be scored and read by a panel of online judges who will select the Top 50 finalists.
● The first committee of judges (“Prize Committee”) will meet to select ten finalists. The Global Student Prize Academy will then select the winner, through a secure online voting system, subject to additional screening, background and reference checks.
● The whole process will be monitored by PricewaterhouseCoopers(or such other firm as VF selects that is of a similar reputation in the charity sector in the UK)to ensure transparency.
Post-selection
● The US$100,000 Prize will be paid to the winner (or, in the event of death, his personal representatives or beneficiary(ies), as applicable) by VF, subject to any tax or other withholding required under applicable law, and otherwise in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
● During the period of one (1) year from date of the award of the Prize to the winner, , the winner shall (and shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that their connected persons shall) not conduct themselves (by act or omission) nor associate themselves with any person or organisation who conducts themselves (by act or omission), in such a way as to bring the teaching profession or any of the VF Parties or Chegg into disrepute (as may be determined at the sole discretion of VF).
● The winner shall attend financial counselling sessions provided free-of-charge by VF(if required and suggested by VF at its discretion).
● The winner shall (and shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that their connected persons shall) not use any Prize money for:
(i) any purpose that may bring them, Chegg or any of VF Parties into disrepute or may be adversely prejudicial to the interests of any of the VF Parties (as may be determined at the sole discretion of VF), or
(ii) any illegal activity (including without limitation bribery or corruption), or
(iii) any political or quasi-political activity including, without limitation, being a member of or making a donation directly or indirectly to any political party or trade union organisation.
● The winner must provide satisfactory evidence to VF that they have (or have opened) a bank account in their own name. The VF will only remit funds to a bank account in the winner’s sole name. If the winner is less than 18 years old on the date of winning the Prize, the winner’s parents or legal guardians may open an account in the name of the winner. Once the winner turns 18 years old, such amounts will be transferred to the winner’s personal name. This is subject to any other requirements that the winner may be bound by in the country they reside in.
● The winner may be required to report annually how any amounts above US$5,000 are spent if requested by the Parties.
● The winner will provide VF with not less than 14 days prior written notice of any proposed public speaking engagement, the issue of a press or public statement or the giving of an interview or other publicity event in whatever media (in person, or online or via digital or social media) (“Publicity”) that is to occur. The winner shall brief and consult with VF (and, where required by VF, its public relations adviser) on the proposed form, nature and content of the Publicity and shall make the changes to the Publicity required by VF to ensure that the Publicity is not likely to bring any VF Party into disrepute or be adversely prejudicial to the interests of any VF Party (as may be determined at the sole discretion of VF).
Conditions and Limitations
● Limit one application per Applicant.
● Applicants who do not progress to the Top 50 stage or beyond will not receive notification.
● Entries will not be returned.
● Applicants will not be reimbursed for any costs incurred in connection with submitting the Application.
● VF is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries.
● Upon submission, each Applicant grants VF a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free and worldwide licence to use and modify the Application, in whole or in part, for commercial and other purposes, without any payment or other consideration, for use in any media now known or hereafter discovered, in perpetuity, to the extent legally permissible.
● By entering this Contest, each Applicant forever discharges and releases the VF Parties from any and all liability, claims, causes of action, suits, and demands of any kind (“Claims”) arising from or in connection with the Contest.
● The Applicant also indemnifies the VF Parties or Chegg from all Claims arising from third parties in relation to the Applicant’s participation in this Contest or the breach of any of these Terms and Conditions by the Applicant.
● Each Applicant warrants and represents that they:
(i) own and have unrestricted rights to all intellectual property rights in all of the content of their Application materials and that they represent their own (and no one else’s) original work; and
(ii) have the authority to submit these materials and to grant the licence described herein.
● By entering this Contest, each Applicant shall fully indemnify the VF Parties or Chegg for all third party Claims arising directly or indirectly from breach of this warranty and/or representation.
