Nominate your product or site: World Summit Awards Philippines 2005

I got invited to be part of the awards committee for the World Summit Awards Philippines 2005 chaired by Josie Cacdac.

 

The World Summit Award (www.wsis-award.org) is a global initiative for selecting and promoting the world’s best in e-content and creativity in the framework of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (Geneva 2003 – Tunis 2005).

 

DigitalFilipino.com was chosen to represent the Philippines in the E-Learning category 2 years ago. Being part of the committee now exclude our sites from participating this year.

 

168 countries will be submitting nominations for the global contest to be evaluated by the WSA Grand Jury on 23-29 August 2005 in Bahrain. The winners will be announced at the WSA Winners Gala, which will take place in Tunis on 16 November 2005 during the Second Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society.

 

Following are the categories of the WSA Global Contest:

 

 

1. e-Learning. Multimedia projects that help people to study or to improve their skills. They should give contribution to changing the world of teaching. Other projects acceptable in that category are e-Learning communities, models or solutions for corporate training using ICTs.
2. e-Culture. Projects that effectively preserve and present cultural heritage using the new media.
3. e-Science. Projects that make scientific issues – problems and solutions – accessible to citizens, using multimedia. Alternatively, they can enable scientists to work together using the new media.
4. e-Government. Projects that aid the state in serving citizens more effectively, using the new media.
5. e-Health. Projects that use ICTs to improve the health care system.
6. e-Business. Multimedia projects that support or optimize business operations. Alternatively, projects in this category can be business ideas that are based in making use of the new media.
7. e-Entertainment. High-quality games that entertain and educate.
8. e-Inclusion. Projects that help the least developed countries of the world to get access to the Information Society. They should focus on giving people the contents and applications they need in their daily life.

 

 

Following are the rules of the Global Contest:

 

 

1. The WSA is open to any company, organization or individual in the content industry from the 168 participating countries.
2. The only way to take part in the WSA is (1) to be nominated by a national expert, (2) nominated by a National WSA Committee, established by the national expert, or (3) to join the national WSA pre-selection contest.
3. There is no limitation regarding the platform or channels the projects work with.
4. All entries have to be real products. No drafts, demonstrations or unfinished project will be accepted.
5. The same product cannot be submitted twice (ie submitted again).
6. The producer must own the copyright of all pictures, sounds, contents, etc. related to his project. All software used must be licensed.
7. The interface of the products can be in any of the United Nations official languages. Project information must, however, be in English.
8. A product can only be submitted for one category. In case of multiple submissions by an organization, company or team, each product requires a separate registration.
9. None of the materials submitted will be returned. One copy/version of each product will be kept in the WSA archive. No commercial use of this archive will be made.
10. Incomplete submissions and those not following the WSA guidelines will be withdrawn from the WSA selection process without notice. There is no way of challenging such a decision.
11. When submitting a project to the WSA Experts (and later Jury), participants automatically follow the guidelines set out by the WSA team.
12. Submitting a product to the evaluation and selection process does by no means entitle one to any benefits. There is no way of challenging this decision legally.
13. All products to take part in the WSA selection process must be sent by mail by the national experts / contest organizers to the WSA Office in Salzburg, Austria, and arriving on or before 15 August 2005. The WSA Office does neither pay for any mailing or transport costs or duty. All products must be mailed at the cost of the sender.

 

 

The criteria are tied to the concept of value added for users and e-content for a purpose. Following are the criteria for evaluating nominated products:

 

1. Quality and comprehensiveness of content

 

2. Ease of use: functionality, navigation and content

 

3. Value added through interactivity and multimedia

 

4. Attractiveness of design (aesthetic value of graphics/audio)

 

5. Quality of craftsmanship (technical realization)

 

S. Strategic Importance for the global development of the Information Society

 

A. Accessibility according to the WC3

 

Timeline of the national selection is, as follows:

 

1. Acceptance of Entries: May 21-June 30 (June is Philippine IT Month)

 

2. National Committee Evaluation of Entries: May 21-July 3

 

3. Announcement of Semi-Finalists and Final Evaluation: July 4-6

 

4. Announcement of National Finalists: July 9

 

I”m now tasked to submit a nomination for each of the categories stated above. Should you like your site to be evaluated, please email the following:

 

1. Category – Eg, e-Learning
2. Product Name
3. URL – if website
4. Platform – Eg. website
5. Description – Maximum 200 words (including features)
6. Target Users / Beneficiaries – Eg, for primary school
7. Owner/Publisher – Name of individual or organization
8. Contact Person
9. Complete Address
10. e-Mail Address
11. Telephone No(s).
12. Mobile Phone No(s).
13. Fax Number

 

After e-mailing the above, please mail by post in CD format, on or before June 30, your entry to:

 

Janette Toral
Prima Day Care & Learning Center
6/F Oakwood Premiere, Ayala Center, Makati City