international essay contests 2021

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International Peace Essay Contest

Created to give an opportunity for visually impaired young people to express their feelings of peace, the International Essay Contest is a staple of Lions clubs around the world. Lions work with local schools and area families to identify young people who are interested in participating and who could benefit from this program. One grand prize winner will receives an award and US$5,000.

The 2024-2025 Contest

Peace without limits.

For peace to be anything more than a possibility, we need to make it a priority. This year, we’re asking our young students to write an essay that speaks to our world’s infinite potential for kindness once we commit to pursuing the idea of peace without limits.

Contest Guidelines 

Students who are visually impaired, ages 11, 12 or 13 on November 15, are eligible to participate. Each essay must be submitted with a completed entry form. Essays must be no longer than 500 words in length, submitted in English, typed in black ink and double-spaced.

Complete Rules and Entry Form

Additional Resources

Peace Essay Club Level Winner Press Release Template

The 2023-2024 Essay Winner

“dare to dream”.

Yetka Yağiz Demírtas 12 years old Türkiye

Sponsored by the Istanbul Altinepe Lions Club

Past Winners

Take a look back at the winning essays and essay winners throughout the years.

• 2022-2023 “Lead With Compassion” by Keaton Hamilton age 11: Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: Newmarket Lions Club
• 2021-2022 "We Are All Connected" by Shreya Zoy age 13:  Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: Mannuthy Agri City Lions Club
• 2020-2021 “Peace Through Service” by Joshua Wood age 13:  Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: Brisbane Camphill Carindale Lions Club
• 2019-2020 “Journey of Peace” by Joseph Critchlow age 13:  Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: City of Liverpool Lions Club, United Kingdom
• 2018-2019 "Kindness Matters" by Mikayla Ansley, age 11: Read the Essay | Watch the Video Sponsored by: Blyth Lions Club, Canada
• 2017-2018 "The Future of Peace" by Ely Potter, age 13: Read the Essay | Watch the Video  Sponsored by: Delaware Lions Club, Ohio, USA
• 2016-2017 "A Celebration of Peace" by Charlie Bruskotter, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Delaware Lions Club, Ohio, USA
• 2015-2016 "Share Peace" by Joel Greek, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Gordons Bay Lions Club, Republic of South Africa
• 2014-2015 "Peace, Love and Understanding" by Jalen Ballard, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Sylvania Sunrise Lions Club, Ohio, USA
• 2013-2014 "Our World, Our Future" by Ashish Karki, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Kathmandu Ramechhap Lions Club, Nepal
• 2012-2013 "Imagine Peace" by Maura Loberg, age 11: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Wayne Lions Club, Wayne, Nebraska, USA
• 2011-2012 "Children Know Peace" by Mikaela Smith, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Chesterton Lions Club, Indiana, USA
• 2010-2011 "Power of Peace" by Amy Bosko, age 12: Read the Essay Sponsored by: Villa Park Lions Club, Illinois, USA
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WINNERS OF THE QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH ESSAY COMPETITION 2021

In 2021 we were thrilled to announce that a record-breaking 25,648 children entered The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021 from every Commonwealth region. The 2021 winners and runners-up are:

Senior Winner: Kayla Bosire aged 16 from Nairobi, Kenya

Kayla Bosire is an 11th grade student at Maxwell Adventist Academy in Kenya, and she loves writing, a passion she has pursued for a good portion of her 16 years of life. Her love for words was developed while she was a student at Cavina School a prep school in Nairobi Kenya, where she developed a love for creative writing, Shakespeare and theatre. Kayla’s love for the arts is nurtured at her current high school; where she plays three instruments (piano, violin and flute) and enjoys performing in her schools’ orchestra and as a member of the Wind Ensemble.

She holds positions of leadership and responsibility as a tutors assistant math grader, Class Secretary and as a member of the school magazine team (The Maxwell Mirror). Her dream is to pursue a career that allows her to advance justice and fairness in the world for both humans and animals. She is yet to decide whether she is a cat or dog person. Kayla chose to write about it being 30 years since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and what the world looks like….through the eyes of the COVID-19 virus.

Senior Runner-Up:

Aditi Nair Aged 15 from New Delhi, India

Aditi S Nair is an 11th grade student of Sanskriti School in New Delhi. She has always had a passion for writing, and ever since she was young, has enjoyed writing stories and poems. 

Apart from writing, her hobbies include reading, dancing and gardening. A few of her favourite authors are Khaled Hosseini, Celeste Ng, Ruskin Bond and Madeline Miller.   

Junior Winner: Ethan Charles Mufuma  Aged 13 from Mukono, Uganda

Ethan is 13 years old and is the third borne in a family of four children. He is proud to say that he is 'still the only boy child in this family'. His father is Mr. Wilson Mufuma and his mother is Mrs. Sarah Beatrice Wamakoto. His ancestral village is Bumayoka found in Bududa District in Eastern Uganda.  

He started his early education (nursery) at three years at Joy Nursery and Primary School, located near Makerere University. In 2014 when he was six years old, he joined Namilyango Junior Boys School for his primary education. He was there for the entire primary education until 2020 when he did his Primary Leaving Exams (P. L. E) and scored aggregate (5). 

Ethan started creative writing at the age of ten through the school writing club. Here all learners compete to publish in the school publications. (a termly newspaper and an annual magazine. Ethan mainly writes poetry where as he feel it's easier to have both the message and art flow better. His teacher tells them to choose what one feels free with (prose or poetry). 

Ethan first participated in The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition in 2020. He was greatly inspired by one writing club member (Michael Victor Mugerwa) who had won a Silver Award in 2019. This was the first Award for their school and he really felt proud. 

In 2021, Ethan is the the happiest to add this record (winner) of the Junior category to his biography.

Junior Runner-Up: Raisa Gulati Aged 14 from Amritsar, India

Raisa is an all rounder, performing well both academically and in her co-curricular activities. She is very passionate about sports. From a very young age she has played at the National level for chess and equestrian. In 2019 she was declared Junior State Champion of Lawn Tennis in Rajasthan and she was also awarded with the award for being the most promising Equestrian rider in her school. However, the pandemic brought a halt to all her outdoor activities.

She is also adept in playing tabla and drums. During her free time she likes to sketch and she is also a recipient of the Piccaso award for her sketch besides winning various drawing competitions.

Life for her is full of things to learn and she enjoys navigating the uncharted terrain.

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International Essay Contest 2021 for Young People | The Goi Peace Foundation

• Deadline June 15, 2021

The annual essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world’s youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world.

Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities  Android  or  iOS  App here.

“What is Life?” What does life mean to you? Have you had an experience that made you think about the meaning of life? What kinds of things can you do to cherish and invigorate your own life and all life on earth?

• Participation is free of charge.
• You can obtain a certificate of participation.
• 1st Prize: Certificate, prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$900 as of March 2021) and gift  for 1 entrant.
• 2nd Prize: Certificate, prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US$450 as of March 2021) and gift for 3 entrants.
• 3rd Prize: Certificate and gift for 5 entrants.
• Honorable Mention: Certificate and gift for 25 entrants.

Eligibilities

• Children (ages up to 14)
• Youth (ages 15 – 25)
• Essays must be typed, with your name and essay title included at the top of the first page.
• Essays must be 700 words or less in English or French, or 1600 characters or less in Japanese.
• There are no particular rules regarding formatting (font style, size, line space, etc.). However, essays must be submitted in either MS Word (DOC/DOCX) or PDF format.
• Only one entry per person is accepted.
• Essays must be original and unpublished.
• Essays must be written by one person.

Application Process

• Create your essay file in either MS Word (DOC/DOCX) or PDF format. Your essay must be typed, with your name and essay title at the top of the first page.
• Go to either “Individual” or “School/Organization” Entrant Registration page.
• After entering all required information, click “SUBMIT” button at the bottom of the page to create an account.
• When your account is successfully created, you will be automatically logged in to “My Account”.
• For “INDIVIDUAL”: In “My Account”, click “Add Essay” on the side menu, attach your essay by selecting the file on your computer, and click “SUBMIT”. Only one entry per person is accepted. Once your entry is successfully submitted, you can download your certificate from the “Download Certificate”.
• For “SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION”: In “My Account”, click “Add Student” on the side menu, register one student per row, attach each essay by selecting the file on your computer, and click “SUBMIT.” Only one entry per person is accepted. Once your entry is successfully submitted, you can download your students’ certificates from the “Student List” and your certificate from the “Teacher‘s Certificate of Participation” on the side menu.
• If you leave “My Account” page, you can log in again with your email address and password from “Entrant login” on the top menu.

Application Deadline: June 15, 2021

For Further Queries

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IUCN Leaders Forum – Call for Changemakers 2024 in Switzerland (Fully Funded)

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The Goi Peace Foundation

2021 international essay contest for young people – winners announced.