● Each Applicant agrees to any VF Party using their name and likeness in publicity without notice or any additional compensation, except where prohibited by applicable law. The winner acknowledges that VF has the right to publicise and broadcast the winner’s name, voice, and likeness, the fact that they won, and all matters incidental thereto. VF is not obligated to attribute an Application to the Applicant who submitted it.
● At any time at VF’s discretion, an Applicant may be required to provide proof of compliance with any of these Terms and Conditions. An Applicant shall provide proof of compliance within 5 days of the request being made.
● Any personal information not included in the Application materials collected in connection with this Contest is solely for the purpose of Contest administration and will be collected, used, and maintained according to VF’s Privacy Policy which can be found at: https://www.varkeyfoundation.org/privacy.
● Winners will be solely responsible for any and all taxes incurred by their participation in the contest. VF will report or withhold any individual winnings in accordance with applicable law.
● VF reserves the right to terminate the Contest without awarding the Prize if(i) VF in its sole discretion does not consider it feasible or (ii) no eligible winner claims the Prize within the required time.
● Not with standing any other provision of these Terms and Conditions, VF may:
(i) stop paying any and all future instalment(s) of the Prize and/or
(ii) require the winner on written demand to pay back within a specified period an amount (in a lump sum or by instalments) equal to any Prize money already paid to the winner, if at any time after the award of the Prize to the winner, the winner
(a) was not in fact eligible in accordance with all of the requirements of section 2 of these Terms and Conditions at the time the Application was made; or
(b) submitted any Application material that was false or misleading in any way; or
(c) commits a breach of any Term and Condition and that breach is irremediable or (if that breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach within a period of 20 days after being notified in writing to do so; or
(d) repeatedly breaches any of these Terms and Conditions in such a manner that its conduct is inconsistent with it having the intention or ability to give effect to these Terms and Conditions (as may be determined at the sole discretion of VF); or
(e) fails or ceases to meet the requirements of any regulatory body whose consent is required to enable the winner to undertake all or any of their duties as a teacher and/or are guilty of a serious breach of the rules and regulations of such regulatory body; or
(f) is guilty of any gross misconduct in the course of their education or employment; or
(g) is, or any connected person of his is, convicted of any criminal offence (other than an offence under any road traffic legislation in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for which a fine or non-custodial penalty is imposed); or
(h) is declared bankrupt or makes any arrangement with or for the benefit of creditors or has a county court administration order (or equivalent outside of the United Kingdom) made against him or her; or
(i) commits any fraud or dishonesty or acts in any manner which in the opinion of VF brings or is likely to bring a VF Party into disrepute or is adverse to the interests of a VF Party; or
(j) commits any offence under any applicable anti-bribery or corruption laws, including without limitation, the UK Bribery Act 2010 or the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; or
(k) commits a tax evasion facilitation offence under applicable law or regulation of the United Kingdom or elsewhere; or
(l) ceases to have mental capacity within the meaning of the UK Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005); or
(m) conducts himself or herself (or any connected person of his or her conducts himself or herself) by act or omission in such a way as to bring the teaching profession or any of the VF Parties into disrepute or to be adversely prejudicial to the interests of any of them (as may be determined at the sole discretion of VF).
● These Terms and Conditions are subject to written modification by VF in its sole discretion and any modification shall be binding upon all Applicants being notified of the same.
● This Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by applicable law. Each of these Terms and Conditions is subject to applicable law.
● These Terms and Conditions constitute all of the terms and conditions that relate to the Contest and Prize and supersede and extinguish all previous discussions, correspondence, negotiations, drafts, agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations, arrangements and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to the Contest and/or the Prize.
● An Applicant’s rights and obligations under these Terms and Conditions may not be assigned, transferred, mortgaged, charged, declared a trust over or dealt in any other manner.
● If any Term or Condition or part-Term or Condition is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed deleted, but that shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of these Terms and Conditions.
● These Terms and Conditions do not give rise to any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any Term or Condition. If these Terms and Conditions are translated into any language other than English and there are any inconsistencies between the two translations, the English transaction will prevail.
● This Contest and these Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales, without regard to any conflicts of law principles. Any and all claims or disputes arising out of or in connection with this Contest or these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of English courts.
