The IT HERO3S CHALLENGE is a Solutions Development Challenge for Developers and IT Professionals in the Philippines.
UPDATE:
Due to the rescheduling of TechFest from December 4, 2007 to January 22, 2008, we are moving the deadline for submission of entries to January 15, 2008.
THEME
Each participating team will need to develop a usable solution for an NGO (Non-Government Organization) which addresses a real need or problem being faced by the NGO.
This brings in the IT element/contribution in assisting the great work already being done by NGOs to help make their jobs easier, faster, more efficient.
TEAMS
- Teams must have 3 members each (no more, no less). There is no specific distribution of skills or talents for each team member.
- Teams must tie up with an NGO for the project. The NGO becomes a partner for the project.
DIVISIONS
There will be two divisions for the contest.
Professional Division
- Non-student Developers and IT Practitioners (Professionals and Hobbyists)
- Partners and Customers of Microsoft may join
Student Division
- Will be the same entries for the application development track of Imagine Cup 2008 (rules of Imagine Cup will apply)
The NGOs
With the assistance of Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), NGOs have been identified across different fields. (Environment, Social Services, Education, Human Rights, etc.) These NGOs were based on a criteria provided by Microsoft to narrow down the NGO list. At present there are 112 NGOs listed, additional NGOs that wish to take part may e-mail us at heroes@msevents.ph
The list of NGOs can be found here: http://msforums.ph/content/NGOLIST.aspx
NGO Eligibility can be viewed here: http://msforums.ph/content/NGOELIGIBILITY.aspx
Note: The environment related NGOs will be exclusively for the Student Division (due to the theme for Imagine Cup 2008)
NGO as a Partner
- The Teams must work closely with the NGOs to determine the problems, the needs, and the solution.
- An NGO can partner with a maximum of 3 teams in the professional division.
- Due to limited environmental NGOs, the above constraint will not exist for the student division
- Each project per NGO must be unique (no two teams can work on the same product of a specific NGO)
- NGO selection is first-come-first served at time of submission of entry (see below)
- The NGO gets to keep the project developed by the team and use them as they wish at the completion of the project.
TECHNICAL RULES
Final project must utilize new technologies specific to
as described on the features pages for each product in their corresponding pages on microsoft.com
Current Pre-Release Versions are available for download from microsoft.com
* Related Developer Technologies may include the use of Silverlight (http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/) and Expression (http://www.microsoft.com/expression/)
THE PRIZES
Professional Division
Trip for 3 team members to TechEd 2008 in Orlando, Florida, June 2008
Student Division
Represent the Philippines in Imagine Cup 2008 in Paris, France
in addition to the prizes which come with Imagine Cup
CRITERIA FOR JUDGING (SEMI-FINALS)
The Project Proposal will be evaluated by Microsoft Representatives and with the criteria of overall concept, relevance, problem addressed, and solution proposed.
CRITERIA FOR JUDGING (FINALS)
Non-Technical Criteria
- Project Plan (concept, relevance, and solution proposed) - 25 pts.
Technical Criteria. Use of product features in the project
- Windows Server 2008 - 25 pts.
- SQL Server 2008 - 25 pts.
- Visual Studio 2008 (and other developer tools like Expression products) - 25 pts.
- Bonus technical points for creative utilization of additional Microsoft products like Windows Mobile, Windows Vista, 2007 Office, etc. - 10 pts.
JUDGES
The Board of Judges for the Finals will be made of 8 judges. 4 of which will be Microsoft representatives.
DATES
Deadline of Proposal
- Professional Division - January 15, 2008 (Extended from the orignal November 26, 2007 deadline)
- Student Division - January 15, 2008
Announcement of Semi-Finalists
- Professional Division - January 22, 2008 during TechFest 2007
- Student Division - January 2008 (TBD)
Finals
- Finals for both divisions will take place during in March 2008 (exact date will be announced later)
Announcement of winners
- Winners will be announced during the launch of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008 in March 2008
SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES/PROPOSALS
- Please indicate the Names of all team members and pertinent information (company affiliation, profession, etc.)
- Please indicate the NGO and your contact at the NGO.
- The proposal must include a detailed description of the problem/issue faced by the NGO and your team's proposed solution to the problem
- The proposal must be accompanied by a video in WMV format which must be 5 min or shorter. The video must introduce your team and a brief description of your project. The videos of selected Semi-Finalists in the professional division will be played during TechFest 2007.
- Final entries may be submitted via a) E-MAIL at heroes@msevents.ph or b) DROP OFF of Proposal Hard Copy and softcopy on CD which includes the video. (We will not be held liable by E-Mail submissions that do not reach the mailbox and are lost in cyberspace).
For more information and a list of the NGOs email us at heroes@msevents.ph
ELIGIBILITY
You are eligible to enter any invitational that is a part of this Contest if you meet the following requirements at the time of registration:
- You are not an employee or contingent staff of Microsoft Philippines, or an employee of any other Microsoft subsidiary; and
- You are not involved in any part of the execution or administration of this Contest between; and
- You are not an immediate family member of (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Contest
VALIDTIY OF ENTRIES
Microsoft Philippines reserves the right to nullify entries that do not conform to the minimum standards of the panel of judges at the time of formal judging. Should no entry qualify as a "winner," Microsoft Philippines reserves the right to declare "no winner" to the said contest.
CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY STATUS
If, at any time after your eligibility status has been verified, you experience a change in eligibility status due to special circumstances such as acceptance of an internship or offer of employment from Microsoft Philippines, or anyone else that is involved in the execution and administration of this Contest, you must contact the Contest Judges immediately and explain the circumstances. If you fail to notify the Contest Judges of a change in eligibility status, you may be disqualified from this Contest and will not be allowed to win any prizes.
HOW MANY ENTRIES CAN I SUBMIT?
One (1)
GENERAL STANDARDS FOR ENTRIES
Persons acting as team mentors or in an mentorship role, where allowed (advisor, professor, sponsors), must limit the level of support provided to general guidance and must not contribute in any other form that might be considered original authorship, or in way that may enable claims of rights or ownership to the submitted entries. In no event will work-on-behalf of teams or individuals be allowed.
By submitting an entry in this Contest, you confirm that, to the best of your knowledge:
- your entry is your/your team's original work; and
- your/your team's entry only includes material (including music, video or images) that you own or that you have permission from the copyright/trademark owner to use; and
- you/your team has obtained permission from any recognizable person (parent/guardian, if a minor) that appears in the entry to submit your entry in this Contest and to use their personal data in the entry for the purposes of the Contest (if applicable); and
- your entry has not been selected as a prize winner in any other contest.
Entries that are found to be duplicates or the result of collaborative work contrary to these Official Rules, the Contest Details and to the spirit of the competition, will be disqualified at the sole discretion of judges.
The content must be acceptable for all viewing audiences; any material containing text, sound or images that the judges, in their sole opinion and for any reason, find vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate for public viewing or content that would present the Organizer and/or the Sponsors in a negative light will be automatically disqualified.
The decisions of the judges are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.
TRAVEL PRIZE CONDITIONS
Specifics of prize package are subject to availability and to Organizer's sole discretion. Entrants are solely responsible for obtaining any and all travel documentation (including but not limited to a valid passport and any required travel visas) necessary for international travel.
Travel prize includes round trip economy airfare for winners from the Ninoy Aquino International Airpoirt located in Pasay City. and hotel accommodations. Actual value depends on date/time/destination, and difference between actual value and stated value will not be awarded.
Event dates and location are subject to change at the sole discretion of the Organizer. Finalists who have not reached the age of majority in their country/region of residence must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who will also travel as a guest of the Organizer.
PRIZE OBLIGATIONS
By accepting a prize you agree to participate in promotional events and activities that may include, but are not limited to, showcases of your entry on-stage at industry events, and allow the Organizer and the Sponsors to use your name, trademarks, image, comments and/or company logos on presentation slides and other marketing materials promoting the Contest.
You agree to assist the Organizer and the Sponsors in the creation of case studies or white papers (together "Studies") detailing competitors applications. Studies will not include any participant confidential information. Upon your approval of the Studies' accuracy, you agree to give the Organizer and the Sponsors permission to display the Studies including trademarks, logos and other identifying information contained therein, on the Organizer's and the Sponsors' Internet sites and in other documentation. This documentation may take various forms, including printed materials, on-line articles, video, audio, and other digital recordings.
HOW WILL MY ENTRY POTENTIALLY BE USED?
Other than what is set forth below, we are not claiming any ownership rights to your entry. However, by submitting your entry, you:
- are granting the NGO full rights to use the submitted project free of charge. Any further development or customization required will be between your team and the NGO upon separate negotiation.
- are granting us an irrevocable, worldwide right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your entry and all its content in connection with this Contest; and (ii) feature your entry and all its content in connection with the promotion of this Contest in all media (now known or later developed);
- agree to sign any necessary documentation that may be required for us and our designees to make use of the rights you granted above;
- understand and acknowledge that that Organizer, other Sponsors and other entrants may have developed or commissioned materials similar or identical to your submission and you waive any claims you may have resulting from any similarities to your entry;
- understand that we cannot control the incoming information you will disclose to our representatives in the course of entering, or what our representatives will remember about your entry. You also understand that we will not restrict work assignments of representatives who have had access to your entry. By entering this Contest, you agree that use of information in our representatives' unaided memories in the development or deployment of our products or services does not create liability for us under this agreement or copyright or trade secret law;
- understand that you will not receive any compensation or credit for use of your entry, other than what is described in these Official Rules.
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
By entering, you agree, where legally permitted, to release and hold harmless Organizer and Sponsors and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotions agencies, prize suppliers, and all of their employees, officers, directors, shareholder's and agents (collectively, the "Releasees") from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Contest, the use of any entry, or the acceptance or use of any prize won, except where prohibited by law.
Releasees assume no responsibility for lost, late, illegible, garbled or misdirected entries, or for any computer, online, telephone, human, or other error or for any technical or other malfunctions that may occur including any injury or damage to your or any other person's computer relating to or resulting from participation in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest.
If for any reason this contest is not capable of running as planned due to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, uploads of malicious files or viruses, or any other causes beyond the control of Organizer which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Organizer reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any entry or any individual who tampers with the entry or judging process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and select winners using all eligible, non-suspect entries received as of the date of termination. Releasees assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries.
SPONSORS
Each team may solicit sponsorships from corporate on individual sponsors for hardware, PC rentals, etc. as required for the completion and promotion of the team project. Sponsorship agreements are between the team and the sponsoring entity and should not violate any of the previously stated rules and terms between the team and Microsoft Philippines.