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 International Essay Contest for Young People. From among 28,217 entries from 161 countries, the following winners were selected. We take this opportunity to thank all of you who participated in the contest!

https://www.goipeace.or.jp/work/essay-contest/

10 Break-Out Sessions

• Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

India is undergoing its economic, technological and demographic transition simultaneously. An old country is becoming youthful and adventurous with the passage of time. Young Indians like OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal are quietly taking charge of Indian ethos by becoming icons of audacious aspirations and tangible proofs of its potential, spawning startups that are becoming most valuable and famous than many legacy companies. How can young revolutionaries find ways to carry the older generation of investors, regulators, workers and consumers with them and what can other economies and founders learn from India’s momentous transition?

For over 50 years teams of student have volunteered to organise the St. Gallen Symposium. They have written countless invitations, met thousands of partners, and welcomed some of the most important personalities of their time on stage. Together with former members of the ISC we will reflect on the St. Gallen Symposium experience of cross-generational dialogue and collaboration, the lessons they have learned for their lives and on how the symposium has evolved. This session is organised together with ISC Alumni.

As the need for innovation is growing, the routinisation of well-structured creative processes within organizations is key for concurrent value creation. Prof. Susan Goldsworthy of IMD, this year's St. Gallen Symposium artist Javiera Estrada and Light Artist Gerry Hofstetter will discuss the role of collaboration in the creative process. Together, and in conversation with the audience, they’ll explore the way collaboration can drive creativity in various organisational contexts, and, on the other hand, the role of introversion and lone contemplation in creating something new.

Many employee volunteering and giving programs are presented as an employee perk, similar to casual Fridays or a team-building event. But treating workplace giving and volunteering this way fails to fully capitalise on the great potential of such programs: to foster employee personal growth, and address key societal challenges. The panel will particularly explore the potential of skills-based volunteering, its benefits, and the unique challenges that arise when moving from merely transactional volunteering to something far more transformative.

The investment landscape over the next twenty years will be radically different from previous generations. While there appears to be greater access to capital, there also appears to be much more volatility and debt with no clear dominant financing mechanism. Entrepreneurs, VC, Private Equity, and banks will have to find new ways to work together to create growth and stimulate innovation. How can investors and entrepreneurs better collaborate and find mutually beneficial agreements that balance risk and return?

The fashion industry accounts for 10% of humanity’s annual carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. For long, the fashion and luxury watchmaking industry drove, together with the fashion media industry, unsustainable dynamics in the sector: generating more and more demand through an artificial cycle of new collections and seasonal trends. Businesses’ marketing, media as well as influencers thereby create a constant longing and demand for their products. How can designers, fashion houses and publishers exit this vicious cycle and, collaboratively, drive the transition towards more sustainable and ethical fashion and luxury watchmaking?

Media diversity, freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Europe are currently under threat. Journalists and independent media companies are increasingly joining forces across borders to respond to such challenges as well as to be able to continue to offer independent quality journalism in the future. This session will identify learnings from new media partnerships such as the Leading European Newspaper Alliance (LENA) and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) to identify how media can most effectively work together.

Technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship are key drivers of the modern economy and social mobility. Given their importance, we should strive to improve accessibility to tech, education and entrepreneurship across all backgrounds. Creating open and inclusive communities, especially with tech is important to accomplishing this goal, but it is easier said that done. Simultaneously, a third iteration of the internet – Web3 – has the potential to radically transform the internet of things and reduce barriers to access. How can these forces be effectively harnessed and directed for the benefit of all people and move the world forward?

Over the past decades, the tech sector, especially the internet of things, has become a central component of modern economies. Trying to catch up with the exponential pace of technological development, the US, China, and Europe are crafting rules of the game on digital markets. What are the emerging characteristic differences between regulatory regimes of digital markets, in the US, Europe and beyond, and how do they balance innovation and regulation? In light of strategic competition over tech dominance between the US and China, what are the opportunities and challenges for Europe in particular?

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world of work forever. The fast and widespread adoption of remote work and an ever-increasing concern of employees with purpose and meaning on their job have intensified the war for talents. Reaching out to and concurrently engaging employees is key for businesses across sectors and regions. What learnings can be drawn from the pandemic as regards our approach to work? Has the world of work changed for the better? And what role does leadership culture and a new approach to hiring play going forward?

• A Demographic Revolution: Young India Takes Charge (with All India Management Association) 9:00 am - 10:00 am
• Collaborative Advantage Across Generations: Reflecting on the SGS Experience (ISC Alumni) 9:00 am - 10:00 am
• Collective Genius? Cultivating Creativity in the Arts and Beyond 9:00 am - 10:00 am
• Connecting Business with Purpose: The Potential of Skills-Based Volunteering 9:00 am - 10:00 am
• Financing the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs 10:00 am - 11:00 am
• Hacking the Fashion & Luxury Watchmaking Industry towards more Sustainability (with Condé Nast College) 10:00 am - 11:00 am
• M100 Sanssouci Colloquium@St. Gallen: Media’s New Power: More Impact Through Collaborative Journalism 10:00 am - 11:00 am
• Democratizing Access to the next Generation of Technology and Innovation: Communities and Radical Transformation 10:00 am - 11:00 am
• Varieties of Tech Capitalism: Europe's Approach to Innovation and Regulation in a Global Context 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
• Changed for Good? Engaging with the New World of Work 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

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Global Essay Competition

Compete in our Global Essay Competition and qualify for participation as a Leader of Tomorrow in the world’s premier opportunity for cross-generational debates: The St. Gallen Symposium.

Meet 300 of society’s brightest young minds. Present and debate your ideas with 600 senior leaders. Be inspired by some of the world’s most impressive speakers. Gain a unique and new perspective on this year’s topic. Become a member of a unique global community. Participate in the symposium with us. Win prize money of CHF 20,000 split amongst the three winners.

Topic Question

Striving for more or thriving with less – what pressing scarcity do you see, and how do you suggest to tackle it.

Scarcity generally refers to a situation where human needs exceed available resources . This year’s Global Essay Competition invites young leaders worldwide to focus on a specific contemporary or future challenge related to scarcity and propose an innovative way to address it.

Be creative in thinking about proposed solutions: do we need to strive for more and find ways to boost the availability of the resource in question? Or does it focus on ways to thrive with less and thus rethink our needs and demand?

Be free in choosing which scarce resource you focus on: examples include – but are NOT limited to – human labour, capital, natural resources, or intangibles like time, creativity, or care. Be bold and precise in describing a contemporary or future challenge of scarcity and the specific kind of resources you focus on, and offer a concrete and actionable idea of how we should confront it.

Registration window for the GEC for the 53rd St. Gallen Symposium is closed.

If problems occur during registration, please clear your cached images and files in your browsing history or consider using the browser Google Chrome. If you still cannot apply, use the following  link. For any unanswered questions please contact us via e-mail at  [email protected]

Prerequisites

Qualify with an excellent essay.

We expect a professional, creative and thought-provoking essay. Be bold, unconventional, and distinctive on the competition question.

For your contribution to be valid, the following criteria must be met

Check your eligibility and prepare documents, to be eligible, you must fulfill all of the following criteria:.

• Enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme (master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university
• Born in 1994 or later

Make sure you can provide the following documents:

• Copy of passport or other identification (in English for non-Roman languages)
• Confirmation of matriculation/enrolment from your university which proves your enrollment in a graduate/postgraduate level programme as of 1 February 2024 (download sample document  here )
• Your contribution file with no indication of your name in the file name, the file metadata or the file itself

Meet us and ask your questions!

Meet our student representatives to learn how you can qualify for a participation in the 53 rd St. Gallen Symposium. We will have physical presentations at your university again as well as regular webinars to answer your questions!

Accompanying a Leader of Tomorrow

General questions, who can compete for a participation as a leader of tomorrow at the st. gallen symposium.

Students enrolled at a regular university, who are matriculated in a graduate or postgraduate programme.

What is the St. Gallen Global Essay Competition?

The St. Gallen Global Essay Competition is a global student essay competition, offering students who study at graduate or postgraduate level around the world the opportunity to apply for participation at the St. Gallen Symposium.

What is the Knowledge Pool?

The Knowledge Pool is a group of Leaders of Tomorrow with a strong affiliation to topics of relevance to the St. Gallen Symposium. They show outstanding track records in the particular fields they work or study. They are hand-selected by the International Students’ Committee. It is not possible to apply for membership in the Knowledge Pool.

How much does it cost to participate? 

The participation in the symposium is free for all Leaders of Tomorrow. Moreover, expenses for travel, board and lodging are covered by the ISC. However, we recommend bringing a small amount of pocket money for your convenience.

Essay Competition

Who is eligible for the 54 th  st. gallen symposium.

Students enrolled at a regular university, who are matriculated in a graduate or postgraduate programme as of 1 February 2025, from any field of study, born in 1995 or later.

What is a “regular university”?

In the context of the Global Essay Competition, a regular university is defined as an institution of higher education that also conducts research and offers at least one PhD programme. Exceptions are possible and are granted on a case-by-case basis.

Can Bachelor students participate?

