Tanween Challenges

New Ideas Applied to the World

How can you apply new theory’s, concepts, practices and apply them to real world situations? In learning there is always a gap between theory and practice. It involves three groups: the theorists, the translators, and the applicators. Tanween challenge projects bring these three groups together to gain the learning experience of bringing original thought to life, and how they work together.

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Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Web presence

2019

Established

6

Countries

Students upper

Target group

April 2023

Updated

Ithra would like to see education actively making links in society and advocating for continual learning. We would like to see multiple stakeholders involved in learning and engagement through the experience and process which the Tanween Challenges offer to all the participants. Secondly, to look for solutions widely. Thirdly through doing, we learn.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

We saw great ideas, concept, and theories being explored in academic research. We saw an interest in our students\participants in wanting to learn the latest knowledge, but put it to practice. We saw industry wanting to innovate but not having the knowledge to do so. Tanween Challenges help solve the gap of knowledge transfer between academia, creatives, and industry and working collaboratively.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

The strength of Tanween Challenges is the curation provided by Ithra, The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture. It’s method of curation to identify interesting new ideas and knowledge partners which would be exciting for participants to explore and industry connections to apply them is key to the learning experiences for all. This facilitation during the project has enabled Tanween Challenges to have a strong impact. This can be evidenced by the projects being applied in real world situations. Pavilions have been built and continue to tour. Board games were designed and are being sold in the shops. Jobs have been offered to participants. New services and processes have been developed for a children’s ward in a hospital. Contemporary graphic products inspired by traditional manuscripts have been produced and sold. Some of the examples of the outcomes show the diversity of the method can be applied to as well evidence the impact of Tanween Challenges

How has it been spreading?

The Challenges started prior to covid and continued through the pandemic. This showed they could work physically and remotely. We have engaged over 600 participants with 62 academic and industry partners to create over 200 projects with 30 projects being taken to market or implemented by the industry partners. Over the next 2-3 years we want to increase the international partnerships by 50%. Next year we also will bring in an annual Mega Challenge which engages with looking at a SDG focused challenge.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

They should speak with Idea Lab team at Ithra by email idealab@ithra.com and can also find previous challenges at ithra.com/en/Tanween-challenges

Implementation steps

Find a Partner or 2

The projects develop from finding partners. So be curious about finding an interesting knowledge partner with a new concept or an implementation partner with a real world challenge or scenario. Pair up or curate the partners.

Make it Interesting

This is learning for all partners so make sure you bring an interesting combination together. Curation is key to this. They should connect but bring new ideas or perspectives to the table. Perhaps they also bring a new experience. It could be a parametric design expert paired with a steel fabricator. A graphic designer with a manuscript curator etc.

Plan the project

Write the brief together of what you will ask 20 participants to do over a 4-5 day sprint. Make it hands on, perhaps plan some visits, introduce new ideas and ways of thinking. Advertise the project to participants to join in and help explore the brief.

Run the project

Over 4-5 days bring all the participants together to learn, create and present their answers to the brief. Arrange judges or get the groups to choose their top projects. At this stage you might find the partners connect with different projects or people and want to support them further. Go with it! See how you can support multiple projects to progress, or experiences to be gained.

Celebrate and Promote

Find a point to celebrate, share and promote your Tanween Challenge projects. Thank your partners, show the outcomes and promote participation in future projects from students, knowledge and Industry Partners. At Ithra we use Tanween Creativity Festival every year to be a platform to showcase the outcomes and invite all participants to talk about their experiences.