New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Initiative category

Identify the award category for which this initiative is being submitted
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most

Email user
christine@thebigidea.ie

Basic information
Initiative title
The Big Idea

Full initiative Title
The B!G iDEA

Please provide a short, catchy description of your initiative to be used in communication towards the public.
The B!G Idea is a free creative thinking programme being delivered to Irish students aged 15 to 19, supported by partners and mentors. Creativity is a vital future skill, and this programme inspires youth to become empathetic innovators, leaders and trailblazers to positively impact society. Learning problem-solving, critical thinking, resilience and empathy, they create solutions to tackle issues such as climate change, displaced people, hidden poverty, diversity & inclusion, and mental health.

What was the geographical scope of your intiative?
National

Where was your intiative implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Ireland

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
22 counties of Ireland - Including both the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Does your initiative address mainly urban or rural issues?
It addresses urban-rural linkages

Does your initiative refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)

Has your initiative benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
No

Has your initiative won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
Yes

What was the prize?
NAME OF PRIZE???

Does your initiative has a minimum level of maturity? The minimum level of maturity is exemplified by stakeholder/ initiative promoter commitment to implement the initiative in practice and a clear methodology /approach.
Yes

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): The Big Idea
  Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation
  First name of representative: Kim
  Last name of representative: MacKenzie-Doyle
  Gender: Female
  Nationality: Ireland
  Function: CEO and Founder
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Rathvinden
  Town: Leighlinbridge, Carlow
  Postal code: R93EK16
  Country: Ireland
  Direct Tel: +353 87 797 7024
  E-mail: kim@thebigidea.ie
  Website: https://thebigidea.ie/
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.instagram.com/the_big_idea_irl/
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): @the_big_idea_irl
- URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-big-idea-ireland
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): @the-big-idea-ireland
- URL: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigIdea.IRL
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): @TheBigIdea.IRL
In case my initiative is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my initiative in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
New European Bauhaus or European Commission websites

Description of the initiative
Please provide a summary of your initiative
The B!G Idea is a new and free creative thinking programme being delivered to Irish students aged 15 to 19, supported by global partners and mentors.
The programme inspires young people to become empathetic changemakers, innovators, leaders and trailblazers that can positively impact their communities and wider society.
Creativity is a vital future skill, identified by the World Economic Forum. By learning problem-solving, critical thinking, resilience and empathy, students co-create solutions to tackle issues such as climate change, displaced people, hidden poverty, diversity and inclusion, and mental health.
The 12-week programme bridges the gap between education and the design industry, teaching future innovators to apply empathetic design to our living spaces and experiences.
They are tasked with applying their new skills to develop real solutions in the form of a digital experience, product, space or place, a service or a tech solution - on a local or global level. Students have designed socially-conscious places and spaces projects, from inclusive venues for teens to sustainable housing to tackle homelessness.
They are learning to prioritise the places and people that need solutions the most with beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive projects - in line with the Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus initiative.
The programme is run by a social enterprise and is funded by corporate and government partners, with hundreds of mentors giving real-world advice and feedback to students remotely through a purpose-built app.
The Big Idea's reach has gone from 500 students in 2021, to 2,000 in 2022 and around 4,000 registered this year. So far, around 900 mentors from a range of industries around Ireland, Europe and the wider global community have volunteered to support the programme.
We are on mission to democratise creativity because one big idea can change our world!

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with 5 key words.
Spaces and places

