IEdu, an AI-powered early childhood ecosystem, was developed by a team of students from the University of Bristol.
Wenxuan Xu, Yunlin Liang, Chujie Sun, and Hanrui Wu from the University of Bristol Business School and School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies collaborated to develop a scalable way for young children to engage meaningfully with AI.
After successfully navigating all three stages of the competition, the IEdu team secured first place and was awarded the £5,000 grand prize. They will now participate in workshops to explore implementing their idea in the UK.
Reflecting on the moment the team had learned they won, International Relations student Hanrui said: “That first moment was pure excitement and joy, followed by an overwhelming sense of fulfilment. We feel incredibly fortunate to have shared this unique journey as a team, and we’re deeply grateful for the University’s unwavering support throughout.”
The Elevate Great contest provides UK undergraduate and taught postgraduate students the opportunity to explore the potential benefits and risks of AI in supporting early childhood development.
Participants were invited to propose innovative solutions that harness AI’s positive impact or mitigate its potential harms.
IEdu aims to leverage AI to improve educational equity, reduce institutional pressure, and cultivate a generation of critically minded, tech-enabled learners.
The project supports personalised learning for children, empowers parents through meaningful involvement, and equips educators with AI tools that enhance teaching while preserving human connection.
Facing a significant gap in AI research and datasets for early childhood, the team designed and deployed local AI models themselves, allowing IEdu to be built as a fully child-friendly and privacy-conscious system.
Postgraduate Management student Yunlin said: “This journey helped me rediscover the true value of interdisciplinary thinking. It also taught me that as long as we stay curious and take the initiative to learn, regardless of background, everyone can play a role in shaping the future of technology.”
Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, said: “These remarkable students have not only demonstrated exceptional talent, but have also shown what the future of AI can look like when driven by purpose and passion.”