With ASC 2025, Sharjah positions itself as a global hub for education innovation, combining local commitment with global expertise to create transformative change in classrooms. By turning challenges into opportunities, the emirate is not just asking what education should be—but building what it can become.
The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has announced the opening of applications for the seventh edition of its flagship initiative, the Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC), calling on innovative education startups from around the world to help reimagine how future generations learn.
With a prize pool of Dh500,000, the 2025 edition of ASC—launched on July 7, 2025—focuses exclusively on the education sector, inviting groundbreaking solutions that make learning more effective, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of a rapidly evolving world. Startups with scalable models and working prototypes have until August 17 to apply.
This year’s challenge aims to support the UAE’s National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, which seeks to develop a resilient and future-ready education system that fosters creativity, knowledge, and adaptability. In collaboration with the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) and the Sharjah Education Academy (SEA), Sheraa is spearheading an initiative that seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world impact in classrooms.
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The ASC 2025 highlights two central themes:
Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, described the challenge as a call to global innovators to make a meaningful difference.
“ASC is a platform where bold ideas meet real opportunity,” she said. “We believe innovation must serve people. Through ASC 2025, we’re inviting the world’s best education startups to work with us in Sharjah, where there is strong public-private collaboration and a deep commitment to lifelong learning.”
Ali Al Hosani, Director General of SPEA, emphasized the urgency of embracing innovation in education.
“Innovation is no longer optional. It’s essential. This challenge is a bold step toward preparing students for a fast-changing world. SPEA is proud to support the Future-Ready Skills Challenge and bring real solutions into the classroom,” he said.
Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy, Chancellor of SEA, highlighted the cultural depth of the second theme.
“Language is more than words—it’s about identity, belonging, and connection. We’re proud to lead the Arabic in Early Childhood Challenge, engaging not just schools, but also families and communities,” she noted.
One of the standout features of ASC 2025 is the opportunity for pilots in actual Sharjah schools, ensuring ideas are tested in real environments. Participating institutions include Alsedra Private School, Khalifah Al Hamzah American School, Pakistan Islamia Higher Secondary School, and Al Badee Nursery.
Two winning startups will each receive Dh250,000 in equity-free grants, along with guidance from Sheraa and educational authorities to implement their projects in partnership with school leaders.
The challenge is open to education startups worldwide that have already partnered with governments or corporations and offer impact-driven, scalable solutions. Applicants should demonstrate a working product, strong leadership, user engagement, and a readiness to grow within Sharjah’s ecosystem.
From a global pool of applicants, ten startups will be shortlisted through a rigorous two-stage selection process. The first stage evaluates readiness and market fit, followed by interviews assessing local relevance and potential for scale.
Shortlisted startups will undergo an intensive month-long preparation phase:
At the end of the sprint, teams will pitch their solutions to a panel of education experts, investors, and government representatives. The two winners will be selected based on innovation, feasibility, and potential impact.
The pilot phase begins on September 22, 2025, where the winning solutions will be tested in selected schools across Sharjah. Throughout the process, the startups will receive ongoing mentorship, user feedback, and support to iterate and scale their solutions.
This hands-on implementation offers the unique chance for startups to collaborate directly with educators and students, enabling adjustments and improvements in real time.
The journey concludes at the Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education, scheduled for February 14–15, 2026. During the summit, participating startups will present their results, share insights from the pilots, and be celebrated for their contributions to reshaping education in the UAE and beyond.
Source : Gulf News