Unfortunately, students on bachelor level do not fulfil the eligibility criteria and therefore cannot enter the competition. There is no other way to apply for participation and we, therefore, encourage all students to join the competition once they pursue with their studies at a graduate level. You may, however, be eligible if the level of study in your current year is equivalent to international graduate level which must be confirmed in writing by your university.

Can teams participate?

Only individual submissions are allowed as we can only grant participation to one contender per contribution.

How long should the contribution be? 

The maximum amount of words is 2,100 (excluding bibliography or graph descriptions and the like). There is no minimum word count. Please make sure to state the exact word count in your document. Also keep in mind that you must not state your name in the contribution.

Do I have to quote my sources?

All sources must be quoted and all essays are scanned for plagiarism. You must refer each source to the respective text passage. Please note that plagiarism is a serious offense and that we reserve the right to take further steps in case of deliberate fraud. Self-plagiarism will also result in disqualification, as the work has to be written exclusively for the Global Essay Competition of the St. Gallen Symposium.

Can I have a look at previous Winner Essays?

Yes, you can find winner essays as well as other publications from the Global Essay Competition here .

What file formats are accepted?

Please make sure to hand in your essay in either a doc, docx or pdf format. The document must allow to copy the text easily (no document protections).

What documents do I need to submit?

In addition to your contribution, make sure to upload

• a copy of your passport (or any other official government ID but no driver’s license) to verify your age
• a confirmation of matriculation from your university confirming your graduate or postgraduate student status as of February 2023
• a short abstract (200–300 words) which can be entered in the registration form directly

in the applicable field of the registration form.

What happens after I submitted my application?

The ISC will verify your eligibility and check all submitted documents for completeness and readability. Due to the large amount of essays we receive, our response may take some time, so thank you for your patience. If the jury selects your essay in the top 100 , you qualify as a Leader of Tomorrow for an expenses-paid participation in the 52 nd St. Gallen Symposium (4-5 May 2023). The results will be announced via e-mail by mid-March 2023. The jury selects the three awardees based on the quality of the idea on paper. The award is endowed with a total prize money of CHF 20,000. In addition, there will be a chance for the very best competitors (including the awardees) to present their ideas on the big stage at the symposium. For this, the students will be asked to pitch their idea on video beforehand.

Who’s in the jury?

The Award Jury consists of leading executives, journalists and professors from all around the world. The Academic Jury is composed of young top academics from the University of St. Gallen and the ETH Zurich.

When will the results be announced?

The jury’s decision will be announced by mid-March at the latest.

Participation

How do the travel arrangements work.

The organizing committee will get in touch with you prior to the symposium to discuss your itinerary and to book your travel.

Can the organising committee help me get a visa?

All Leaders of Tomorrow are self-responsible to get a visa. However, we will inform the applicable Swiss embassy about the invitation and will provide you with the necessary documents. Should a problem arise anyway, we are happy to help. Expenses for visa application are borne by the Leaders of Tomorrow themselves.

Where am I accommodated during the symposium?

All Leaders of Tomorrow are accommodated at private student flats across the city. Please give us an early notice should you have any special requirements (e.g. female flatmates only).

What transport is provided?

We book flights or train tickets and provide shuttle service from and to the airport. Furthermore, all Leaders of Tomorrow receive a free ticket for the public transport in St. Gallen during the week of the symposium.

How much money do I need? 

We recommend bringing some pocket money (CHF 100–200) for your convenience. Please note that depending on your time of arrival and departure, some meals might not be covered.

Can disabled people participate as well? 

Yes, of course. Most of the symposium sites are wheelchair-accessible and we are more than happy to help where we can. Although our ability to provide personal assistance is very limited, we do our best to provide the necessary services.

Is there any touristic programme and do I have time for sightseeing?

During the symposium there will be no time for sightseeing. However, we may offer selected touristic programmes a day before or after the symposium. These days can, of course, also be used for individual sightseeing. Nearby sites include the old town of St. Gallen, the lake Constance and the mountain Säntis.

Can I extend my stay in Switzerland?

Yes, upon request we can move your return flight to a date of your choice. If the new flight is more expensive, we may ask you to cover the price difference. Please note that we are unable to provide any services such as accommodation or transportation after the end of the symposium week.

Can I bring a spouse?

Unfortunately, we cannot provide any services such as travel, room, board or symposium access to any additional person.

Past Winners & Essay Reviews

Out of approx. 1,000 annual contributions submitted by graduate and post-graduate students from all around the globe, the jury selects three winner essays every year. Meet our competition’s past winners and read their contributions.

2023 – A New Generational Contract

Elliot gunn, gaurav kamath, megan murphy, essay question:.

The best or worst legacy from previous generations: How to preserve or replace it?

A great deal of our lives is influenced by when we were born. As those currently alive, we have inherited the world which previous and older generations have built. We owe a great deal to the efforts of our forebears, but we also inherit problematic legacies.

2022 – Collaborative Advantage

Sophie lara neuber, anton meier, bryan kwang shing tan.

Collaborative Advantage: what should be written into a new intergenerational contract?

 The idea of a “generational contract” embodies the principles that younger and older generations rely on each other to provide mutual support across different stages of their lives. Inclusive education systems, sustainable welfare states and meaningful environmental action are some of many challenges requiring a cross-generational collaborative effort. Yet, with the climate crisis, rapid technological change and societal aging in many countries, the generational contract and notions of intergenerational fairness have been challenged. Members of the younger generation are raising their voices as they reflect on how their futures are being compromised by current decision-makers.

 What’s your specific and actionable idea that should be written into a new generational contract? Choose an area where you see evidence that intergenerational fairness is – or, going forward, will be – challenged and where the generational contract needs to be rewritten. Potential areas include, but are not limited to, business strategy and the economy, inclusive governance and education, the welfare state and health care, environmental sustainability, or the world of work. Describe your problem and offer concrete and practical proposals how inter-generational fairness can be restored or reinvented. Explain your idea’s impact for the future.

2021 – Trust Matters

Janz irvin chiang.

1st place – Peking University

Joan  Nyangena

2nd place – York University

Karl Michael Braun

3rd place – Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

A Matter of Trust: How Can Trust be Repaired When It’s Lost?

In recent years, we have seen many reports about “trust crises” in the realms of politics, health, business, technology, science, and media. Political and corporate scandals, mass protests, and deteriorating trust indicators in global perception surveys support this diagnosis. As a result, senior leaders in many of these sectors publicly aspire to “rebuild trust” in their decisions, products, or institutions. What would be your advice to them?

Choose an area in one of the above-mentioned sectors where you see evidence that citizens’, consumers’, regulators’, employees’ or other stakeholders’ trust has been lost. Describe your example of an apparent loss of trust; offer concrete and practical proposals on repairing damaged trust. Describe your idea’s impact for the future.

2020 – Freedom Revisited

Symposium  postponed.

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the final review and communication of the results of the contributions to the Global Essay Competition was stopped prematurely.

Freedom Revisited: Which aspects of freedom need to be defended, or recalibrated, to meet the challenges of our time?

Domestically and on the international stage, values of individual, economic, and political freedom are subject to critical inquiry or outright attack. Diverse phenomena such as populism, global power shifts, climate change, the digital revolution, and global migration call for a reflection on the value of freedom for the way we live, do business, and organize politically in the years ahead. While some call for a defence of established freedoms, others call for recalibration of our concept of freedom, or the balance we strike between freedom and other values, such as equality, sustainability, and security. Where do you stand in this debate? Choose one of the following positions as you develop your essay:

In defence of freedom: Choose an area in the realm of business, economics, politics, or civil society where current concepts of freedom are under pressure and where they need to be defended. Describe the problem and offer a concrete and practical proposition of how established concepts of freedom should – and can be – defended. Describe its impact for the future.

In defence of recalibrating freedom: Choose an area in the realms of business, economics, politics or civil society where current concepts of freedom are unsuitable for the challenges we face and where they need to be recalibrated. Describe the problem and offer a concrete and practical proposition of how established concepts of freedom should and can be recalibrated. Describe its impact for the future.

2019 – Capital for Purpose

Reuben muhindi wambui (ke).

1st place – The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Natalie Hei Tung Lau (HK)

2nd place – University of Pennsylvania

Toan Do (VN)

3rd place – Yale University

Is it as good as it gets? – What approach would you suggest to change the current purpose of capital?

Political volatility, environmental issues, precarious labour markets, technological monopolies, managerial and investment short-termism are only a few challenges we face. The time has come to counter excessive short-termism and start doing business as unusual. Think about the status quo and its implications. What would be an idea to change it? Develop projects or actions you would trust in to bring new and expanded purposes to capital and aim for a long-term positive impact. In your essay you should consider how the use of capital (financial, human, social,…) can solve complex challenges and address substantial changes, be it by individuals, civil society, businesses or governments. Your idea must inspire leaders worldwide to take on responsibility and put it into practice. Be bold and develop a truly impactful concept to win our prestigious award.

