SPARK 2026
What is SPARK?
SPARK is the leadership-development program of the IEEE Region 9 Student Activities Committee. Now in its third edition, it has grown from one-off workshops into a continuous, collaborative, results-driven experience.
Participants develop and implement a concrete initiative that strengthens the student ecosystem of their regional council — and that other sections can replicate and scale. IEEE Region 9 has about 15,000 members and 36 sections.
Continuous
Four months of work, learning, and building alongside your team.
Collaborative
Work with leaders from across your regional council — different sections, one shared goal.
Results-driven
Every group ships a real deliverable: a proposal, a plan, a budget, and a showcase presentation.
Why take part
Build something real
Develop and launch an initiative for your regional council.
Learn by doing
Six live sessions: leadership, design thinking, project management, and more.
Connect across Region 9
Team up with student leaders from other sections in your council.
Present at the SBRM
Showcase your project to the full R9 community in Guadalajara.
Compete for funding
USD 4,500 from the IEEE Foundation for the top three projects.
Grow your IEEE path
Take home tools you can replicate and scale in your own section.
Project focus areas
Projects must be organizational or community solutions. They are not technical engineering projects.
Strengthening student branches
Create, reactivate, or strengthen branches. Org models, leader training, management tools, volunteer recognition.
Growing student membership
Increase active IEEE members through recruitment, retention, and engagement.
Transition to Young Professionals
Ease the step from student to YP. Bridge programs, networking, career guidance, joint SB–YP initiatives.
Open proposal
A proposal outside these areas that advances R9 student development. Requires SPARK team approval.
How the program works
1. Virtual kick-off
Groups assigned, coordinator elected.
2. Define the initiative
Scope the challenge, propose a project.
3. Six training sessions
Two per month, ~1 hour each.
4. Virtual deliverables
Proposal, presentation, plan, and budget. All due September 30.
5. Showcase and awards
Present to the region. Panel selects the three winning projects.
6. In-person training
Advanced sessions, networking, and mentoring with R9 leaders.
Key dates
The prizes — funded by the IEEE Foundation
Participation criteria
Open to SSACs, SSRs, Counselors, and Advisors selected from IEEE Region 9 sections.
Selected by your section
As an SSAC, SSR, Counselor, or Advisor.
Full commitment July – October 2026
Kick-off, six sessions, and all three days of the SBRM.
Confirm SBRM attendance by Sep 15
Guadalajara, Mexico — October 2026.
Submit all deliverables before Sep 30
Proposal, presentation, implementation plan, and budget.
Replicate in your section within 3 months
At least one learning from the program applied in your section or branch.
Contact the SAC R9 team
Ready to spark something?
Tell your section's SSAC or SSR that you want to take part. Commit from July to October 2026.
Apply Now