Global Innovation Race | Digital Media Academy

Global Innovation Race

2024 Application

Registration Ends May 31st

Join the international call to action for students across the globe

and design solutions that will shape the future.

Digital Media Academy

Global Innovation Race 2024

Led by leading educators and industry experts, Digital Media Academy has been preparing the next generation of global leaders with world-class STEAM programs since 1999. Join our global youth innovator community for a summer experience that will shape your future.

Immerse yourself in the world of AI and emerging tech, exploring their role in driving innovation. Engage in solving global challenges while honing your design, social, and entrepreneurial skills. Draw inspiration from local tech scenes and diverse cultures. Build a global network, forge lifelong friendships, and create indelible memories—all within an experience tailored for 13-17-year-olds.

Our programs have been taught in world-renowned institutions like Stanford, NYU, Georgetown, UCLA, Oxford, and McGill University. Today, we’ve left our mark in over 1,000 schools across 125 countries, introducing 500,000+ students to the world of STEAM.

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Global Innovation Race is for you if…

  • you’re 13-17 years old.
  • you’re curious about emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how to use them for human-centered innovation.
  • you want to drive impactful change by addressing challenges facing our global community.
  • you’re looking to develop your design, social, and entrepreneurial thinking skills, and become a global innovator.
  • you’re ready to move outside your comfort zone, make international connections, and build lasting friendships. 

We have impacted over 500,000 students since 1999. Now it’s your turn!

Designed by Leading Educators 

Stanford Educator Glenn Fajardo

Glenn Fajardo

DMA Chief Learning Officer • Lecturer at Stanford d.school • Former Director of Co-Design Practice @ TechSoup

Glenn believes in the power of connection to spark creativity across distances and cultures. Teaching at Stanford’s d.school since 2014 and serving as the Distributed Learning Teaching Fellow in 2020, he explores how collaboration can thrive even when we’re apart.

With 14 years of experience in virtual collaboration spanning six continents, Glenn focuses on social impact work. Alongside Kursat Ozenc, he co-authored “Rituals for Virtual Meetings: Creative Ways to Engage People and Strengthen Relationships.” Previously, as the Director of the Co-Design Practice at TechSoup, Glenn championed technology’s potential for social change. Trained in nuclear engineering sciences and public policy, he also enjoys playing electric bass and cooking in others’ kitchens.

Chris Bennett

DMA Learning and Engagement Specialist • Affiliate, Stanford University Graduate School of Education • Game Designer

Chris is an award-winning Game Designer and Stanford-invited lecturer who has combined creative ideas with digital engagement to reach millions of players with his credited games. Chris teaches, studies, and practices ways to apply his science of Game Design Thinking to improve lives in the real world.

Chris has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment software industry, including three very successful franchises; The Sims, Diner Dash, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour.

Chris has talked about games and game design for major media outlets, including NBC TV, NPR, Forbes.com, and the San Francisco Chronicle. He is called on by organizations such as Stanford University, University of California Berkeley, and USAID for his game design expertise.

What alumni are saying…

I attended [2023] Global Innovation Race, met with people from around the globe, and learned a ton. The whole program was well organized, and it is something I can definitely recommend. It was my first time working with Digital Media Academy but I love it already!

Yvan Sugira
Student from Rwanda

I like that we got to meet a lot of different people from other countries because you see a lot of different things that are different in their culture and in yours. Some of the people I worked with were very logical thinking and some others let their creativity flow. I learned how to socialize with people and how to use AI effectively to solve some problems.

Amara
Student from Switzerland

It was absolutely wonderful academic program centered around humanity. The focus of the future is not on AI, but on humans. Specifically, how humans interact, care, and relate to each other and the world is what we ultimately focused on. It was not just about design, not just about technology, not just about efficiency, but about human ideals and virtues that connect us together. I like this program a lot.

Jason Tong
Student from Beijing

Start preparing for an amazing summer today!

Start your journey by submitting a free, non-binding application and one of our GIR Experience Managers will get in touch to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the booking process, including details on our program campuses, how to select the right location, and what to expect when you arrive.