2009 – 2018

2018  – beyond the end of work, nat ware (au).

1st place – University of Oxford

Janis Goldschmidt (DE)

João abreu (br).

3rd place – Harvard University

Robots are coming for your job. How do you augment yourself to stay economically relevant?

Author Yuval Noah Harari claims that the rapid progress of artificial intelligence technology will render the human species economically useless within decades. Imagine a world in which humans fight back, harnessing AI and other technologies to stay economically indispensable – and, ultimately, competitive against the computers. Describe the job you aspire to in the future, how it will potentially be influenced by AI, and how you would augment yourself technologically if necessary to prevail in your chosen career.

2017  – The dilemma of disruption

1st Place – University of Oxford

Benjamin Hofmann (DE)

2nd Place – University of St. Gallen

Sigin Ojulu (SS)

3rd Place – University of Southern California

Breaking the status quo – What’s YOUR disruptive idea?

The notion of disruption captures today’s innovation zeitgeist. Nowadays, it seems everyone claims to be a disruptor – particularly young people with an entrepreneurial mindset. Let’s think beyond disruptive innovation in management and look at disruption more generally as something that breaks the status quo – be it in business, politics, science, or society. Pick the one of these four fields you are most passionate about, identify a problem of greater magnitude and come up with a disruptive idea to solve it. Your idea must aspire to inspire top-notch leaders worldwide. Do not free ride on the buzzword “disruption” but rather be bold and develop a truly novel and radical concept to win our prestigious award.

2016  – Growth – the good, the bad, and the ugly

Schima labitsch (at).

1st place – Fordham University

Alexandra Ettlin (CH)

2nd place – University of St.Gallen

Colin Miller (US)

3rd place – New York University

What are alternatives to economic growth?

2015  – Proudly Small

Laya maheshwari (in).

1st place – London School of Economic

Leon Schreiber (ZA)

2nd place – Freie Universität Berlin

Katharina Schramm (DE)

3rd place – University of St.Gallen

Essay Questions:

• What is the next small BIG thing?

Think about unconventional ideas, undiscovered trends or peripheral signals that may turn into ground-breaking changes for societies. Present one idea which is not on the radar of current leaders yet but will change the game in business, politics or civil society – the best ones will be put to the test by the global audience of the St. Gallen Symposium.

• Collaborative Small State Initiative

Although small states lead the global rankings in international benchmark studies on competitiveness, innovation and wealth, they are often politically marginalised. Explore a common agenda for small and prosperous countries and identify one joint project that would increase the relevance of small states on the global stage. Go beyond politics and diplomacy by also including economic and civil players.

• Elites: small but superior groups rule the world – at what price?

Human history shows that the world has been ruled by tiny but superior groups of people. It is the elites who have been controlling societies and the allocation of resources. Given the rise of inequality, a devastating level of famine that still exists, ubiquitous corrupt systems of government, limited access to education for the underprivileged, to name just a few of the world’s greatest problems, elites are challenged to redefine their roles and agenda settings. Share your thoughts on how elites are supposed to emerge and transform in the 21st century.

2014  – The Clash of Generations

Ashwinikumar singh (in).

1st place – University of Mumbai

Martin Seneviratne (AU)

2nd place – University of Sydney

Set Ying Ting (MY)

3rd place – National University of Singapore

• Balancing Generational Claims

The presumption of an altruistic relation between generations and its positive effect on the economic well-being of societies is illusionary. Welfare states have widened fiscal gaps to an irreparable extent for the next generations. When aspiring to a sustainable welfare system, how should intergenerational claims balance without having to rely on selflessness?

• A Double-Edged Legacy

Let’s be frank: The generational contract has failed everywhere – but for different reasons. Exuberant public debts, zooming healthcare costs, unequal distribution of wealth, loss of ethical and moral anchors, loss of trust in existing institutions: each state is facing a unique set of problems. Briefly describe the situation in your country and propose a generational contract defining mutual responsibilities on an economic and social level.

• A Prospect for the Young

Highly educated and ambitious, yet unemployed. A whole generation of young is entering the labour market with little prospect of success. The implications go way beyond individual tragedies as economies with lasting high levels of youth unemployment risk social instability. Present new solutions on how we can overcome this crisis.

• Business between Generations

Slogans like “rent is the new own” or Botsmann and Rogers’s “what’s mine is yours” (HarperBusiness, 2010) mark the trend of shared economy. Although not a new economic phenomenon per se, particularly the Millennials are embracing this attitude towards doing business where they value access over ownership. The trend is gaining global mainstream acceptance which is resulting in a lasting impact on economic performance. Discuss the future of shared economy, its overall implications and the dynamics between supply and demand.

2013 – Rewarding Courage

Kilian semmelmann (de).

1st place – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Dragov Radoslav (BG)

2nd place – Rotterdam School of Management

Bree Romuld (AU)

3rd place – University of St.Gallen (HSG)

The competitors must choose from one of four competition questions, which refer to the four topic clusters “Putting incentives right”, “Coping with institutions”, “Against the current – courageous people” and “Management of excellence”

• Putting incentives right

How come that both in the corporate world and in politics, responsible courage (e.g. whistleblowing, courage to disagree with current paradigms, etc.) is hardly ever rewarded? Where the big decisions for the future are taken, anxiety, conformity and despondence prevail. How can this be changed?

• Coping with institutions

Institutions of all kinds shape our behaviour – be it economic, political or social behaviour. How should institutions be designed in order to foster a sustainable economic and social development?

• Against the current – courageous people

Observers lament that younger generations, as individualistic as they are, tend to settle for a highly streamlined social and economic world that does not ask for big decisions or unconventional thinking. Please share your opinion on this observation and explain why you agree or disagree. Please use examples that support your arguments.

• Management of excellence

New insights can only flourish within a culture of dialogue in different opinions. No assumptions should be taken for granted nor should there be any unquestioned truth. However, most people (decision makers, managers, students, etc.) often fail to deal constructively with conflicting opinions. How can companies encourage their employees to build a healthy attitude towards unconventional thinking and acting?

2012 – Facing Risk

Rodrigues caren (in).

1st place – St. Joseph’s Institute of Management

Jennifer Miksch (DE)

2nd place – Geneva Graduate Institute

Jelena Petrovic (SR)

3rd place – King’s College London

Detecting Risks

• The methodological tools that allow early detection of what will shape future trends are pivotal. While risks are emerging faster, these tools still need fostered advancement. What is the role of scenario planning and forecasting methods and who is or should be responsible for these aspects in the organisation? How should the detection of risks be addressed in an increasingly complex and interconnected global landscape?

Risk Aversion

• In wealthy societies, most people tend to suppress risk taking. Given this increasing trend of risk aversion in saturated societies, what are the long term consequences for economy and society? What are the long term consequences of a high level of risk aversion?

Emerging Risks

• There are tremendous risks facing the global community and many people have not yet become aware of their potential consequences (e.g. public debt burden). What are the societal, economic and/or political risks your generation of decision makers will be facing in the future? How could you convert these risks into opportunities?

Managing Risk

• There is often a disconnect between taking risks and bearing the burden of the consequences of doing so (e.g. risk taking in investment banking). Who should bear the consequences of negligent risk taking and why? How can healthy risk taking be fostered in wealthy societies?

2011 – Just Power

Marcelo ber (ar).

1st place – New York University

Dhru Kanan Amal (IN)

2nd place – London School of Economics

Maria de los Angeles Lasa (AR)

3rd place – Università di Camerino

• Justice and Power
• Rethinking Leadership
• Public Goods and Values

We asked you to contribute visions and ideas to the theme “Just Power” – Power in the sense of its use in various areas of politics and economics. We expected a professional work which could be an essay, a scenario, a project report or proposal, a multi- media presentation or an entrepreneurial concept. It should be constructive, provocative or instructive, inspiring thoughts and actions as well as introucing new approaches and unconventional ideas. Within the framework of the theme you may choose between three subtopics for your contribution.

2010 – Entrepreneurs – Agents of Change

Ainur begim (kz).

1st place – University of Oslo

James Clear (USA)

Christoph birkholz (de).

• What makes an entrepreneur an “agent of change”?
• Changing of the guard: Who are the new entrepreneurs?
• Corporate entrepreneurship within large companies: a concept for the future or a mere pie in the sky?
• Entrepreneurship between environmental risks and opportunities: What does it take to succeed?

