“Innovation is the implementation of creative novel ideas – and without creativity there is nothing to innovate.” -Freddie Reisman

 
View the challenge award winner!

Drexel Graduate & Professional Students,

We hope you were inspired by your experience at the 2024 Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars (DEGS) Conference, including during the keynote address and panel discussion. (If you missed it, we encourage you to watch it back!)

In alignment with this year’s theme, “Cultivating Creativity to Foster Innovation,” we are pleased to announce a creativity pitch challenge in honor of Fredricka “Freddie” Reisman, professor emerita, founder of Drexel’s School of Education, and pioneer in creativity research. Only current Drexel graduate and professional students, or recent alumni, who participated in or attended the 2024 conference in-person or virtually are eligible to apply for this inaugural challenge.

The winner will be awarded $1,500!

Here is the challenge:

As the applications and advances in AI continue to transform so many aspects of how we live and work, our creative capabilities are becoming more important as an essential skill.  Infusing creativity as a core competency for all students is becoming more prevalent in higher education. However, universities are challenged as to how to make creativity a priority for student learning and outcomes.

Develop (create!) an idea for infusing creativity into curriculum, programming, and/or activities for university students that can be implemented by students, faculty, and/or professional staff members. Your concept may include undergraduate and/or graduate and professional students; various delivery methods; approaches to measurement or assessment; collaborating with external partners – Use your imagination!

Format:

• One page, no more than 750 words, 12-point standard font
• Outline or narrative (whatever format best conveys your idea[s])
• Hyperlinks to videos, images, resources, sources*, etc. acceptable

*Please cite any sources, including the use of AI to develop your idea.

Please complete the application linked below and attach your one-page outline or narrative by Monday, June 17.

Apply

A panel of university faculty and professional staff reviewers will invite finalists for a final interview about their idea(s) prior to selecting a winner.