Outstanding Section Achievement Award in Industry Engagement Activities
Introduction
The IEEE Region 8 Action for Industry (AfI) Committee introduces this award with the goal of recognizing Section-level initiatives that successfully foster and promote industry communities within the Region. This award serves to encourage Sections to continuously improve their activities, promote industry engagement, enhance IEEE membership value, and strengthen collaboration between IEEE Sections and corporate partners, SMEs, and startups.
The Award consists of a commemorative plaque and a USD 500 cash prize, which will be deposited directly into the winning Section’s operational budget to be used at their discretion for future activities.
Title
The award is known as the IEEE Region 8 Outstanding Section Achievement Award in Industry Engagement Activities.
Eligibility
The following are eligible as candidates for the Award:
(a) All official IEEE Sections and Sub-Sections operating within Region 8.
(b) The eligible Section or Sub-Section must have had an active Section Industry Ambassador (SIA) appointed during the past year.
Conditions for nomination
(a) Nominations must be submitted electronically through the IEEE OpenWater Platform during the annual Region 8 awards cycle.
(b) Self-nominations by the Section are permitted, provided the application includes a formal endorsement letter from the Section Chair or Secretary.
(c) The application package must also include at least two reference letters with one being from an external industry partner.
(d) Nominations are expected to highlight significant tangible achievements resulting from the Section’s industry programs during the past year.
(e) Verifiable evidence is required to evaluate any claims. Acceptable evidence includes, but is not limited to, events reported in IEEE vTools, OU Analytics data, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), social media links, reports, and formal partnership agreements.
Basis of adjudication
The points which adjudicators will take into consideration include the following:
(a) Consistency of Activities: Whether the Section consistently organized industry engagement activities or established and strengthened industry relations over the past year.
(b) Impact of Activities: Demonstrated contributions to overarching IEEE and MGA goals. This includes driving membership growth, enhancing member value, and fostering direct collaboration with industry, focusing strongly on direct outcomes rather than just the number of events.
(c) Evidence of Accomplishments: The presence of clear, tangible, and verifiable results. Significant achievements are defined as measurable outcomes such as establishing new partnerships, signing MoUs, facilitating internships or career opportunities, hosting joint events, or successfully recruiting new industry members.
(d) Innovation: The implementation of new, creative ideas, strategies, and initiatives designed to attract and retain industry interest in IEEE services.
(e) Thoroughness and Presentation: The completeness, clarity, and overall structure of the provided information within the nomination pack, ensuring judges have sufficient data to accurately assess the Section’s efforts.
Adjudication
The adjudicators are the members of an official Awards Selection Committee, consisting of at least four members appointed from within the IEEE Region 8 Action for Industry Committee. The members serve a one-year term aligned with the Action for Industry Committee’s term and are eligible for reappointment.
The Selection Committee is responsible for independently evaluating all applications based on the aforementioned criteria. Upon completion, they provide the finalized evaluation results to the IEEE Region 8 Awards and Recognition Committee, which oversees the final awards schedule, funding transfers, and the formal presentation of the award during the Fall Region 8 Meeting.