2009 – Revival of Political and Economic Boundaries

Shofwan al-banna choiruzzad (id), jason george (us), aris trantidis (gr), 1999 – 2008, 2008  – global capitalism – local values, guillaume darier (ch), jacobus cilliers (za), feerasta aniqa (nz), christoph matthias paret (de), 2007  – the power of natural resources, benjamin block (us), gustav borgefalk (se), kevin chua (ph), 2006  – inspiring europe, maximilian freier (de), chen yesh (sg), elidor mëhilli (al), william english (us), 2005  – liberty, trust and responsibility, christian h. harding (de), luana badiu (ro), norbert jungmichel (de), fabien curto millet (es /fr), 2004  – the challenges to growth and prosperity, ravi rauniyar (np), peter g. kirchschläger (at / ch), xin dong (cn), 2003 – seeking responses in times of uncertainty, stefanie klein (de), rosita shivacheva (bg), 2002 – pushing limits – questioning goals, constantine (dino) asproloupos (ca / gr), manita jitngarmkusol (th), 2001 – new balance of power, marion mühlberger (at), uwe seibel (de), moses ekra (ci / ca), gerald tan (my), 2000 – time, martin von brocke (de), pei-fu hsieh (tw), tzvetelina tzvetkova (bg), 1999 – new markets, new technologies, new skills, peter doralt (fr), valérie feldmann (de), rajen makhijani (in).

“Partaking in the competition was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only was I able to come to St. Gallen and meet incredible young entrepreneurs and leaders who I’m still in contact with, but it provided me the opportunity to develop and share ideas with key decision-makers. The main idea I submitted was for a new way to finance retraining and healthcare at no cost to individuals or governments. Given the COVID- 19 pandemic, this idea is needed now more than ever, so I’m currently implementing the idea through a new organization I’ve established called FORTE ( Financing Of Return To Employment ).” NAT WARE , Founder & CEO of FORTE, Leader of Tomorrow at the 47th and 48th St. Gallen Symposium

HIR Academic Writing Contest Fall/Winter 2021 Medal Winners

The Harvard International Review is a quarterly magazine offering insight on international affairs from the perspectives of scholars, leaders, and policymakers. Since our founding in 1979, we've set out to bridge the worlds of academia and policy through outstanding writing and editorial selection.

The quality of our content is unparalleled. Each issue of the Harvard International Review includes exclusive interviews and editorials by leading international figures along with expert staff analysis of critical international issues. We have featured commentary by 43 Presidents and Prime Ministers, 4 Secretaries-General, 4 Nobel Economics Prize laureates, and 7 Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

Inspired by our growing high school readership around the world, we created the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest to encourage and highlight outstanding high school writing on topics related to international affairs.

Congratulations to all Fall/Winter 2021 medal winners on the quality of your submissions!

Alexander Gianola Cook . Stevenson School . “ China’s New Silk Road and The Scramble For Africa ”

Yueyang Lu. Shanghai Weiyu High School. “ Farm-to-Table: Will China Take a Seat within the Fresh Food Movement?”

Yilin Cai. Basis International School Shenzhen. “ Locked-up Santa, the Forgotten Cost of Travel Restrictions”

Mia Liu . Shenzhen College of International Education. “US Bar on Huawei: The First Steps Towards De-Globalization”

Zara Haque. Greenwich High School. “ Power Struggle: The Regional Implications of Germany’s Nuclear Phase Out ”

Longhao Chen, Fengshuo Wang . Lansdale Catholic High School, Allendale Columbia School. “ Two Superpowers Moving Apart: Hong Kong's Future Positioning as an International Financial Center.”

Gongkai Yuan. Hangzhou Foreign Languages School. “ New Forms of Global Education: Taiwan’s Soft Power Initiative in the Wake of Confucius Institute Closures”

Yi Xin. Beijing Huijia Private School. “ A Bleak Sky: Call to Reform Africa’s Aviation Industry”

Parmis Mokhtari-Dizaji. Phillips Exeter Academy. “ COVID-19 as a Driving Factor in the Isolation of Supply Chain Networks in the World and an Accelerator of Deglobalization”

Xuan Jin. Shanghai Pinghe School. “ Offline and Online: Increasing Hate Towards African Residents in China”

Silver Medal

Tianxin Yu. Shanghai Pinghe School. “ End of Slavery? Trafficking and Forced Labor of Illegal Latin American Immigrants in South Georgia”

Tiffany Wen. The Lawrenceville School. “ China's Divided Policies: Encouraging Globalization Yet Implementing Isolation”

Jessica Wang. The Bronx High School of Science. “ Frenemies: The Sino-Japanese Relationship”

Chenyue Liu, Yixuan Chen. Cheshire Academy. “ Global Crisis: The Uncompromising Trade War”

Angelina Richter. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. “ What the Upcoming “Surface Land Race” Means for Global Relations”

Xiyan Liu. Crofton House School. “ The Paradox of Pollution: The Environmental Impact of Space Exploration”

Wenhan Pei. Qibaodwight High School. “ India's Going Electric: Hyundai Invests in the Electric Vehicle Market”

Chenghou Wang, Zhenhao Li. Chengdu Experimental Foreign Languages School. “ Cyber Attacks Occur Frequently:Only Worldwide Cooperation Can Push Cybersecurity Forward”

Margaret Li. Eastside Preparatory School. “ Laws for LAWS: A Topic for International Discussion.”

Langrui Cao. Mingde High School of Changsha. “ HUAWEI in a Dilemma: Pursuing Globalization but Thriving in Isolation”

Isabelle Ravanas. Walter Payton College Prep. “ The Philippines Under Duterte- Increasingly Alone”

Yifan Zhou. BASIS International School Guangzhou. “ Chinese Education: The Pros and Cons Brought by Globalization”

Jiaqi Shou. Hangzhou Foreign Language School. “ An International Sea Power Storm Over Jersey Island”

Luming Jia. Beijing No.101 High School. “ Within an Ace of Success: How Globalization in the Aviation Market Might Hinder Independent Innovation”

Jiayu Pan. Shanghai Foreign Language School Affiliated to SISU. “ Where to go: Tourism industry in Thailand in the face of COVID-19”

Bronze Medal

Arrnavv Chawla. Fravashi International Academy. “ Our Link to The Sea”

Jiarun Yao. The Masters School. “ Invalidated Privacy Shield, Turbulent Data Policies, and the Blurry Future”

Zhou Shen, Feiyu Lin. Hangzhou Foreign Language School Cambridge A-level Centre. “ An Evolving Autopilot Industry: How Google and Tesla Head to Different Directions”

Fanghao Shen. Phillips Academy Andover. “ Anxiety, Automation, and AI On Methods of Identifying and Mitigating the Risks Posed by Technological Innovation and Automation”

Xiaohe Chen. Beijing Royal School. “ Becoming a “Global Citizen”:The Controversy of Bilingual Education under “Coro-nationalism”

Jiayi Wei. Keystone Academy. “ Climate Change and Extreme Weather: The Irreversibility of Globalization Resulted in Impossibility of Isolation”

Yufei Chen. Beijing 101 middle school. “ Loosen or fasten: globe supply chain restructuring in post-COVID-19 era”

Zhiyang Zhong. TABOR Academy. “ The Diversity Problem:Financial Globalization and Minority Groups”

Jia Han. The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University. “ Carbon net zero: new dominance?”

Zhiyi Chen. The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University. “ Harmony vs Hostility: Policy for International Students in the United States During COVID-19 Pandemic”

Leo Li. Benjamin N. Cardozo Highschool. “ The Ramifications of Cryptocurrency Regulation.”

Haoyu Guan. St. Stephen's Episcopal School. “ Smart Production for Service Production: the International Cooperation of UAV Delivery”

Naviya Kamdar. D Y Patil International School. “ The Exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar”

Zhehao Zhou. Hangzhou Foreign Language School Cambridge A-level Centre. “ Global Anger Grows Over Brazil’s Handling of Deforestation at COP26”

Baoyi Ouyang. Guangdong Shunde Desheng School. “ Vocational Education in China: Will Vocational Schools Become as Important as Universities in the Future?”

Yuanheng Yue. Shanghai World Foriegn Language Academy. “ Metaverse: The Iron Curtain of the New Cold War”

Ruoyu Zhou. Hwa Chong Institution Boarding School. “ Victim in the Global Economy : How to Humanise the Experience of Migrant Workers?”

Yifei Li. Beijing 101 middle school. “ The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: climate ambition and trade protection”

Aadya Medha Akkipeddi. The Commonwealth School. “ Globalization vs Isolation”

Ka Yan Choi. Shanghai High School International Division. “ Globalization Versus Isolation in Public Health: Coronavirus and Gain-of-Function Research”

Jiajun Li. Basis International Parklane Harbor. “ Social integration assessment: foreign merchants in Yiwu”

Help inform the discussion

2021 International Affairs Essay Competition winners

Read the entries from four UVA undergraduates

The Virginia Journal of International Affairs , the University of Virginia’s only undergraduate foreign affairs research journal, partnered with the Miller Center and the International Relations Organization to sponsor an undergraduate essay competition examining lessons from past presidencies and history in general to inform the debate on contemporary policy challenges in international relations. All UVA undergraduates were invited to participate and responded to the following prompt:

In his inaugural address, President Joe Biden stated that “America is back.” Should the future ofAmerica’s foreign policy be one that embraces multilateralism or should it take a more unilateral approach? Use historical examples or case studies from prior presidential administrations to make your argument about the present. 

Winner: Caitlin Tierney

American exceptionalism as asymmetric multilateralism.

