The Global Finals of the 9th Global Competition on Design for Futures (GCD4F), Higher Education Track, were held on 24–25 October 2026 at the Changping Campus of Beijing Normal University (BNU). Co-organized by BNU and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), and supported by partner organizations, the 2026 competition was launched in January. Under the three themes of AI for Science, AI for Education and AI for Society, the regional finals were held in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Following successive rounds of selection, 23 teams comprising nearly 100 young participants from 20 countries and regions came together at the Global Finals. Drawing on design thinking and AI, the teams explored innovative solutions to real-world challenges, reflecting the creativity and commitment of the youth worldwide to using technology for good.

Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar and Prof. Huang Ronghuai present the Gold Award

Ideas in Action · Project Presentations 

The Global Finals were held in a hybrid format, combining on-site and online participation. Building on their initial proposals, the 23 participating teams refined their projects through presentations, one-to-one mentoring and iterative improvement. Following a comprehensive assessment by the mentor panel, 18 teams advanced to the Final Roadshow Presentation.

Mentors help participating teams refine their projects

Finalists deliver their final roadshow presentations

Mentor Guidance · Fostering Innovation

The Higher Education Track Finals brought together 12 mentors from educational technology, artificial intelligence, design, learning sciences, and related fields. They were Ms. Li Yan, Associate Professor at the School of Arts and Communication, BNU; Mr. Wen Quan, founder of the independent design brand TUAN; Dr. Boulus Shehata, Assistant Professor at the Smart Learning Institute of BNU; Ms. Bai Yuening, PhD at the State Key Laboratory of Media Convergence and Communication, Communication University of China; Dr. Tingwen Chang, Assistant Dean at the Smart Learning Institute of BNU; Dr. Saeed Dahdahjani of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Dr. Liu Cinnie, Postdoctoral Fellow at BNU; Mr. Zhang Ran, Technical Director for the AECO business in the APAC region, Trimble Inc.; Mr. Zhang Zishuo, CEO of Beijing Yitong Shijie Education Technology Co., Ltd.; Ms. Fei Cheng, Lecturer at the College of Fine Arts, Capital Normal University; Dr. Zhang Yifan, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Smart Learning Institute of BNU; and Mr. Xu Pengfei, Associate Professor at the School of Artificial Intelligence, BNU. Drawing on their interdisciplinary expertise, the mentors supported teams in identifying problems, refining solutions, and communicating project outcomes.

At the mentor appointment session, Prof. Chen Guangju, Chair of the GCD4F Steering Committee and Deputy Dean of the Smart Learning Institute of BNU, and Evgeny Silyanov, Vice-Rector of Moscow City University, jointly presented appointment letters to the competition mentors.

AI Empowerment · Human–AI Co-Creation

Before the competition, each team used AI tools to create a cultural poster highlighting the distinctive traditions and cultural identities of its country or region. During the event, participants got to know one another through introductions, poster exchanges, and creative sharing, fostering friendship and cross-cultural dialogue.

Participants exchange AI-generated cultural posters

During the project design stage, the competition introduced an AI-assisted design platform featuring Problem-Solution Fit Check Cards at three stages: initial planning, mid-stage revision and final submission. The cards guided teams in clarifying their core problems, structuring their design ideas and continuously refining their solutions. The platform also featured AI consultation and team communication functions, allowing participants to receive AI-generated suggestions, share project outcomes and engage in Team Peer Review, through which the Most Popular Awards were determined.

Interface of the Problem-Solution Fit Check Card

The competition also introduced AI Stakeholder Evaluation. Using participating teams’ project materials, the system simulated the perspectives of stakeholders such as teachers, students and parents to assess the innovativeness, feasibility and social value of each proposal. The resulting assessments provided additional perspectives for the jury and informed the selection of the Best AI Stakeholder Award.

Expert Evaluation · Celebrating Innovation

The finals featured a five-member international jury with expertise in education, design, and technology: Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar, External Expert at BNU; Song Weizu, founder of the Beijing Design Society; Dr. Joy Chen, Senior Advisor for Corporate Partnerships at the Stanford Accelerator for Learning; Ms. Elizabeth K. Colucci, Director of Education Policy and Programs at OBREAL Global; and Dr. Svetlana Knyazeva, Senior National Education Programme Officer at UNESCO IITE.

The jury evaluated the 18 finalist teams against five criteria: problem awareness, innovation spirit, technology for good, application prospect, and presentation and expression. Jury members also offered professional feedback on the use of AI, the feasibility of proposed designs, user needs and social value, recognizing the participants’ creative thinking and practical achievements.

Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar provides feedback

Mr. Song Weizu provides feedback

Dr. Joy Chen provides feedback

Ms. Elizabeth K. Colucci provides feedback remotely

Dr. Svetlana Knyazeva provides feedback remotely

Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar announced the award results. Prof. Huang Ronghuai, Dean of the Smart Learning Institute of BNU, together with guests and mentor representatives, presented the awards to the winning teams. The Global Finals conferred one Gold Award, two Silver Awards and three Bronze Awards, as well as two Excellent Creativity Awards, two Excellent Design Awards, three Excellent Technology Innovation Awards and three Excellent Practice Awards. Special awards included the Most Popular Awards and the Best AI Stakeholder Awards. Seven other teams received Finalist Awards.

Messages from Guests · Looking Ahead

At the closing ceremony, Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar, Mr. Evgeny Silyanov, and Prof. Atsa Etoundi Roger, Chief Information Officer at Cameroon’s Ministry of Higher Education, congratulated the participating teams. They commended the young innovators’ achievements and expressed their hopes for deeper international collaboration and continued support for youth-led innovation.

Mr. Evgeny Silyanov addresses the participants

Prof. Atsa Etoundi Roger addresses the participants

In his closing remarks, Prof. Chen Guangju reflected on the competition’s development since its inception in 2018. He commended the participating students for integrating design thinking and AI in their innovative explorations across science, education and society, and thanked the contestants and partner organizations for their contributions. Looking ahead to the competition’s tenth anniversary in 2027, he expressed his hopes for deeper international collaboration and broader participation by young people worldwide in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.