Global Competitions for Nigerian Students – All You Need to Know

Spread the love

A student contest is any student event where a person or team is competing for a prize, where talent is the winner’s key predictor. There may be a rivalry between students or teams of students inside a classroom or between multiple colleges and across geographic areas. Student competitions help bring in a student’s best effort by encouraging imagination and motivating the students to use their skills.

Teachers implement student competitions as part of their curriculum to inspire students to remain on track and put forth their best work by substantially raising the ‘Payoff for the Student’ by providing extra marks for final grades.

Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada - See if you are eligible

Got Admission to Study in US or Canada? See if you are eligible for international student loan

Looking for ways of displaying your skills? There are opportunities for all interests and ambitions from art and design to science and mathematics, economic science, and engineering. Apart from the potential prizes offered, including full bursaries to help you pursue your studies – student competitions also provide an excellent way to challenge yourself, validate your skills, and apply your knowledge to non-classroom projects.

Types of Students Competitions

Different forms of student competitions exist:

  • Case study – This competition revolves around solving a real or fictional case given to the competitors. The aim is to find a solution using the information given in the case.
  • Business Plan – A competition for which a business plan needs to be written for either an actual or fictional company. Most entrepreneurship competitions will be of this form.
  • Project Competition – A Student Design Competition may be technological or simply aesthetic. The objective of technical competitions is to introduce students to real-world engineering situations and to teach students project-management and fabrication techniques used in the industry. Aesthetic competitions usually require art and design skills.
  • Simulation – Students compete either online or through software to simulate an environment in which to make decisions. These decisions and the outcomes are tracked for the winner to be determined. The entire event is often online, and there is no physical location given.
  • Ideation-A competition where the main deliverables are proposals for various concepts. The proposals can be executed at a later date or not. In this category, several competitions are considered in which a semi-structured body of text needs to be delivered.
  • Article-Write an essay on a subject (a short piece of writing). Topics may vary and may be ordered or left to the discretion of the authors.

Benefits of These Types of Competitions

Let’s examine the definition of extracurricular activities deeper before we get into the nitty scratch. The word extracurricular is a mixture of the extra prefix, which refers to “outside,” the syllabus, and “running career.”

Outsourcing activities are activities not covered by your regular curriculum.

Completing extracurricular activities means that you go beyond the requirements of your school. However, playing football with your friends for enjoyment mostly on weekdays is not an extracurricular event, even though this has nothing to do with school.

  1. Academic performance-enhanced

Some students worry that attending extracurricular competition that can take up too much time and hurt their classes, but extracurricular activity can actually improve your grades and your views on schools in general!

You can contribute to higher grades by participating in activities that you are passionate about, helping you focus better on, and manage your time. For instance, high endurance sports will train you in the face of intensive difficulties to focus and build strength. This gives you a benefit in the study and examination process.

  1. Exploring interest and generating wider views

You can explore a range of different best interests and obtain aspirations you never knew you would get to when you participate in many competitions!

Moreover, your world view is then broadened by diversifying your interests. Think of it this way: you will start to look at the world in the eyes of an emerging philosopher by joining a philosophy club.

  1. Greater confidence

The higher you achieve by your engaging competitions, the better your self-confidence will increase.  Let’s tell you, for instance, that you’re very good at mathematics and your teacher encourages you to take part in competitions for mathematics. You join the school team and begin training for the Olympic Mathematics competitions.

During the process, you realize how enjoyable math can actually be and how talented you are. You’ll be successful without having to work hard and master new skills in an entertaining, relaxed – and sometimes competitive environment. Moreover, once your trust improves, not only in the Math Olympics, you will be more open to taking risks in all aspects of your lives.

  1. Economic opportunities

To be honest, it may be hard to make friends, but competitions are one of our easiest ways of making friends with people you went up against.  Each one you participate in gives you another chance to grow your social network, which will also be useful when you are looking for a job.

Moreover, you are more likely to get involved if you make friends at your competitions and activities.  You may, for example, choose to start an academic club together and make a real impact on your academics if you make friends who are also academically inclined in school.

  1. Important  Life skills

In addition to all the benefits of extracurricular activities, we listed one of the biggest advantages is the skills “real world.”

These competencies include (but are not restricted to):

  • The setting of the goal
  • Team Work  
  • Time Managing 
  • Prioritizing 
  • The capability of solving problems
  • Analytical thinking
  • Leadership skills
  • Public speaking

The more you drive in your extracurricular activities, the greater your abilities. You may enter a school programming club, where you can develop teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills if you are interested in programming.

  1. Resumes

One way that hiring managers can evaluate your capabilities and work ethics without much previous work experience is through your extracurricular activities.

When you’re on a debate team, for example, the manager will understand you’re working well with others, can professionally argue about a topic, and will have a public-speaking experience.

