The Breaking Barriers Challenge
In today's world, where divisive attitudes and protectionism are on the rise, it is crucial that we foster collaboration to tackle the pressing healthcare challenges we face. The Breaking Barriers Challenge, Asklepian's new pilot programme, offers a unique opportunity for you to delve into the shoes of individuals halfway across the world. You will identify critical societal problems and propose innovative solutions to address them. In this pilot scheme, the challenge will be tailored to the 2 regions of East Asia (Hong Kong) and the Americas (Boston).
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This competition is open to high school freshmen and sophomores.
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Throughout the competition, you will develop a range of valuable skills. You will learn to analyze complex data, think critically and creatively, and propose effective solutions. You will have opportunities to refine your communication skills by presenting your ideas and responding to feedback. The competition also encourages cross-cultural competence, helping you understand diverse perspectives and work effectively with people from different backgrounds.
You will learn to evaluate public policies relating to healthcare and develop recommendations for improvement. The competition fosters leadership skills by encouraging initiative, collaboration, and responsibility for ideas and proposals. By coming together and developing these skills, you can work towards a better future. You will promote understanding and cooperation across borders while addressing critical healthcare issues affecting communities worldwide.
Stage 01
What's the problem?
In stage one, students will be asked to propose a problem that the society of Hong Kong faces. The proposed problems will be evaluated based on the following rubric:
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Significance and relevance (25%): A good problem proposal should clearly articulate the significance and relevance of the problem being addressed, supported by evidence and data. This helps to establish the importance of the problem and why it deserves attention.
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Root causes (20%): A good problem proposal should explore the root causes of the problem being addressed. This involves identifying the underlying factors that contribute to the problem, such as social, economic, or environmental factors. Understanding the root causes of a problem is important to develop effective solutions that address the underlying issues.
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Potential impact (20%): A good problem proposal should clearly articulate the potential impact of addressing the problem, including the potential benefits to affected individuals or communities. It should also demonstrate an understanding of the long-term impact of addressing the problem, which helps to establish the value of investing in solutions.
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Cultural basis (10%): A good problem proposal should explore how cultural and historical factors have contributed to the problem and how they may influence potential solutions. This helps to develop more nuanced solutions that take into account the complexities of the issue.
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Local resources and stakeholders (10%): A good problem proposal should involve local stakeholders and identify local resources that can be leveraged to address the problem. This helps to ensure that proposed solutions are feasible and sustainable in the local context.
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Measurable outcomes (5%): A good problem proposal should identify measurable outcomes that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of proposed solutions. This involves identifying specific metrics that can be used to track progress and measure success. Identifying measurable outcomes is important to ensure that proposed solutions are effective and can be evaluated objectively.
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Project written structure and ideas (10%): A good problem proposal should have a clear and logical structure, with ideas presented in a coherent and organized manner. The proposal should be easy to follow and understand, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Additionally, the proposal should present innovative and creative ideas, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the problem and potential solutions. A well-organized and innovative proposal is more likely to capture the attention of stakeholders and potential funders, increasing the chances of successful implementation.
02
Picking a Problem
​In stage two, participants will receive the problem proposals from Hong Kong students and evaluate them to determine which problems are the most significant. For each category, the consensus of American participants will select one problem that will serve as the problem of question for stage three.
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Solve the Problem
​In stage three, participants will be asked to propose a solution to the selected problem from stage two in both written and spoken formats. The written report should be less than 4000 words in length and the presentation should be less than 20 minutes in duration.
04
Project Name
In stage four, the solution proposals will be evaluated by a board of professors and doctors. Participants have to answer questions from the board within a 10-minute Q and A session.