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Empathetic design

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Creative thinking

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Future skills

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Active citizenship

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of sustainability and how these have been/will be met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
This year, 4,000 Big Idea students across Ireland will learn how to think creatively and apply empathetic design to develop solutions to five major social issues, with solutions including socially conscious places and spaces projects.
Working with students and their teachers, and hundreds of mentors from a diverse range of sectors, we empower students to co-create solutions to tackle issues such as climate change, displaced people, hidden poverty, diversity and inclusion, and mental health.
This educational programme is a game-changer as it puts the power of creative thinking into the hands of our future innovators.
When we say "creativity", we do not mean art we mean the most in-demand skills that the world needs right now, which are problem-solving, critical thinking, empathy resilience, mental agility, innovation, ideation and the confidence to stand up and tell their peers about their Big Idea.
We are placing creative thinking at the centre of Ireland's second-level education system and are on a mission to democratise creativity.
The programme is reviewed and renewed each year with students, mentors and teachers feeding into the programme's evolution as we get regular feedback from participants, giving all stakeholders ownership of the development of the programme.
As the issues in society change – so will the programme focus.
With development in progress for similar programmes for early years education, third level and corporate training - we are well on our way towards our mission of democratising creativity and creating a society which has fully adopted and embraced empathetic problem solving for more inclusive, sustainable and beautiful communities.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
This programme has been created by award-winning designers and benefits from a massive community of supportive mentors and partners from the design community, amongst the diverse range of industries.
The creative thinking focus is powerful in the programme content as the development of empathetic problem-solving plays a crucial part in the learning journey for students.
The positive cultural and experiential impact that their big ideas could have is apparent by the range of solutions/ideas that they develop – from sustainable housing options to tackle the housing crisis, to safe, inclusive spaces for teens.
The programme offers an innovative and refreshing way to approach education as while some students are thrilled with their winning ideas, others have commented that success for them meant that they simply gained their own voice to speak on issues that concerned them and their communities.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Inclusion and accessibility are at the very heart of The Big Idea.
The programme is sponsored, removing the burden of cost from schools, students and parents and making creative thinking accessible to all.
The learning modules are delivered through a variety of mediums, from in-class tasks, group and individual tasks, online and video learning and interaction with their assigned mentors through a purpose built app.
Each year, students are also tasked with developing a Big Idea which addresses issues related to diversity and inclusion. Each year, they provide volumes of projects based on this theme, which allows each student to delve into these important issues and create solutions that could be developed into sustainable solutions.
It also wires their brains to be ever mindful of accessibility and inclusion by teaching them to problem solve by first considering the needs of those who need the solutions most, rather than just exploring their own experiences.
Teachers too are enjoying how accessible and easy to teach the 12 week programme is, thanks to the simple format and network of support given from the sign up stage to judging process.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the initiative and civil society have been/will be involved in the initiative and what has been/will be the impact of this involvement on the initiative
We have been blown away by the support for The Big Idea and it has cemented our conviction that this programme is what is needed in the Irish educational system.
Teachers across Ireland have signed up more than 7,000 students to this programme in the three years it has been running, while we have another 10,000 learner remain on a waiting list.
Such is the support for this clear, creative thinking pathway from education to industry, that a whopping 700 voluntary mentors from a wide, diverse range of industries – from graduates to mentors – have signed up to actively participate in teaching Ireland’s future innovators.
Media have been incredibly supportive of this programme, each year more and more media outlets offering valuable coverage to tell the story of creative thinking in Europe, while some of the journalists are becoming mentors themselves.
Students are already telling us how the programme has changed them – given them confidence, a voice, a new way of thinking.
We are excited to begin to witness those students taking on creative challenges in the real world and we are there with them to support them and record their success as they reach into industry, and their adult lives, with these new skills.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the initiative.
Locally, we are supported by our Local Enterprise Office and Chamber of Commerce, both of whom have supported our growth and also praised us prestigious awards since our establishment.
Nationally, we are fortunate to have Creative Ireland as our title partner, with award partners including Aerogen, MSD, CJ Fallon, Netwatch and Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.
Our grant partners include innovators such as Aviva, ESB, Rethink Ireland and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, while The Big Idea has been working hard with the Institute of Designers in Ireland and Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and National Disability Authority to integrate universal design into the programme.
We also have a long list of foundation partners from a diverse range of industries, many of whom are programme mentors.
Nationally, our CEO and founder Kim MacKenzie-Doyle has been invited to speak at events such as Responsible Innovation Summit, The Sustainability Summit SX21, The Human Centered Design Network, Interaction Design Conference World International Design Day, {{{MORE EVENTS BOOKED FOR THIS YEAR HERE KIM}}}
Our programme believers include some of Ireland's finest third level institutions such as University College Cork, Griffith College, TU Dublin and MTU, with more still in the process of signing up.
In Europe, as well as having mentors based across the continent, we are delighted to have support from Access Europe too and also to have partnered with Kaospilot in Denmark, which is connecting creative thinking programmes across Europe through EU BANG (Bridging All Next Generations) an Erasmus+ Programme with Politecnico di Milano, Italy; Poljoprivredno šumarska škola Vinkovci, Croatia and High School of Agrinio, Greece.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your initiative. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was
Design, psychology and education

