For the second consecutive year, Axim Collaborative is supporting the Learning Engineering Tools Competition, an open funding opportunity that supports cutting-edge technology solutions for the most pressing challenges facing learners. The competition is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Digital Harbor Foundation, and is managed by The Learning Agency who created the concept with Schmidt Futures and Griffin Catalyst in 2020. The team is supported by the University of Minnesota as its academic partner, who provide technical assistance on competition design and evaluation, research advising, and impact evaluation for winning teams.

The Enhancing Post-Secondary Learning track, which Axim is supporting with Calbright College, focuses on expanding access to quality higher education opportunities and broadening connections to career success. Competitive proposals address barriers to academic, social, and career mobility, particularly for underserved learners, in order to increase the relevance of higher education and support students in bridging their learning and career goals. Winning teams will foster better learning outcomes aligned with student’s life aspirations, and expand innovative technology-enabled higher education models. This year, with Axim’s input, the Enhancing Post-Secondary Learning track is designed to attract submissions that address major challenges across the post-secondary ecosystem. The competition offers a catalytic funding opportunity by multiplying Axim’s investment going to mission-aligned projects and organizations.

To date, the competition has awarded more than $17.5 million to 130 winners expected to impact more than 131 million learners worldwide by 2027.