Zimbabwe's National Student Technology Skills Championship. Certify. Build. Pitch.
Enter the Meta Digital Marketing track at EPCON. Earn the Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate credential, plan, run and measure a social media campaign for a real local business, and compete for a place among the four finalists who pitch live to industry judges at the national finals on 3–4 December 2027.
Register for EPCONUS$100 · or 3 installments of $45 + $35 + $30 · Solo or pair
Run A Real Social Media Campaign for A Local Business
Not a mock exercise. A real business, real audiences and real results, judged on strategy, creative and measurement, not on how much you spend.Every Business Sells Online Now. Be The One Who Knows How.
See what the EPCON season looks like, from your first practice test to the finals stage.
Three Things Employers And Universities Actually Look For
Businesses don’t need another person who posts. They need someone who can plan, run and measure a campaign. EPCON leaves you with proof that you can.
A Global Credential
Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate, issued by Meta through Certiport and recognized by employers and agencies.
A Real Campaign
A campaign for a real local business, with a plan, content and results you can show any employer or client.
Employer Exposure
Every capstone is judged by a national panel. The strongest four pitch live to industry judges at the national finals.
Your 2027 EPCON Season
One season, three stages, and a national stage at the end of it.
Certify
Prepare with LearnKey and GMetrix, then pass your Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate exam by 17 September 2027, at school or a nearby Certiport Authorized Testing Center. Write it whenever you’re ready; retakes run until 1 October. Your first-attempt score sets your provincial and national ranking.
Build
Plan, run and measure a social media campaign for a real local business or partner brief, solo or as a pair, then submit your capstone online by 5 November 2027. A national panel judges every capstone.
Pitch
The four strongest Meta Digital Marketing capstones present their campaign and its results live at the national finals for Best Capstone.
Stand Out
Leave as a certified graduate with a live campaign case study to show employers, agencies and clients.
Decided by Your Exam Result
Only your first attempt counts. Highest score ranks first; on a tie, the shorter exam time ranks higher, following Certiport World Championship rules.
Decided by A National Panel
Every capstone is judged nationally online. Your exam score plays no part.
Real Business. Real Audience. Real Proof of Skill.
Partner with a real local business, from a salon or tuck shop to a startup or a family enterprise, and help it find customers on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp.
Pick The Business
Agree goals with the owner: more customers, more bookings, more sales or more awareness.
Know The Audience
Research who the customers are, where they spend time online and what they respond to.
Plan The Campaign
Set objectives, key messages, a content calendar and the numbers you will measure.
Create The Content
Produce posts, stories, short videos and WhatsApp messages that fit each platform.
Run And Measure
Run it organically or with a small budget the business or a partner provides, and track the results.
Report And Submit
Show what worked, what didn’t and what the business should do next. Submit online by 5 November 2027.
Solo or pair capstone. You will never be asked to spend your own money: campaigns are judged on strategy, creative and measurement, not on ad spend. Need a business to work with? Companies post briefs through EPCON, and our team will help match you.
Everything You Need to Certify And Compete
$45 + $35 + $30
This Is What You'll Walk Away With
Every certified graduate earns an official Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate certificate, recognized by employers worldwide.
Sample shown for illustration. Your certificate carries your name and certification details.
Press Play. Join The SkillHackers.
Pair It with Another Track
Digital marketing is stronger alongside other skills, and entering a second track yourself earns a 10% multi-track discount (15% for three or more).
Adobe Certified Professional
Create the visuals and brand identity your campaigns run on.
Entrepreneurship & Small Business
Start a venture, then market it yourself.
Data Analytics
Turn campaign results into dashboards and decisions.
Going through A Tough Season? Apply for Sponsorship.
EPCON sponsorship is for students who are financially disadvantaged or going through a rough patch. When you apply, describe your financial situation honestly so sponsors can understand your need.
Applications go to external sponsoring organizations, who make the final decision. Submitting an application does not guarantee sponsorship.
A Transparent Process
Two Divisions, One National Stage
Junior Division · Ages 13–22
Secondary and early tertiary students competing for national rankings, Best Capstone and People’s Choice.
Open Division · Up to Age 25
University students and recent graduates competing for national rankings, Best Capstone and People’s Choice.
Open to students in all 10 provinces. No provincial rounds and no travel: you write at school, or at a nearby testing center we arrange where a school has no computer lab. Rankings are published online and all awards are presented at one national ceremony on 3–4 December 2027 at St John’s College, Harare. Parent or guardian details are required for entrants under 18.
Coach This Track? Get Certified Free.
When at least 5 learners from your school or club register and pay for the Meta Digital Marketing track, the teacher who coaches them gets a complimentary bundle: LearnKey materials, a practice test, the certification exam and a retake. One bundle for every 5 paid learners, up to 3 per track per school, for registrations by 31 March 2027. Schools and clubs entering 10 or more learners on one invoice pay US$90 per entry.
Take It with You
The Choose Your Track guide helps families and schools decide; the information pack covers the whole season. Share them with your parents, your school or your company.
Before You Register
What is EPCON?
EPCON is Zimbabwe's national student technology skills championship. Every competitor certifies and builds a capstone. The strongest capstones in each track pitch live at the national finals on 3–4 December 2027 at St John’s College, Harare.
Which certification does this track include?
Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate, which covers creating, managing and measuring ads across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp.
Do I have to spend money on ads?
No. You can run your campaign organically, or with a small budget the business or a partner provides. Judges score your strategy, creative and measurement, not your spend.
Do I need to find my own business?
You can bring your own, such as a family business or a local shop. If you can’t find one, companies post briefs through EPCON and our team will help match you.
Can I work with a partner?
Yes, you can enter solo or as a pair. Each of you registers, certifies and is ranked individually. Find a partner →
Do I need to be certified before the finals?
Yes. EPCON is certification-first: you must pass your Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate exam by 17 September 2027 (retakes until 1 October) to compete.
How are rankings decided?
All rankings come from your certification result and follow Certiport World Championship rules: the highest score ranks first, and on a tie the shorter exam time ranks higher. The top 10 in each province are published online, the provincial #1 wins a prize, and the national top 3 win prizes at the national ceremony.
Who pitches at the finals?
Every capstone is judged nationally online. The four strongest Meta Digital Marketing capstones are shortlisted to pitch live at the national finals on 3–4 December 2027, and one Best Capstone winner is chosen. Your exam score plays no part in capstone judging.
What is the People’s Choice award?
The four Meta Digital Marketing finalists go up for an online community vote on EPCON, EPCON SkillHack and EdgeCircle. One vote per track per verified account. The winner is revealed at the awards ceremony.
Can I get help paying for registration?
Yes, if you're financially disadvantaged or going through a rough patch. Register for this track, then apply for sponsorship from your EdgeCircle profile and describe your financial situation. Sponsoring institutions choose directly from the applicant pool and we don't influence their decisions, so sponsorship isn't guaranteed. We recommend paying the $45 installment deposit so you can start preparing early. If you're selected, we refund you.
Can my school or club register a group?
Yes. School and club entries are invoiced, and schools and clubs entering 10 or more learners on one invoice pay US$90 per entry. When at least 5 learners from a school or club register and pay for a track, the teacher who coaches them gets a complimentary bundle for that track: LearnKey materials, a practice test, the certification exam and a retake. One bundle for every 5 paid learners, up to 3 per track per school, for registrations by 31 March 2027. Request a school invoice on WhatsApp and our team will set up your learners.
Is there a discount for entering more than one track?
Yes, for one student entering different tracks: 10% off two tracks and 15% off three or more, when you pay for them in full together. Installments are paid per track and aren’t discounted. The group rate and the multi-track discount don’t combine; each learner gets whichever is better.
What if I don’t pass my exam the first time?
Rankings use your first attempt only, so prepare well before you sit. If you don’t pass, you can retake for US$25. You can retake any time before 1 October 2027, even before the 17 September exam deadline. Pass the retake and you are certified, so you can still build, submit your capstone and pitch if you are shortlisted. Registered students can pay for a retake online.
Can our school club enter as a team?
Yes. Many clubs make their capstone the club’s project for the year. Every team member registers and certifies in the track by 1 October 2027, when teams are locked, and teams follow the track’s format. A club can enter several teams in different tracks. Rankings stay individual, and the strongest club in the country wins Club of the Year at the national finals.
Who works with learners, and how are they kept safe?
Teachers, club patrons, mentors and judges. Partner mentors and judges work with learners only through their school or club, with a teacher or patron present or copied in, and never ask learners for personal contact details. Learners keep ownership of their capstone work unless their school agrees otherwise. Parent or guardian details are required for entrants under 18. Learners under 18 should approach companies through their school or club, with a teacher or patron copied in.
Is there somewhere to study if I don’t have internet or power at home?
Yes. Registered students can use an EPCON study lab for US$15 a month, whenever no classes are running. Use one of our computers, or bring your own laptop and use our internet. It’s there for students without internet at home or affected by power cuts. Book a slot on WhatsApp first and we’ll confirm your nearest lab: +263 781 004 006. Registered students can pay for lab access online.
Where do I write the exam?
At your school. Where a school has no computer lab, we are arranging Certiport Authorized Testing Centers (CATCs) nearby, and students not in school write at the nearest CATC. There are no provincial rounds and no travel.
Your EPCON Season Starts Here
Certify. Build. Pitch. Run a real campaign for a real business and leave as a certified graduate.
US$100 · installments available · multi-track discounts · schools are invoiced