Funding, Grants & Awards | News

E-Learning Competition Deadlines Near

• By Tim Sohn
• 11/28/11

American Public University System (APUS) and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE) will dole out $25,000 to an entrepreneur who creates a business plan that best improves higher education e-learning.

The contest, the 2012 American Public University System Prize for Innovation in Online Education, is part of the 2012 Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition. The $25,000 prize is sponsored by APSU and the Networking Education Entrepreneurs for Social Transformation.

The following is the timeline for content submissions:

• Executive summaries, due by Dec. 12;
• Semi-finalists announcement, Feb. 3;
• Complete business plans deadline, March 16;
• Finalists named, May 4; and
• Live competition in Philadelphia, PA, June 19.

Applications can be submitted by individuals, for-profit, and non-profit institutions, and should be organized to explain the problem they address, the proposed entrepreneurial idea, and the implementation plan, including scaling possibilities.

"Our collective goal is to catalyze innovations in learning propelled by educational entrepreneurs," said Penn GSE Vice Dean Doug Lynch. "We hope, if you have an idea to change the world, that you will enter the competition."

American Public University System consists of a pair of online universities, American Public University and American Military University. It has enrollment of more than 100,000 students, and offers 87 degrees and 68 certificates in such areas as business, intelligence, criminal justice, management, sports, and information technology.

Those interested in submitting applications to the contest should visit nestcentral.org.