Please highlight the innovative character of the initiative, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the initiative
At The Big Idea we recognise that creative learning can often be hindered by the conventional boundaries and constraints of teaching in silos, whether that is by having one teacher per subject, one class per subject and one student to a desk.
We encourage divergent thinking and co-creation through teamwork, which leaves room for discovery and a more rounded, inclusive learning through an easier flow of information and communication.
This is a crucial step in the process of teaching creative thinking, as is encouraging students to feel free to fail, which allows for greater creativity while developing resilience and confidence in the student.
Students are reporting greater confidence, resilience, creativity and a sense of autonomy to solve problems and well as faith in their own belief systems and courage to act and speak to change society.
They no longer fear failure and so, ideation can occur comfortably and freely as part of the creative thinking process.

Please describe which elements of your initiative could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.
Changing our educational system to introduce lateral thinking skills as part of teaching creative thinking is something any member state could undertake.
This programme has already proven a hit and success in Irish schools and its teaching of creative thinking as set out in our programme can be easily replicated through The Big Idea in any country.
It is our plan to introduce adaptations of this programme for early years, third level and corporate education.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your initiative.
Education modules delivered in class over 12 weeks through a variety of mediums, including video, games/activities, challenges and in class group learning, along with mentor input at project pitch stage and a final year project exhibition which celebrates all of the Big Ideas.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the initiative addresses by providing local solutions
According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, critical thinking and problem-solving top the list of skills that employers believe will grow in prominence by 2025. Further skills needed are self-management such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility.
The Big Idea was created to teach these skills to teenagers – our future innovators and leaders.
Each year, the students identify FIVE key areas that they feel need positive solutions.
This year, these issues are climate change, displaced people, hidden poverty, diversity and inclusion, and mental health.
Students are tasked with learning and applying their new creative thinking skills to develop real solutions in the form of a digital experience, product, space or place, a service or a tech solution - on a local or global level.
So far, some winning ideas have been flatpack wind turbines, QR codes with recycling instructions for products, sustainable housing to tackle the housing crisis, inclusive venues for teens with a focus on promoting positive mental health and safer social media spaces for LGBTQ+ youth.

Please detail the scope of progress in the implementation of the initiative. This can include already demonstrated results/outputs related to the chosen Prizes category, and the already achieved benefits from the initiative for direct and indirect beneficiaries. This can also include a development plan of the initiative, with a particular attention to the steps envisaged in the year following the application, and including envisaged results and benefits from the initiative
We have already taught 7,000 students how to incorporate creative thinking into their problem solving. They have developed XX number of creative ideas for a wide range of societal issues, including sustainable places and spaces. We have worked with over 700 mentors from across a wide range of industries to support the students and develop the programme, along with introduce the concept of divergent thinking in homes, schools and workplaces.

Please provide documents that demonstrate the maturity level of the initiative and commitment to implement the initiative in practice (e.g.: evaluation report, final or mid-term initiative report, certification, publications, building permit, grant agreement, letter of support, partnership agreement, etc.)
PDF
PDF
- pdf-1-19776.pdf
If relevant, please describe how your initiative contributes to developing new competences, especially in the context of the European competence framework on sustainability.
As part of the learning, students explore the topics and issues around climate change, displaced people, hidden poverty, diversity and inclusion, and mental health to fully understand the problem.
As part of this, schools, teachers and mentors become creativity thinking and sustainability champions with a view to helping students feel empowered to tackle these social challenges, giving them a voice, confidence and helping remove their eco-anxiety.
Members of the public can then feel inspired and learn about the many projects and ideas through an online exhibition and extensive PR activities at the end of the school year.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images or visual representations of your initiative to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below.
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By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed initiative has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the initiative and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their initiatives, initiative, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted initiative, initiative is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes