GDSC Solution challenge

Every year the Google Developer Student Club organizes the Solution Challenge, an international hackathon for university students to develop solutions for real-world problems using one or more Google products or platforms. Students get hands-on skills and knowledge on how to use Android, Firebase, TensorFlow, Google Cloud, Flutter, or any of the Google technologies to promote employment for all, economic growth, and climate action.

Join the Solution Challenge to build solutions for one or more of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals were agreed upon in 2015 by all 193 United Nations Member States and aim to end poverty, ensure prosperity, and protect the planet by 2030. Students all over the world build solutions around these 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Solution Challenge Prizes

Participants will receive specialized prizes at different stages:

• The top 100 teams receive customized mentorship from Google and experts to take solutions to the next level, branded swag, and a certificate.

• The top 10 finalists receive additional mentorship, a swag box, and the opportunity to showcase their solutions to Google teams and developers all around the world during the virtual 2023 Solution Challenge Demo Day, live on YouTube.

• Contest Finalists, In addition to the swag box, each individual from the additional seven recognized teams will receive a Cash Prize per student. 

• Winning 3, In addition to the swag box, each individual from the Winning 3 teams will receive a Cash Prize and a feature on the Google Developers Blog.

Submission Criteria

Project Setup

1. Problem Statement (5 POINTS): Define the Challenge. Clearly articulate the challenge

2. UN SDGs Alignment (5 POINTS): Goal AND Target Selection. Provide the rationale behind your choice.

Implementation

1. Solution Architecture (5 POINTS): Describe the key components and their functions

2. Product and Platform Selection (5 POINTS): Justify Choices with a concise rationale

Feedback / Testing / Iteration

1. User Testing and Iteration (5 POINTS): Detail the steps taken to test your solution with real users, share 3 specific feedback points received, explain how it informed improvements, and highlight three implemented enhancements based on user input.

2. Code Testing Challenge (5 POINTS): Describe a coding challenge encountered during development, elucidate how you addressed it, and outline the technical decisions and implementations made to overcome the obstacle.

Success & Completion of Solution Criteria

1. Solution Impact and Metrics (5 POINTS): Clearly articulate how your solution addresses the challenge, utilizing metrics, goals, and outcomes. Specify Google technologies employed for usage analytics and support impact with meaningful statistics, concrete data, or cause-and-effect descriptions.

2. Demo Video Submission (5 POINTS): Upload a maximum 2-minute demo video showcasing your working application, user interaction, and effective utilization of chosen Google products. Include infographics or visual representations for enhanced clarity.

Scalability Criteria

1. Future Steps and Expansion (5 POINTS): Outline the anticipated future steps for your project and detail how you plan to expand the solution to reach a larger audience.

2. Scalability in Technical Architecture (5 POINTS): Explain how your solution's technical architecture, whether in its current state or with minor changes, is designed to support scaling to a larger audience.

Judging Criteria

A panel of judges from Google will use the following criteria to evaluate and score all submissions.

Impact - 25 Points

1. Problem Statement Clarity (5 POINTS): Does the entry clearly present the challenge in their problem statement?

2. UN SDGs and Targets (5 POINTS): Is there a clear explanation of the chosen UN Sustainable Development goals and targets for the solution?

3. User Feedback and Iteration (5 POINTS): Did the team articulate three feedback points from real users and describe testing steps? Is there evidence of learning and solution iteration based on user feedback?

4. Solution Success Metrics (5 POINTS): Does the solution effectively address the identified challenge and problem statement? Is there a clear depiction of success through metrics, goals, outcomes, or cause-and-effect?

5. Next Steps and Scalability (5 POINTS): Does the team outline future steps and demonstrate a clear plan for scaling to a larger audience?

Technology - 25 Points

1. Solution Architecture and Components (5 POINTS): Does the team clearly describe the architecture, high-level components, and responsibilities? Are the specific products and platforms, along with the rationale for using Google technology, explained?

2. Technical Implementation Completeness (5 POINTS): Does the solution implement all necessary technical components to solve the challenge?

3. Code Testing and Iteration (5 POINTS): Does the team highlight a coding challenge, its resolution, and the technical decisions made? Is guidance on running the code included?

4. Demo Video Effectiveness (5 POINTS): Does the video showcase a working application and user interaction? Does it demonstrate effective use of chosen Google technology or platform features?

5. Scalability (5 POINTS): Can the solution, with minimal changes, support increased users and scale in its current form?

Crafting a Strong Problem Statement

A compelling problem statement is the gateway to impactful solutions:

A good problem statement:

1.       Presents an opportunity of some significance, urgency, and priority

2.       Relates in the simplest terms possible, the process of concern and impact on the community

3.       Includes enough data so the audience can understand the size and scope of the problem, together with the degree or magnitude of the problem

4.       Should not be more than one paragraph (as little as 2-3 sentences, as much as 5-6 sentences)

How to structure the problem statement?

1.       Who is Affected?

Identify the specific segment/s of our community impacted by the issue, quantifying the scale.

2.       What is the Challenge?

Articulate the issue at hand or the unmet need that demands attention.

3.       Where/When Does it Occur?

Provide context, detailing the specific situations or processes where the problem manifests.

4.       Why Does it Matter?

Illustrate the importance of addressing this problem, emphasizing the profound impact on our community, region, businesses, and organizations.

Steps for Registration

Step 1: Click on the following link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftGdrvD-r-X2QcyeYt82EP_7xPxZ_TwmMWItyrGc-7l_7PtQ/viewform?usp=send_form

Step 2:  Fill the relevant details i.e. Name and Email ID.

Step 3: If you are a member of GDSC then Select Member (you participate in GDSC workshops or project building activities) for the next question. 

If you are not a member of GDSC, please join us by clicking on the following link https://gdsc.community.dev/pune-vidyarthi-grihas-college-of-engineering-and-technology-pune/

Step 4: For the next question

Choose India - Pune Vidyarthi Griha's College of Engineering and Technology - Pune as shown below.

Step 5: Choose the SDGs according to your interest and relevance.

Step 6: Answer the next questions in the registration form according to your relevance and interest.

Step 7: Carefully recheck your responses and submit the form.

Quick Follow-up Checklist

1. Form Team Select UN SDGs

2. Identify Solution

3. Learn & Build

   1. Front-end Interface

   2. Back-end Technology

4. Test Solution

5. Iterate

6. Record Demo Video, Submit Project

If you need any guidance or assistance, reach out to GDSC PVGCOET. We are happy to help you out. Anticipating a multitude of innovative solutions that will undoubtedly shape our collective success. Good luck!