Ycenter x UC San Diego presents

California CARES

Policy Innovation Challenge

Feb 08-09, 2025

2 - Day Experiential workshop

We will take you through the process of breaking down a complex problem in context of Climate Action, Policy and Technology Innovations and use Entrepreneurial thinking to design new solutions. You do not need to have a team to participate in this event. Individual registrations are welcome.

Program Date: Feb 8-9, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Registration Deadline: February 6, 2025 by 11:59pm, or the maximum capacity is reached

Venue: Room 208, Design and Innovation Building, UCSD campus

Get A Verified
LinkedIn Certificate

Upon completing our program, Ycenter will provide participants with a verified certificate that can be showcased as a LinkedIn badge, highlighting your achievement and new skills. This badge not only enhances your professional profile but also signals to potential employers that you've gained valuable, hands-on experience in innovation, sustainability, design thinking and entrepreneurship. We will also showcase your project on our newly launched global repository of SDGs projects for additional growth and networking opportunities.

Program Structure

The entire workshop is delivered using Experiential Learning Pedagogy, which means as participants you will be engaging in hands-on activities rather than learning only theories. Get a chance to specifically work on your respective project ideas (if any) or pick a problem statement under the context of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

  • 9 - 9.30 am Breakfast and Registration

    9.30 - 10 am Introductions to the Human centered design concept and setting the culture

    10 - noon Complex Problem Breakdown in the world of Policy and State of the World

    12- 1 pm Lunch

    1 - 2 pm Empathy Design

    2 - 3 pm Policy Landscaping and Benchmarking Exercise

    3 - 4 pm Scoping out the Opportunity for Policy Innovation

    4- 4.30 pm Open Agenda

  • 9 - 9.30 am Breakfast and Recap from Day 1

    9.30 - 10 am Creativity Thinking

    10 - noon Analogous Thinking for Policy Innovation

    12- 1 pm Lunch

    1 - 2 pm Idea Test and Selection

    2 - 4 pm Preparing Final Presentation and Learn the Art of Pitching your idea

    4 - 5 pm Final Pitches, Feedback and Certificates

    5 - 6 pm Awards and post program support

This program is delivered under the umbrella of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - UN SDGS

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Who can participate in this workshop?

Open to all Students on UCSD campus looking to work on Policy based Innovations and wanting to learn and apply Entrepreneurial thinking to improve the state of Policy Design and Implementation in California for Climate Action.

Top skills you acquire:

  • Complex Problem Understanding and Breakdown

  • Cause and Effect Analysis

  • Idea to Prototyping

  • Policy landscaping and benchmarking

  • Human Centered Design

  • Creative Problem Solving

  • Designing High Concept Note for your Innovative Idea

Meet the Program Facilitator

Official picture of Dhairya Pujara, CEO at Ycenter

Dhairya Pujara, CEO at Ycenter

He has been a global public speaker with invitations from the United Nations, World Bank, World Economic Forum, Social Enterprise World Forum, SXSW, TEDx and top universities and organizations in 15+ countries across 4 continents.

His work has been featured in global magazines, books and publications.

He has worked as Policy Innovator and Advisor for multiple governmental agencies and think tanks around the world.

He is a serial entrepreneur, working directly to support job creation, technology innovation ventures and for this work he has received a visa reserved for individuals of extraordinary abilities from the US immigration services.

Program partners