How Your EdTech Solutions Are Judged

 

Every entry will be evaluated through strict pedagogical and operational lenses tailored to your specific target audience.​

 

The Baseline Barrier (Pass/Fail Gateway)

 

Before entering the scoring matrix, all submissions must pass a binary audit across three mandatory compliance checks:

 

Data Protection & Privacy: Full GDPR compliance, EU data sovereignty, and child-safe data practices.

 

Accessibility: Adherence to WCAG 2.1 AA standards for inclusive design.

 

Ethical AI & Governance: Transparent AI disclosure, zero unauthorised training on student data, and EU AI Act readiness.

 

The 100-Point Scoring Matrix

 

Entries passing the Baseline Barrier are evaluated across four 25-point pillars:

 

Pillar 1: Educational & Pedagogical Science (25 Points) - Framework alignment, curriculum mapping, and educator workload reduction.

 

Pillar 2: Evidence of Localized Impact (25 Points) - Verified quantitative outcomes and case studies within Irish learning environments.

 

Pillar 3: Technical Architecture & UX (25 Points) - Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ecosystem interoperability (SSO, VLEs), and cybersecurity.

 

Pillar 4: AI Integrity & Irish Innovation (25 Points) - Algorithmic bias mitigation, AI explainability, commercial scalability, and domestic ecosystem contribution.

 

Sector Categories

 

Select the primary sector your solution serves during the application process:

 

Early Learning: Pre-K, Creche, and Early Childhood Settings (Aistear Framework)

Primary Education: 1st through 6th Class (Primary Curriculum Framework)

Secondary Education: Post-Primary & State Exam Prep (Junior & Senior Cycle)

Third-Level: Higher Education, Further Education & Research Institutions

Enterprise L&D: Corporate Upskilling, SkillTech, Compliance & Professional CPD

 

Within each sector, awards will be presented across three solution types:

 

Category A: Best Online Platform (SaaS / VLE)

Category B: Best Software or Mobile Application

Category C: Best Hardware or Infrastructure Solution​

 

Every entry will receive an EdTech Ireland Evaluation Rating/Score.