  1. Applications To Universities

Without competitions and extracurricular activities, it is almost impossible to reach a university in the US or in the United Kingdom. Universities in the United States and the United Kingdom want to see that your intended field of study has been higher and higher and/or more excellent.

A UK University is more likely to accept you if you join a chemistry club, take extra chemistry courses in your local university, and volunteer in a laboratory if you wish to do an undergraduate degree in chemistry.

Although it sounds like a lot, extracurricular activities for US universities are even more important. In fact, your application accounts for around 30% of extracurricular activities and leadership.

That being said, US universities don’t just require you to have a passion, so if you want to study science but you also love cinematic, participate in activities like screenwriting, direct your own films, conduct film competitions and hold film nights to raise money for environmental science, you will have great interest. All these will greatly boost your chances of getting into your dream college.   

It’s all right, though, if you’re not the next Spielberg, so long as you’re engaged in deep and meaningful extracurricular activities you’re passionate, then you’re going to get a fighting chance! US colleges want your extracurricular activities to show very specific things. Make sure you select the following boxes for your activities to increase your chances of entry:

  • Longevity: You do not go to a new activity every week and leave one every second week, but rather stick with one type of activity.
  • Passion: You’ve got to genuinely concerned and that you are not just doing your extracurricular activities to get into colleges.
  • Leadership: You must have taken the initiative to be a leader in your activity and community.

Top Global Competitions for Nigerian Students

1. Shell Ideas360

To encourage students to develop innovative ideas to address the challenges of energy, food, and water, this global competition, coordinated by Shell International Limited. You can participate in an online community through your own or in a team of up to three persons before having to submit your final presentation.

With the support of Shell advisors and specialists, up to 100 entries will be chosen for development. Runner-up receives a year of National Geographic Magazine subscription and the general winner receives a National Geographic Expedition.

What is Shell Ideas360?

Shell Ideas360 is a global Shell International contest for students to develop new ideas to address energy, water, and food problems.

Benefits and Awards

Every Reward at each tier.

  • Stage 1: A WIRED Interactive Digital Edition subscription (accessible on iPad, iPhone, and Kindle Fire) for every member of a project team receives the participating certificate.
  • Stage 2:  A certificate of participation is issued to every member of a team that submits an idea.
  • Stage 3: The finalists will fly every member to Make the Future, London, and receive a personal medal and completion certificate.

Winners: The Shell Ideas360 Trophy will be won by the team.

Judges and Judging Criteria

Every idea is read and examined by the team of experts. You must be able to evaluate the strength of each idea and see how well the submission responds to the following questions. We have given some guidance for what you need to consider to help you.

  1. Sony World Youth Award for Photography

Through its Youth Award, the Sony World Photography Award seeks the next generation of talented young photographers. Whether you study photography or simply like taking pictures, this is your chance to be recognized internationally.

Culture, the environment, and people can be chosen in three categories. The prizes include image presented in London and the official book, global media coverage, digital SLR camera machinery, and the opportunity for the ceremony of the Sony World Photography Award to London with VIP tickets.

About the competition

Open to all photographers, the awards are a leading voice in the field of photography that can shape the careers of their prize-winners. The competition attracts both emerging talents and renowned artists every year and presents the best photography in the world to a global public during the past 12 months.

The World Photography Organization is a global photography platform. The purpose is to encourage conversation around photography through the celebration of the best images and photographers in the world, working in even more than 180 countries.

There are four competitions in the Sony World Photography Awards:

  • Professional – Recognizing outstanding bodies of work​
  • Open – Rewarding the world’s best single images ​
  • Youth – Best single photos of 12-19-year-old photographers
  • Student – For photography students worldwide

Eligibility: all submitted images have to be taken in the year of the competition, for them to be eligible.

Competitive value: global exposure is not only given to the winners, but also to photographers who have been selected and commended.

  • Photographers recognized may receive Somerset House Exhibition, London.
  • Potential to be included in international exhibitions
  • Inclusion in the annual Sony World Photography Awards book
  • Potential to work with Sony and other partners on a variety of projects

Award Provider: World Photography Organization

Note: Only one of the preceding competitions can be entered: Professional, Open, or Youth.

  1. The New School Competition

Here is your chance to earn a Bachelor of Arts and Design Bursary; The New School in New York City is music or liberal arts. There are eight scholarships, half full and half partial, plus four Apple iPad Mini products. To win you need a logical reasoning test, a questionnaire about The New School, and a video that presents your creative scenario.

Screening Processes

All full applications will be reviewed by student competition and 20 applicants will be selected based on total competition performance. Test results and creative case videos will be used for the finalists. A video viewing finalist and the quality and amount of comments will be chosen.