For four years, Trump’s unilateralist, protectionist, populist and “America First” policies shocked citizens of the United States and the world. After seeing the damage unilateralist foreign policy (especially when in the wrong hands) can cause, U.S. democrats long to return to the generally multilateral foreign policy approach that presidents have adhered to since WWII. Although a leader of many major international organizations, America’s unique position of arranging the post-WWII world order has created an asymmetric form of multilateralism that nominally is fully participatory and equal, but in fact gives favor to its founder. President Biden believes that “America is back” as the leader in the international field, but America cannot so easily return to this seat of preference and should assess that previous “American multilateralism” may verge closer to asymmetry or even partial unilateralism than the U.S. may be willing to admit.

President Biden simply claiming that “America is back” as a world leader is a hollow cry until actions follow. Fortunately, on day one of his term, Biden reentered key agreements such as the WHO, UNHRC, New START and Paris Agreement with more to follow. This gesture is important to signify an ideological change from the previous administration and agreement to multinational cooperation. The foundation of trust in the U.S., however, cracked with the election and actions of President Donald Trump, and, although Biden may be able to repair the rift, there will always be a weak spot of mistrust and uncertainty.

READ THE FULL ESSAY

First runner-up: Robert McCoy

“america is back” isn’t enough: keeping unilateralism from droning on.

So far, President Biden’s assertions that “America is back” are proving honest. Undoing some of Trump’s unilateralist decisions, Biden has rejoined the Paris Climate agreement and United Nations Human Rights Council and halted the U.S.’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The Associated Press reported that Biden filling “his State Department with . . . veterans of the Obama administration” indicates a “desire to return to a more traditional foreign policy.” Many are relieved by this return to normalcy; Dr. Sana Vakil of Chatham House has said, “I’m quite optimistic about the gang getting back together again.”

But even the pre-Trump era of foreign policy Biden seems to be reviving was far from a halcyon period of multilateralism and adulation from the international community. In fact, a 2013 WIN/Gallup International poll conducted in 65 countries revealed the U.S. to be the international community’s “overwhelming choice…for the country that represents the greatest threat to peace in the world today.” A 2012 Pew Research Center poll of 20 countries found that, “[a]cross much of the globe, people continue to believe the U.S. acts unilaterally in world affairs.”

Second runner-up: Mithra Dhinakaran

“america is back” as it should be.

American multilateralism has swung on a pendulum since the birth of our nation. The question of whether to put America “first” or cooperate with other countries has always racked our foreign policy. From our involvement in foreign wars to our adoption of protectionist laws, the United States’ patterns of cooperation with global partners have had extraordinary ramifications on the whole world. While unilateralism has helped secure U.S. interests in some respects, multilateralism is the only way the current administration can effectively implement foreign policy in the modern globalized world. The future of America’s foreign policy should embrace multilateralism for several reasons. First, the U.S. is surrendering its share of global power and requires allies to support its policies. Second, the globalized economy compels political cooperation to reflect economic partnerships. Third, the U.S. must act in conjunction with other countries to tackle global issues.

First, while the U.S. may have been able to strongman other nations into acquiescence in the past, the U.S. no longer has the same political and economic capital. Similar to our experience with the Soviet Union in the Cold War, we face a rising superpower that seeks to assert its influence where the U.S. has fallen behind. If China succeeds in winning allies in the Global South, the U.S. will not be able to unilaterally challenge and overcome that influence. The U.S. should focus on strengthening ties with countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to build a stronger front. An example of the success of this strategy in the past is the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Honorable mention: Kirstin O'Donoghue

Recreating american foreign policy: replacing unilateralist nationalism with inclusive multilateralism.

President Biden assumed the presidency amidst several crises — the devastating COVID 19 pandemic, increasingly tense relations with China, and a persistent climate crisis. Each administration has confronted its own seemingly insurmountable challenges, and Biden’s predecessors have all left in their wakes mistakes and successes which defined the tenability of their approaches. Trump’s nationalism and America First doctrine wreaked havoc upon American foreign policy and have left foreign policy experts advocating for a return to American diplomacy and a restoration of our foreign policy. Though Biden’s election was a pivotal first step toward revitalizing American foreign policy and reforming our reputation on the global stage, Trump’s isolationist scars have not healed. Rather than a restoration, America is in desperate need of a newly constructed inclusive multilateral approach that involves historically suppressed actors from a variety of regions, civilian populations, and non-governmental organizations.

In making suggestions for Biden’s foreign policy approach, one must not fall prey to the myth that the United States before Trump was consistently a gregarious multilateral actor, sacrificing its domestic interests for the global good. Wilsonian multilateralism stood in stark contrast against Nixon’s unilateral retreat from Bretton Woods and Reagan’s termination of UNESCO. Obama’s retrenchment approach to foreign policy mirrored most closely those of Eisenhower and Nixon, which advocated a reduced commitment of U.S. resources and a greater share of the burden placed on allies. Any moral high ground that we possessed before Trump’s nationalist approach, even if this perception was founded upon shaky ground, we have lost.

• Call for Papers
• Student Essay Contest
• Volunteer Opportunities
• ISTAS21 Registration
• Conference Program
• Keynote Speakers
• Special Sessions
• Associated Events
• Mentorship Sessions
• Conference Areas of Interest
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Partner Organizations
• ISTAS21 Patrons
• ETHICS-2021 Technical Cosponsors
• Becoming a Patron

Important Dates

EXTENDED Submission deadline: September 14, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST

Awardees announced: October 15, 2021

ISTAS21 Conference dates: October 28-31, 2021

Call for Papers: SSIT Student Essay Contest

The call for papers: student essay contest has officially closed.

Contest Overview Essay Topics Submission Guidelines About SSIT

NOTE: As of August 31, 2021, the submission deadline for the SSIT Student Essay Contest has been extended.  Thank you to all students who have already submitted essays! You are welcome to upload an updated file through EasyChair if you would like to make any changes to your submission between now and the extended contest closing date of September 14th.

Contest Overview

Are you an undergraduate student who has recently researched, written about, or is interested in the social implications of technology? Would you like to share your ideas with a broader audience and win cash prizes? Then the inaugural IEEE Society on Social Implications Technology (SSIT) Student Essay Contest is for you! 

With this contest, the SSIT is offering a chance for students to gain a larger audience for their ideas and work. The contest is a global initiative launched by the SSIT Student Activities Committees and run as a part of the Society’s flagship conference, the International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS21) . The conference will take place on 28-31 October and is focused on the overarching theme “Technological Stewardship and Responsible Innovation”. Conference programming will address the following sub-themes:

• Health Systems 
• Privacy & Security 
• Technology Policy & Governance
• Sustainable Cities & Communities
• Artificial Intelligence & Automation
• Ethical and Human Values in Emerging Technology 

In addition, the IEEE International Symposium on Ethics in Engineering, Science and Technology ( ETHICS-2021 ) takes place as a track within the ISTAS21 program, focused on the theme of “ Engineering and Corporate Social Responsibility ” (see ETHICS-2021 CFP for sub-themes).

Please see below for additional details about the essay topics and submission guidelines. 

Essay Topics

The 2021 SSIT Student Essay Contest invites submissions on the following THREE topics.  One winner and one runner-up will be selected from submissions to EACH category.  You may write on ONE  topic: 

Topic 1: Public Health, Digital Surveillance, and Privacy

• A survey of perceptions on contact-tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic across 19 countries revealed that nearly three-quarters of respondents were willing to provide contact information. For individuals who were unwilling to share their personal information, the most common reason was fear of governments and technology companies tracking them. How have contact-tracing and other public health digital surveillance methods of the COVID-19 pandemic challenged notions of privacy? Furthermore, should contact-tracing be used, and if so, how can governments and health authorities promote public trust?  

Topic 2: (Mis)Information, Social Media, and Censorship

• False rumors spread “farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth” online, according to a 2018 study published in Science . The amount of “fake news” and misinformation is rising and peaks during key events, such as the U.S. presidential elections of 2016 and 2020, along with posts encouraging or inciting violence. In response, social media platforms have begun suspending accounts and removing content; however, many believe that Internet censorship violates freedom of speech. How can social media companies (such as TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit) counter misinformation on their algorithmic platforms while considering the implications of censorship in democratic societies? Correspondingly, how can social media companies be internally and/or externally regulated?

Topic 3: YOUR Take on “ Technological Stewardship and Responsible Innovation”

• Students are also invited to present their own interpretations of and ideas about the ISTAS21 conference theme, “Technological Stewardship and Responsible Innovation”. This open prompt challenges students to consider the meaning and significance of  “social responsibility” and/or “stewardship” during this era of unprecedented technological innovation. Why and how should we uphold ethics, sustainability, equity, and social values within the technology industry?   Submissions under this category may focus on one (or more) of the conference subthemes, as listed above, and can also draw from students’ own research projects to support their arguments.

Submission Guidelines

Scope, length, format:.

