Code of Conduct

Prodigy Ideathon is a learning environment for school students. Everyone taking part is expected to make it safe, fair and respectful. This code applies at every stage — preparation, the School Round, the School Finale and the Grand Finale — and to all online communication related to the programme.

Expected behaviour

• Treat other participants, teachers, judges, volunteers and organisers with respect.
• Compete on the merit of the work. Support a fair process and accept judges’ decisions.
• Present your own team’s work. Credit sources, data and tools you have used.
• Follow the instructions of teachers, coordinators and organisers during events.
• Look after shared spaces, equipment and the venue.

Not acceptable

• Harassment, bullying, discrimination or intimidation of any kind, in person or online.
• Plagiarism, fabrication of data or results, or deliberate misrepresentation of the work.
• Passing off AI-generated content as fully your own without understanding or attribution, or using AI outside what the official rules permit.
• Disrupting other teams’ presentations or the running of an event.
• Sharing others’ personal information without consent, or recording people who have asked not to be.
• Unsafe behaviour, or bringing prohibited items to a venue.

Academic integrity and AI

Ideas must be original and appropriately attributed. AI tools may be used only as permitted by the official rules. Where they are used, the team remains fully responsible for the accuracy, originality and understanding of everything in its submission and must be able to explain it during Q&A.

Safeguarding

Because participants are minors, schools are responsible for supervision and for any parental consent required by law or school policy. Concerns about a student’s safety or wellbeing should be raised immediately with the school coordinator and with the organisers.

Reporting a concern

If you experience or witness a breach of this code, tell the nearest teacher, coordinator or organiser at the event, or write to teracompute@gmail.com. Reports are handled discreetly.

Consequences

Depending on the severity, a breach may lead to a warning, score penalties, removal from an event, or disqualification of an individual or team. Serious matters are referred to the participating school and, where appropriate, to the relevant authorities. Organisers’ decisions on conduct are final.