Teach ME Award ICIA 2026: Honoring Excellence in Teacher Mentorship

The International Creativity and Innovation Award (ICIA) 2026 Global Round in Phnom Penh introduces the Teach ME Award (Teacher Mentor Excellence Award)—a dedicated initiative to recognize educators who go beyond teaching to become true innovation partners.

As ICIA continues to champion student-led innovation, this award highlights the critical role of mentors in guiding students from early-stage ideas to impactful, real-world solutions.

Redefining the Role of Educators

The Teach ME Award celebrates teachers who actively support students through the full innovation journey—from an “idea from scratch” to a fully developed project showcased on the global stage.

Rather than focusing solely on outcomes, the award emphasizes the mentorship process, including:

• Guiding idea development

• Supporting students through challenges

• Encouraging independent thinking while maintaining student ownership

This reflects a shift toward project-based learning, where educators act as facilitators, collaborators, and enablers of creativity.

Eligibility and Submission Process

To participate, mentor teachers must:

• Be actively mentoring a student team in ICIA 2026

• Submit a 3-minute video presentation reflecting on their mentorship journey

The video should highlight:

• Project evolution

• Mentoring strategies

• Challenges faced and how they were overcome

• Student growth and learning outcomes

Top 10 finalists will be required to submit a presentation deck showcasing their “Research Journey”, including:

• Idea development to implementation

• Iteration and problem-solving

• Student ownership

• Overall project impact

Program Timeline (2026)

• 25 March – Submission opens

• 15 April – Submission deadline

• 17 April – Top 10 finalists announced

• 25 April – Final presentations & awards in Phnom Penh

Finalist Presentation Format

Finalists will present live during the ICIA Global Round:

• 5-minute presentation – storytelling from idea to global stage

• 5-minute Q&A session with judges

The focus is on mentorship narrative, including roles, strategies, and measurable impact on students.

Judging Criteria

Participants will be evaluated across four key pillars:

• Mentorship (40%) – Ability to nurture ideas while preserving student ownership

• Pedagogical Resilience (30%) – Strategies to navigate challenges, failures, and pivots

• Mentoring Impact (20%) – Influence on student growth, confidence, and teamwork

• Project Impact (10%) – Quality, scalability, and sustainability of the innovation

Recognition and Opportunities

The Top 3 teachers will be honored as ICIA Excellence Teacher Mentors, receiving:

• Certificate of Excellence awarded at the ICIA 2026 Global Round

• Global recognition among educators and innovation leaders

• Exclusive invitation to present at the Educators Conference in Surabaya (November/December 2026)

Empowering Educators, Inspiring Innovation

The Teach ME Award reinforces ICIA’s mission: empowering not only students, but also the educators who shape their journey. By recognizing mentorship as a cornerstone of innovation, ICIA 2026 continues to build a global ecosystem where ideas are nurtured, challenges become learning opportunities, and education creates lasting impact.