Skills Upload Jr. Challenge is an international competition for students aged 11 to 16, specifically those in grades 5 through 8, now in its third year.

In Romania, the third edition of the competition is co-funded by the Vodafone Romania Foundation, through the Skills Upload Jr. program, and by Vodafone Romania Technologies (VOIS), through the Brighter Futures program and the VOIS for Good platform.

The competition takes place simultaneously in six European countries, including Romania, and challenges students to draw on real-life problems they and their communities face and work as a team to develop creative solutions using technology as a tool to make a positive impact.

Competition purpose

Skills Upload Jr. Challenge encourages students to explore the challenges they face in the digital world and find solutions for safer use of technology.

From online safety and cyberbullying to misinformation, artificial intelligence, privacy protection, and the balance between online and offline life, students are encouraged to turn a real-world problem into a creative, useful solution that makes a positive impact.

Competition theme

For the 2026-2027 season, the competition’s theme is Digital Wellbeing in the Age of AI.

Projects developed by teams may address one or both of the following sub-themes:

1. Online safety and cyberbullying
   Students can explore issues related to online safety, the protection of personal data and privacy, digital reputation, the prevention and reporting of cyberbullying, deepfakes, identity theft, and other forms of content manipulated using artificial intelligence.
2. Responsible digital behavior
   Students can explore topics such as the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence, fact-checking and identifying misinformation, respecting copyright and privacy, responsible communication, understanding algorithms, the balanced use of technology, and positive participation in the digital environment.

From a real problem to a solution

The competition is not about the complexity of the technology used, but about how it can help solve a real-world problem..

Students start with an issue that concerns them, try to understand it, find out who is affected, and work as a team to develop a solution that can bring about positive change.

Solutions can take various forms: apps, websites, games, interactive educational tools, or other technology-based solutions.

The project does not necessarily have to use advanced technologies. A solution that is well-suited to the identified problem may be more valuable than a highly complex technical solution.

Who can participate?

The competition is open to students aged 11 to 16, specifically those in grades 5-8, who are enrolled in public schools in Romania.

Participants will compete in teams of 3-4 students, led by a teacher.

A student can be part of only one team, but a teacher can coordinate multiple teams.

Competition schedule

Skills Upload Jr. Challenge 2026-2027 takes place throughout the school year, from October 2026 through May 2027. .

1. Submission of project ideas (October 12 – November 24, 2026): The teacher registers the team and the project idea.
2. Developing the project idea (November 27 – December 15, 2026): Teams participate in thematic workshops and develop their idea.
3. Development and finalization of the solution (December 18, 2026 – February 5, 2027): The 20 semifinalist teams participate in mentoring sessions and continue to develop their projects.
4. National semifinal – online (February 8-12, 2027): The 20 teams present their projects online to the jury.
5. Completing the finalist solutions (February 12-25, 2027): The five finalist teams continue to receive online mentoring sessions.
6. National finals – in-person event (March 1-5, 2027): The five finalist teams present their projects at the event held in Bucharest.
7. International round (April-May 2027): The winning team from Romania receives training and participates in the international round.

Throughout the competition, participants will have free access to online sessions designed to help them develop the ideas they submitted. Teams selected for the semifinals will also benefit from mentoring sessions with specialists from Vodafone and VOIS, who will guide them in developing and improving their proposed solutions.

Awards and opportunities

Teams that advance to the semifinals and finals will receive gadgets and digital devices worth a total of 64,000 lei.

The winning team of the national finals will have the opportunity to represent Romania in the international round of the Skills Upload Jr. Challenge.

The complete rules of the competition are available at: https://jar.ro/skills-upload-regulament.

The privacy policy is available at: https://jar.ro/politica-confidentialitate-suj-2026.

The coordinating teacher is the one who registers the team.

Register your team

Skills Upload Jr. over the years

2026-2027 edition - Digital Wellbeing in the Age of AI

2025-2026 edition - Technology as an Ally: Promoting Digital Well-Being Through the Mindful Use of Technology

2024-2025 edition - Bridging the Digital Divide: Promoting Inclusion Through Digital Technology in Connection with SDG 4: Quality Education and/or SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Discover the Skills Upload Jr. experience

 

Testimonials, first edition, 2024-2025

“For me, the competition was a unique experience. It was an experience from which I learned how to improve from one stage to the next, and during which I was able to give an impromptu speech. It was also a real challenge, because our desire to reach a high level and present a very well-prepared project was very strong. In conclusion, the competition was an experience that pleasantly surprised me with the way we were treated and supported in carrying out our project. I appreciated the guidance we received from our mentor and the support we got from the organizers.”
Student, BioTech team, Liviu Rebreanu National High School, Bistrita, Bistrita-Nasaud – finalist in the 2024 edition

“I’ve participated in many competitions, but this one was different. I appreciated the organizers’ interest, the warmth with which they communicated, the mentors’ openness, and the impeccable organization and communication. This competition is a unique experience, a new challenge to which the students responded with enthusiasm. They studied hard, collaborated, and supported one another; they were highly motivated and made great progress. Their level of engagement was high, as they strove to become better and better. It was a pleasure for me to work with them; I found a great deal of empathy and support from the organizers and mentors. Thank you for everything!”
Teacher, Aurelian Stanciu Middle School, Salcea, Suceava – finalist in the 2024 edition

Testimonials, second edition, 2025-2026

“The judges and volunteers were extremely friendly, which helped us keep our emotions in check. I learned to get along better with my friends (in this case, my teammates). The people in the building were very kind, and yesterday’s field trip and gala dinner were really interesting.”
Student, Pozitive Pixels, Cantemir Voda National High School, Bucharest – finalist in the 2025 edition

“I particularly appreciated the mentoring and all the support provided throughout the various stages. It was a constructive experience that fostered the development of teams, ideas, and friendships. I hope these competitions continue, as they provide a space for creativity to flourish in all its forms.”
Teacher, Vasile Alecsandri Middle School, Roman, Neamt – semifinalist in the 2025 edition