The participant must submit a complete application for admission to The New School by February 5, 2015, to be elected finalist.

The New School representatives will then select and award the winners based on the video and educational background for the applicant. These participants are contacted and published on the website of the contest.

For each of the five participating divisions of The New School, a first and a second prize will be awarded.

First Price

Full Bachelor’s degree scholarship in one of The New School’s five participating divisions. The band covers 100% of the tuition fee and obligatory fees for all loans required to complete the student’s degree.

Winner’s certificate

Second Price

Partial bachelor’s program in one of The New School’s five participating departments. The bursary covers 50 percent of tuition and all credits needed to complete the student’s degree.

Winner’s certificate

Additional Prices

Participate in the competition and see if you measure up! An iPad Mini will be awarded to high school students, for each of the five participating schools, to one outstanding study entry.

Winner’s certificate

Eligibility: High school or college students applying for a place at one of the four participating departments: Design, Music, Liberal Arts, and Jazz & Contemporary Music.

Deadline: unknown, can be anytime the board of the competition picks.

  1. Fordham Business Challenge

This is a student competition, the Fordham Business Challenge. This is one for every student who’s ever dreamed of living in the Big Apple. Those who make it through a series of quizzes about New York City, general activities and their own special field are in with a chance of winning a scholarship for a specialized master’s degree program at Fordham University Graduate School of Business

Administration (GBA) in New York. There are eight full scholarships and eight half-scholarships available.

More about the Bursary

The Fordham Business Challenge is bursary competition organized by the Fordham University Graduate School of Business Administration and Students Competition AB

Five full-tuition scholarships are made available to study a specialized Master of Science program at Fordham graduate school of business administration.

The Fordham business challenge consists of 3 multiple question sets and also 1 essay question connected to 5 Master of Science graduate business degree programs. Five first-place winners of the competition will receive full-tuition scholarships.

Programs

The five masters programs offered are:

Analytics and Big Data:

  • Masters in marketing intelligence (MSMI)
  • Masters in business analytics (MSBA)
  • Masters in applied statistics and decision making(MSSD)

Global business and management

  • Three continental masters of global management (3CMGM)
  • Masters in the business enterprise (MBE)

Eligibility

To qualify for the competitions applicants must:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree
  • Or either be in their final year.

To qualify to win the competition applicants must:

  • Fulfill all the basic requirements
  • Already applied for admission to their chosen masters program
  • Should have been admitted and enrolled at Fordham GBA, starting the semester.
  • Fordham GBA applications always require:
  • Completed online application
  • GMAT or GRE scores
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Professional resume
  • Two letters of recommendations
  • Interview
  • TOEFL is required if English is not your first language.

Tips for Preparing for a Competition

  • Studying Habits

Before you take part in an academic competition you will have developed successful study habits already. Studying for academic competition, however, is not quite the same as studying for an exam. There are a lot of details you need to reach outside of the classroom.

Don’t waste time visiting places you know incredibly well.  Remember that with academic competitions the discussions can be relatively large, so maybe you should not try to research the absolute minutiae of each question. Success in an academic competition does not mean that you need to be an expert in every single field. When you know what there is to know; it isn’t going to be much of a challenge.

  • Prepare for Grand Day

If it’s a competition that involves you to present, as the shell ideas360, it’s most essential that you prepare in the weeks and days ahead of the competition. However, you still have to psych yourself on the contest day and be ready to go.

Make sure you’re getting nights rest and start your day with a balanced meal. With competition from law schools, for example, mock trials are treated much the same way as actual trials. Visualize what might come up before a match begins — such as questions or how you’ll be giving your team an early lead. Give yourself some light analyzing at least a few hours before the contest, but avoid too much-studying, as you might ultimately lose track of concepts.

  • Relaxation

Doing well in an academic competition shouldn’t stop you from taking care of your needs and other obligations. Staying up all night and not eating because you are studying and too preoccupied can end up being more of an obstacle than a smart deed.

By healthy eating and getting a decent night’s rest, the tension that you feel can be decreased. Make sure you’re satisfied wherever you sleep and go to bed as quickly as possible. Don’t observe too much time on your phone through the night. Bring yourself away from the displays so that your Smartphone, computer, and television can avoid blue light intrusion and mental overload.

Make sure you will have plenty of rest and de-stress even before the contest, so you have the opportunity to perform at the top of your game. Putting in the time to prepare for an academic contest may help improve your performance.

With all these being explained it is safe to say that its convincing competitions have much to offer in education. They are also a good measure of how well discipline is accepted and integrated into the curriculum.

However, competitions should be further developed, because organizing a good competition is a major challenge. Desires can be adopted to incorporate technology into the system, should enjoy acceptance in the international areas of education, and receive more help and attention from the academic and industrial world and also even the government.