Future Innovators Take Flight: Students Dive into AI at Stanford
From July 17 to 27, 2024, a select group of Grade 8 and 9 students embarked on a transformative journey to Stanford University and San Francisco as part of the Global Innovation Race (GIR)—a prestigious international program hosted by the Digital Media Academy. Now in its second year, the initiative brought together young minds from over ten countries to tackle real-world challenges using artificial intelligence, design thinking, and entrepreneurial strategy.
Led by Dr. Richard Harrison and Ms. Liu Jun, the students experienced a whirlwind of innovation and inspiration. A private tour of the Tesla factory kicked off the trip, offering a rare glimpse into the future of automotive technology. This was followed by visits to tech giants Meta, Google, and Apple, and a deep dive into the history of computing at the Computer History Museum.
The heart of the experience lay at Stanford, where students joined cross-cultural teams to explore how AI can be used to solve global problems. Under the mentorship of Stanford educators and industry experts, participants engaged in hands-on workshops, AI prototyping, and design thinking sprints. The program emphasized not just technical skills, but also social and entrepreneurial thinking—teaching students how to build trust in teams, pitch ideas, and create sustainable value.
The Global Innovation Race is more than a summer camp—it’s a launchpad for the next generation of changemakers. This hands-on learning experience provided our students with valuable insights and skills, setting them up for success in their future academic journeys, especially those aiming to pursue university studies abroad.
