On March 8th, the 2026 Shanghai Odyssey of the Mind Innovation Competition and the 47th World Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament concluded successfully at Shanghai Xingjian College and the West Campus of Shanghai Jing'an Daning International Primary School. Guided by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, and jointly organized by China Shanghai Odyssey of the Mind Association, Shanghai Science and Technology Art Education Center, Shanghai Education Press Group, and Shanghai Jing'an Education Bureau, the event attracted over 550 outstanding teams from around the world, showcasing the innovative spirit and collaborative intelligence of global youth. Shanghai Modern Chemical Industry Vocational College sent 10 teams to participate in the competition. Relying on their creative performances, rigorous and precise problem-solving approaches, ingeniously crafted props, and composed, outstanding on-the-spot presentation, our teams won awards in all categories of the secondary and higher vocational groups, including 4 first-place prizes. This fully demonstrated the innovative capabilities and comprehensive strengths of our teachers and students.
On the day of the competition, Vice President Yan Xiaoli paid close attention to the progress of all our school's participating teams throughout the day. She watched each team's live presentation and competition, cheering them on and offering encouragement. Her presence greatly inspired the participating students and teachers, bolstering their confidence for stable performance and calm participation.
This year's Odyssey of the Mind Innovation Competition featured a total of five long-term topics. Our school's 10 teams participated across all categories. The topics were designed to be both open-ended and challenging, encouraging students to push the boundaries of their thinking, boldly explore the unknown, while also testing their teamwork, creative expression, and practical abilities.
Since the competition's launch at the end of last October, the school's Party and administrative leadership have placed great emphasis on it, making comprehensive plans and arrangements. They regarded the preparation and participation in this competition as a crucial means to deepen innovation education reform and enhance students' comprehensive qualities, promoting the solid implementation of all preparatory work. School leaders, the Student Affairs Office, and heads of various secondary colleges repeatedly visited the training sites to gain a detailed understanding of each team's preparation progress. They cared about the competitors’ training and daily life, offering meticulous guidance and warm encouragement in areas such as creative direction, work refinement, and psychological adjustment. The instructors for each participating team devoted their spare time, including vacation, and evenings to accompany the intensive training sessions, meticulously refining every detail from script perfection and prop making to stage presentation. The school also assembled an expert group comprising multiple disciplines like Chinese and Art to provide professional support for optimizing the works and enhancing performances. During the preparation period, the team members worked together to overcome multiple challenges, including prop making, stage performance, and spontaneous problem-solving. Through repeated rehearsals and improvements, they continuously surpassed themselves, completing every training session and competition with full enthusiasm and tenacious perseverance, forging their success on the competition stage with hard work and cooperation.
Themed "AI Empowerment: Innovation and Creation for a Better Life|", this competition focused on the deep integration of artificial intelligence and innovative education, providing a high-quality platform for young people to practise creativity, exchange ideas, and showcase their talents, further igniting their passion for creation and spirit of exploration. Our school will continue to deepen its innovation education reform, integrating the innovative spirit, collaboration awareness, and practical abilities championed by Odyssey of the Mind throughout the entire talent cultivation process. We will continuously explore new pathways for integrated "AI + Education" talent development, striving to cultivate more high-quality technical and skilled talents possessing innovative thinking, practical skills, and a sense of social responsibility. By empowering school development with innovation and serving a better life through creation, we aim to contribute greater strength to the high-quality development of vocational education.