Macmillan Learning, a privately held, family-owned digital learning company, and the Rudd Family Foundation Big Ideas Contest today announced a new $10,000 Education Innovation Big Ideas Prize. Funded by Macmillan Learning, and in collaboration with the UC Berkeley School of Education, the prize will provide seed funding for ideas from UC Berkeley students that address challenges in education and expand opportunities for learners.

“A lot of good ideas in education start small, with one person who sees a problem and wants to try something. Our partnership with Big Ideas provides both funding and mentors to help that idea get off the ground,” said Susan Elbe, Chief Connector of Science, Education and AI at Macmillan Learning.

The prize welcomes early-stage ideas across pre-K–12, higher education, and workforce learning and development, with potential applications in learning environments around the world. Proposals may explore emerging technologies, new ways to build learning communities, or creative approaches that help learners put ideas into practice. Areas of interest include:

  • Ethical technology integration: Approaches that enhance teaching and learning while prioritizing student well-being, responsible use of data, and equitable access.

  • Human-centered AI: Responsible applications of AI that support learners and educators while recognizing the importance of human judgment, educators’ professional expertise, and meaningful learning relationships.

  • Peer connections: Ideas that strengthen relationships, collaboration, and peer-to-peer learning.

  • Innovative learning approaches: Experiential, embodied, hands-on, and other non-technology-based approaches that deepen understanding, encourage engagement, and improve learning outcomes.

“The most powerful innovations do more than introduce new technologies or approaches, they begin with an understanding of how people learn and reimagine what is possible for learners and educators. At the Berkeley School of Education, we are excited to support a prize that challenges students to bring bold ideas, research-informed thinking, and a commitment to educational equity to the work of transforming education,” said Michelle D. Young, Dean, Berkeley School of Education.

The award focuses on projects at the idea stage, including prospective nonprofits, mission-driven startups, and advocacy initiatives. It adds dedicated education funding to the Big Ideas competition, which also includes the flagship $20,000 Biggie Prize and other awards supporting social impact across disciplines.

Through Big Ideas, students receive support to move from an initial concept toward a more developed plan. First-round applicants submit a proposal describing the education problem they aim to address, the current landscape, and their proposed innovation. Selected finalists will receive tailored mentorship from industry experts between January and May 2027 as they expand their proposals into full plans. Students’ proposals are judged on innovation, social impact, long-term viability, and proposal quality.

Since launching at UC Berkeley in 2006, Big Ideas has grown into one of the country’s largest student innovation competitions, drawing more than 3,500 proposals involving over 10,000 students. Participating teams have secured more than $1.2 billion in additional funding. For application requirements and submission information, visit bigideascontest.org.

About The Blum Center at UC Berkeley

The Blum Center leverages the talent, energy, and innovations of the University of California, Berkeley to address difficult challenges in low-resource communities in California and across the world. The Center’s interdisciplinary problem-solving approach draws on students and faculty from over 70 disciplines to develop, test, and scale technologies and solutions for economic development and to improve lives. The Center leads an undergraduate minor in Global Poverty & Practice, a Master of Development Engineering, and a graduate PhD minor in Development Engineering. UC Berkeley is the world’s No. 1 public university, with 63 Nobel laureates and 50 graduate programs ranked in the nation’s top 10. Berkeley researchers advance fundamental science while addressing society’s greatest challenges — from artificial intelligence to climate change to human health. Learn more at berkeley.edu.

About Big Ideas

The Rudd Family Foundation Big Ideas Contest provides funding, training, and mentorship to undergraduate and graduate students with creative solutions to real-world social challenges. Since its inception, Big Ideas has awarded millions in seed funding to student-led teams driving change globally. The contest is managed by UC Berkeley’s Blum Center for Developing Economies, which supports interdisciplinary problem-solving to develop and scale technologies for economic development. Learn more at bigideascontest.org.

About the Berkeley School of Education

The Berkeley School of Education (BSE) at the University of California, Berkeley is a premier institution dedicated to transforming education for the public good. Grounded in a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and democracy, BSE produces rigorous, cutting-edge educational research, prepares outstanding teachers and visionary school leaders, and advocates for systemic policies that advance opportunity for all learners. Guided by its guiding principle to “educate like democracy depends on it,” the school leverages community engagement and cross-system collaboration to bridge communities, advance social justice, and unlock human potential. Learn more at bse.berkeley.edu.

About Macmillan Learning

Macmillan Learning is a privately held, family-owned digital learning company that inspires what’s possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or visit our newsroom.

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