• Present and argue a clear and focused central idea, 
• Incorporate discussion of relevant research/contexts, and 
• Provide references using IEEE citation guidelines .
• Essays must be 1000-1500 words (excluding references). 
• Essays must be submitted through the EasyChair portal as PDFs, following the IEEE conference template .  
• Please note that although the EasyChair portal provides the option for multiple authors, the Student Essay Contest will only accept single-author submissions.

Eligibility Requirements

• Students from any discipline are invited to participate. 
• Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student , or 
• Have completed your undergraduate studies no earlier than January 2021 .
• Each student may submit only one essay to the contest.

Awards and Adjudication

• Awardees will be announced on October 15, 2021. 
• The winning entry will receive a prize of $120 (USD).
• The runner-up will receive a prize of $80 (USD). 
• Publication of their essays on the SSIT, ISTAS21, and ETHICS-2021 websites;
• Free registration to the ISTAS21 conference;
• One-year student membership to the IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology for 2022. 
• Winners may be invited to expand their submission for publication in a special-issue of the IEEE Technology and Society Magazine .

Adjudication

• Essays will be judged by an interdisciplinary committee of graduate students led by faculty members.
• Clarity , focus , and insight of argument (including relevance to the essay prompt),
• Use of existing research  to support the argument presented.

About the IEEE Society on Social Implications Technology (SSIT)

The IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) focuses on issues concerning Technology and Society. Through publications (such as the award-winning IEEE Technology and Society Magazine ), conferences, social media groups, blogs, websites and local events, SSIT fosters dialogue on how we can address the challenges and opportunities presented by our world’s technologies.

If you want to know more about the contest or have any quick questions, please traverse through the information video here.

Please email vivian.qiang@mail.mcgill.ca if you have any further questions or concerns about the student essay contest.

Harvard International Economics

Essay contest (hieec).

HIEEC provides students the opportunity to demonstrate an accomplished level of writing and understanding of economic theory. Through the contest, students hone their academic and professional skills and exhibit their knowledge. 

HIEE C 202 3 -2024

Hieec 2023-2024 is now closed. .

The 2023-2024  Harvard International Economics Essay Contest is sponsored by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA). This essay competition is open to high school studen ts of any year and is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrat e an accom plished level of writing and understanding of economic the ory. T hrough the contest, student competitors hone their academic and professional skills and exhibit their knowledge to future employers and academic programs. 

Competitors must construct a convincing argument using economic theory and real-world examples. Winning essays will be published on our website  and will be available for the greater Harvard community to read. Essays should focus on argumentation supported with facts and references, although data-based support is also welcome.

Yiheng Lyu​

Audrey Ku k​

Hyoungjin Jin

Juyoung Chun

Kevin Zhang

Matthew Choi

Mikayil Sadikhov

Raunak Agarwal

Vallabh Himakunthala

Highly Commended

Aronima Biswas

Aryan Nangia

Kridaya Gupta

Leonardo Jia

Rohan Mathur

Anagha Chakravarti

Amberlynn Gong

Neha Shanavas

Donghyeon Oh

2023-2024  Essay Questions

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to affect growth, inequality, productivity, innovation, and employment. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, in particular, has greatly increased public awareness about the significance of AI and its implications for the future. What impact will the development of AI have on economic inequality, the composition of the workforce, and economic output as a whole? How can nations prepare for the micro and macroeconomic changes brought about by AI?

Measuring national and global economic activity allows us to understand how economies change in size and structure—how they grow and contract. In addition to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), government budgets, and the money supply, alternatives like the Human Development Index (HDI) and Gross National Income (GNI) are used to assess economic progress. What are the advantages of our current economic indices, including GDP, HDI, GNI, government budgets, and the money supply, and in what areas are they lacking? Which of these indices do you find most helpful, and how can we enhance or combine them to improve our understanding of economic measurement?

Proponents of income redistribution support the idea that redistribution policies will increase economic stability and give more opportunities to the less wealthy. Others, however, are more skeptical and believe it could have negative consequences for economic growth. Current methods of redistribution include taxation, welfare, public services, and other monetary policies. What strategies for income redistribution should the U.S. adopt from other countries? What economic impacts could a wealth tax or super millionaire tax have? What type of redistribution is most effective and feasible? What would be the impacts of the U.S. enacting universal basic income? Discuss the implications of any of these issues and feel free to expand on other areas of economic redistribution.

As the United States weighs the impacts of China’s rise to global prominence, economics and national security have become increasingly intertwined. As a result, the United States government has imposed both tariffs and investment restrictions on China to limit the nation’s access to both US markets and intellectual property (specifically in sensitive industries such as semiconductors). What are the economic implications of these policies for United States firms, consumers, and workers? Discuss the most important perspectives of the US-China trade war and provide suggestions on how both countries can manage the prospect of a changing economic order.

2nd November 2023 – Essay titles released

11:59pm EST 5th January 2024  – Essay submission deadline

Late February 2024*  – Highly Commended and Finalists notified

Early March 2024 * – Winners notified, results published on the website

*We received a high volume of submissions, therefore we anticipate  that it will take us a couple m ore w eeks to release the results. 

Entrants must choose one of the four prompts and write a response to it with a strict limit of 1500 words. Submission must be via the HUEA website and entrants are limited to submitting one essay with only the first submission being considered. Each essay submission will have a $20 reading fee which should be paid upon submission of the essay. If this fee will impose a significant financial burden on your family, please email us. The deadline for submitting the essay is 11:59pm EST January 5th, 2024. ​

Please submit essay submissions via this form.

If the above link does not work, use:  https://forms.gle/9NVDu9WVbU71iPpq6

*Be sure to read all the details in the submission form carefully before submitting, as failure to complete any of the steps correctly may result in your submission not being considered.

The essays will be judged by the board of the HUEA, with the top 10 submissions being adjudicated by the esteemed Harvard professor and 2016 Economics Nobel Prize winner Oliver Hart.

The top three winning essays will be published ( with the author’s permission) on our website. A finalist s list of the top  submissions will be published online and adjudicated by 2016 Economics Nobel Prize Winner Oliver Hart. A list of names that will receive the "Highly Commended" distinction will also be published online​. The judges' decisions are final.

Terms and Conditions

The word limit of 1500 must be strictly adhered to. Any words past the limit will be truncated. This limit excludes references, footnotes, titles, headers and footers.

Essays must be written only by the entrant. Any outside assistance must be declared in the beginning or end of the essay.

Only your first submission will be accepted. Any further submissions will not be read.

References must be included, and any plagiarism will lead to disqualification.

References must be in Chicago or APA format. 

The only accepted document formatting is PDF. Any other format will not be accepted, nor will refunds be given to those who do not follow this rule.

No refunds are granted.

Grades 9-12 are permitted.

The essay must not be entered in any other competition nor be published elsewhere.

No individual feedback of essays will be granted.

The decisions made by HUEA by the final round of adjudication are final.

All winners agree to their names being published on the HUEA website.

Past Winners

2022  prompts an d winners.

In recent years and decades, many countries have seen fertility rates drop, potentially leading to falling populations. Currently, China has a fertility rate of 1.3, one of the lowest in the world. However, in 2021, China experienced GDP growth of 8% with output totaling $17.7 trillion. Will this lowered fertility rate (with potential to fall further) affect China’s economic growth and policy? How so? What, if anything, can the Chinese government do to limit the risk of falling fertility rates?

U.S. mortgage rates recently passed 7%, making the purchase of a new home increasingly unaffordable. Meanwhile, the United States has suffered from a chronic shortage of available housing for decades, particularly in urban areas, leading to what many scholars and advocates call an affordability crisis. Why is housing so unaffordable in the U.S.? What can (or should) be done by private actors, state and local governments, and the federal government to alleviate the affordability crisis?

It is often suggested that a tradeoff exists between economic growth and the health of the environment, especially now as the threat of climate change becomes more dire. What economic risks does a changing climate pose? Can economic growth be consistent with a healthy environment? What policies, either market-based or otherwise, should governments enact to protect the environment while posing the least danger to economic efficiency? 

Central banks such as the Federal Reserve in the U.S. and the Bank of England in the UK manage their nation’s macroeconomies with the goal of ensuring price stability and maximum employment. Globally, inflation rates are rising to levels not seen since the 1980s, particularly in the U.S. and European countries. To what extent should the monetary policies of central banks in various Western countries differ or resemble one another as a reaction to the specific causes of inflation facing their economies?

​ Click below to view each winner's essay

Ashwin t elang  *   nanxi jiang   *   duncan wong, 2019 wi n ner.

https://www.economicsreview.org/post/when-is-one-choice-one-t oo-many

2020 Winners

https://www.economicsreview.org/post/covid-19-and-the-market

https://www.economicsreview.org/post/automation-and-jobs-this-time-is-different

https://www.economicsreview.org/post/making-rational-decisions

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CGPS is pleased to announce the winners of the 10th annual International Student Essay Contest.

