What is the Advance to Australia video competition 2015, and who can participate?
It is a video competition run by Cambridge English Language Assessment and the Australian Trade Commission, which is open to students from grades 7 -11, studying in IGCSE, IB, CBSE, ICSE, and State Board schools in India.
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
The competition is only open to school students in India. Registration and submission of entries must be completed by a teacher or other staff member of the school. Teams must be made up of no more than two students from grades 7 -11.
Do I have to register only through my school?
Yes, students from grade 7 - 11 who are interested in participating in the competition are required to register only through their schools. Students cannot register autonomously or individually.
How can I participate in the competition?
Once the school registers for the competition, students, in teams of two, need to make a video on one of the four themes and upload it on YouTube. For details on how to make the videos, please visit the Resources page and attend the roadshow organised specially for this competition. The schools will then submit the links to the videos as entries.
What is the purpose of the competition?
The competition aims to encourage students in India to learn English to help them achieve their ambitions for study, work and travel. They hope that students will enjoy using their English skills to work on their video project and it will inspire them to continue their studies. For the four winning teams, the competition will offer students a taste of what it would be like to study at an Australian university.
What is the role of the teacher in this competition?
Teachers are asked to encourage their students to think outside the box and brainstorm to come up with creative submissions. They can ensure that the participants have adhered to the competition rules such as the time limit of the video and the prescribed themes.
While making the video, students are asked to take special care not to infringe on existing copyright or patents. For instance, if participants intend to use snippets of music in their videos, they cannot simply cut parts from popular songs or movies without acknowledging their source or checking if they are infringing on the copyright of the media source. Teachers are requested to check these matters before submitting the videos for the competition.
Teachers can also monitor if the students have comprehended the themes for the competition well and make sure that the students stay on topic.
Teachers are also asked to attend the webinars and roadshows that have been organised prior to the competition, so that they will be able to make sure that their students submit excellent videos.
What do schools have to do?
First, schools need to register for the competition. This can be done by filling in the registration form on the Apply page
Schools should make sure that their teams are made up of a maximum of two students from grades 7 - 11.
A school can submit entries for a maximum of four teams, one for each theme.
The schools need to ensure that the students have the required permissions to enter the competition. Winning students will need to have parental permission to enter the competition and necessary paperwork and travel documents to be able to travel to Australia between April and July 2016.
How many teams can a school nominate?
A school can nominate a maximum of four teams, one for each theme. Each team can have up to two students.
What are the dates for entering the competition?
The competition launches on 24 September 2015 and entries will be accepted from 15 December 2015 to 15 January 2016.
What are the judging criteria for the competition?
The submitted videos will be judged on the content, which includes relevance, accuracy and originality, language, which includes clarity, delivery and creativity and presentation. Students are asked to check that there is no copyright infringement in their videos.
When will the winners be announced?
The winners will be announced on 30 January 2016.
What are the prizes?
Each winning team (one for each theme) will enjoy a five-day trip to Australia. It will be an all-expenses-paid trip to experience student life at one of Australia’s leading universities – Bond University, Curtin University. James Cook University or Charles Darwin University.
When will the winning teams fly to Australia and how?
The winning teams will fly to Australia sometime between April and July 2016.
Which Australian universities will host the winning teams?
The winners for the best video on Social Entreneurship - Act NOW: Social and economic enterprise challenge will receive a study visit hosted by Bond University in Queensland’s Gold Coast. Bond is Australia's highest rated University for educational experience, and highly reputed for its small class sizes, personal attention and practical focus.
The winners for the best video on Creative Animation - Explore exciting new ways to express human movement will receive a study visit hosted by Charles Darwin University, a young and dynamic institution which is located in Darwin - a very cosmopolitan, tropical and vibrant young city of diverse nationalities, making it a multicultural study environment.
The team producing the best video on the theme of Robotics - Rise of the everyday Robot will win a study visit to Curtin University in Perth. Curtin is Western Australia’s largest and most multi-cultural university making it an excellent academic choice for international students.
The team producing the best video on Marine Sciences - India's coastal and marine environments: A future for everyone? will receive a study visit hosted by James Cook University which is internationally recognized for excellence in teaching and research, and is known for its supportive study environment and a practical approach to learning.
Who is Cambridge English Language Assessment?
Cambridge English Language Assessment is part of the University of Cambridge. We develop and produce the most valuable range of qualifications for learners and teachers of English in the world. Over 4 million people take Cambridge English exams each year in more than 130 countries. Around the world over 15,000 universities, employers, government ministries and other organisations accept our certificates. Find out more at www.cambridgeenglish.org
Who are the sponsors of the competition?
The competition is organised by Cambridge English Language Assessment and the Australian Trade Commission with support from Bond University, Curtin University, Charles Darwin University and James Cook University. Travel is sponsored by National Australia Bank and Credila. SAE Institute is the Knowledge Partner.
What are the benefits for our school?
Participating in the International Video Competition can raise your school’s profile. The winning schools will feature in national and international publicity campaigns by Cambridge English Language Assessment and the Australian Trade Commission.