Meet the winners and read their essays, everyone has a story. we're excited to read yours, along with many partner offices on campus, we have a rich tradition of welcoming international students from all parts of the world. the mission to foster international understanding and cross-cultural awareness on campus and in the community is as important as ever., the purpose of this annual contest is to give interested applicants an opportunity to tell their stories and share the experiences and perspectives of being an international student with the larger university community. cgps is pleased to collaborate this year with the  division of student life  and the  graduate college ., everyone has a story. join us for the next essay contest and tell us yours for a chance to win $500, learn about the contest >, meet the past essay contest winners & read their essays >.

What do you miss most from home? Was it hard for you to adjust to your new student life in the U.S.? What did you not understand when you first arrived at UD? 

Essay Topic

Studying at a U.S. university can be a challenging yet rewarding experience for many international students. Whether you spent the fall semester online or in-person, in the U.S. or abroad, please share your personal stories and experiences about how you dealt with new ways of learning, cultural norms and values, challenges and opportunities during your time as an international student at UD and in the US. Topic ideas include:

What prepared you for this experience, who/what helped you along the way? How did you navigate local customs, traditions and communication protocols? What did you wish others understood better about you and your culture?

Undergraduate Students

Grand prize: $500, second prize: $250, graduate students .

Funds for winning essays will be placed into student accounts.

Eligibility

You must be an enrolled international student in the fall, maintaining F or J visa status at the University of Delaware.

Application Deadline

The 2023 contest is now closed. Visit again next fall to submit your story!

Document Requirements

Maximum of 1000 words; Typed in 12-pt size, Times Roman font; Double spaced; 1-inch margins on all sides; Includes page numbers.

Permission Notice

By submitting your entry, you agree that your essay might be published by CGPS on the web or in a publication.

Entries will be judged on content as well as literary style.  Please make every attempt to submit an entry free from spelling and grammatical errors, and rich in experiential content. 

Contact Us With Questions

Essay contest winners.

Graduate Students

Atiqah Zulhiani Malaysia

Ahmed aljahwari oman.

Honorable Mention

Nikki Ismayilova Azerbaijan

Ioannis vasileios chremos greece, davidson nwaonu nigeria, sotheara veng cambodia, maika inoue japan, jisa ko japan, serah azami afghanistan, faiza saeedi afghanistan, annika stein germany, adaeze amanfo nigeria, chao liu china, sulav kafle nepal, angie valeria robles romero colombia, emma perichon, jady young perez, sarah coomson, abhinav prabhakar, norah almousa, essa nahari, carolina gomez (colombia) "my first american football game", josefina fernandez-davila (peru) untitled, fabian martin rempfer (germany)  "bread in deutschland", ashwini sansare (india) "people and places", aisha moafa (saudi arabia) "my new name is 'practice'", somi kim (south korea) "how did you go about understanding local customs, traditions and communication protocols", john wambui (kenya) "a gentle spectacle", mehmet altingoz (turkey) "long road to america", edgar salazar (colombia) "highways no way", chamath chandrasekera (sri lanka) "the sandwich cononumdrum", xueyao liang (china) "from lost to found in translation", ugochukwu nsofor (nigeria) "american wonder", zamora kervin (honduras) "from the dirt roads of honduras to the red brick walks of ud", chouhan ashish (india) "the broad horizon", olsson hanna (sweden) "the missing suitcases – a metaphor of my life at ud", olga parshina (russia) untitled, byron acosta (colombia) "newark: a cozy home to keep us together"  , yuqing wang (china) "out of hot water: culture shock in the united states"  , subramani sockalingam (india) untitled, rodrigo moreno (chile) untitled, karim rebiai (belgium) "a new culture - help me, i'm drowning", cgps on social  |   @udglobal, #udintlcoffeehour  | #udabroad | #udworldscholar  | #dediplomat, signature programs.

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Optimist International Essay Contest The 2014-2015 Optimist International Essay Scholarship Contests are now closed. --> Topic for the 2023-2024 school year is: "Optimism: How It Connects Us” Who: The contest is open to contestants under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 – September 30) and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent, including CEGEP students in Québec, Canada. There is no minimum age. Students must enter in the District in which they reside. U.S. students attending school on military installations outside the U.S. are eligible to enter in their last home of record. How To Enter: Interested students must contact their local Optimist Club. They need to submit an essay on the pre-assigned topic. To find out a contact, please e-mail the Programs Department at [email protected] . The Essay Contest planning pages are intended for use by Optimist Clubs in organizing and conducting a contest in their Club. They contain no information on entering the contest and are of no use to students wishing to enter the contest. Students must contact their local Optimist Club. When:

Club Essay Planning Guide

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Essay Contest Application

The announcements of our International Student Essay Competition Finalists & Honourable Mentions 2024 are now available on our Winners page. The Grand Prize winner will be notified confidentially via email by the 22nd May.

• See the 2024 Finalists and Honourable Mentions

About the 2024 International Student Essay Competition “How can nature help us achieve the UN SDGs in my community?”

Nature provides us with everything we need to survive and thrive – clean air and water, food, materials for shelter, medicines and so much more. Many people believe that nature can help us tackle major global challenges such as climate change, food and water security, biodiversity loss and disaster risk reduction, as well as improving human health, societal wellbeing and developing sustainable economies.

We want to hear students’ own views on how they feel that nature can support the achievement of the SDGs in their own communities. Students are invited to approach the topic however they wish. They can choose to focus on one SDG, or multiple SDGs that they feel are a key issue within their communities and explore how nature could help to improve the situation. They are strongly encouraged to include their own personal views, perspectives and experiences to help bring their thoughts and visions alive.

The judges are looking for  originality  and  creativity  in all formats – and the potential to contribute to constructive  national or international debate . Unique and well-argued perspectives score highly.

Click here for details on how to register and submit your essay entries .

• Tell a friend about the International Sudents Essay Competiton and Debate
• How to enter
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• TSL 2023 Top 5 Secondary Essays
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The prize for the top winner is a trip to Geneva, Switzerland and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum.

The contest is being sponsored by the ICRC, the Embassy of Switzerland in Poland, Network on Humanitarian Action, the Polish Red Cross Society and the Universities of Gdansk and Warsaw.

The twenty-first century has already taught us that in an ever-changing theatre of an armed conflict, humanitarians must think about adapting to not only new weapons and tactics, but also to the environment outside of the battlefield. That's why we want to alert young people about the harm that disinformation and hate speech can have on people protected by international humanitarian law (IHL) and those trying to protect and assist them.

The ICRC and its partners launched the nation-wide student essay competition at the 16th IHL Conference at the University of Gdansk. The competition is open to all registered students in Poland who have earned a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent diploma. Submissions are due by 1 September 2024 .

"Disinformation and hate speech can have serious implications on civilians, the wounded, the sick and the detained, as well as those working to help them. As the depository state of the Geneva Conventions, main instruments of IHL, Switzerland wants to hear young people's voice on this growing concern." said Matthias Dettling, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in Poland.

The ten best essays will be awarded prizes, starting with a selection of books on IHL through book vouchers and then the top prizes – participation in the Polish Red Cross IHL school and a two-day trip to Geneva.

"As we commemorate 75 years of the Geneva Conventions and 70 years of their ratification by Poland, we want to hear from students in Poland and find out what is their analysis on how international humanitarian law applies today. What are the challenges in ensuring compliance with the rules in force and what gaps might exist? Such a reflection prepares our future leaders and professionals for navigating complex issues in an increasingly globalized world," says Elżbieta Mikos-Skuza, Director of Studies in Poland of the Network of Humanitarian Action – an international association of universities - and the university coordinator of the essay competition.

Read more about the rules and conditions of the competition

For more information:

Piotr Grzesiak, [email protected]

T: +48 604 384 488

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‘Cultivating Care’ topic of ‘Imi Pono contest for middle, high schoolers

MEO Youth Services Director Dane Ka‘ae speaks at the ‘Imi Pono: The Greatest Challenge awards dinner, held at MEO in Wailuku, on May 12, 2023. MEO photo

“Cultivating Care: Caring For Your Islands and Caring For Yourself” is the theme of this year’s fourth ‘Imi Pono: The Greatest Challenge contest for Maui County middle and high schoolers, with top entries winning cash prizes.

Applications are currently available for the contest open to public, private and homeschool students. The idea is for interested youth to apply for the contest, work on the project over the summer and submit their work by Aug. 30.

The Challenge requirements have been tweaked this year to include:

• 16 hours of volunteering.

• 1 to 2 page essay describing the experience.

• 1 to 3 minute video/PowerPoint presentation integrating the theme “Cultivating Care” with their volunteer and life experiences or positive mental health strategies employed when feeling stressed or down.

Cash awards will be presented to the first, second and third place winners in middle school (grades 6 to 8) and high school (grades 9 to 12) divisions. Winners will be announced Sept. 13.

Submissions may be dropped off with MEO Youth Services, 99 Mahalani St., Wailuku (second floor), weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or emailed to [email protected].

For an application and additional information go to https://forms.gle/Cbpi EA7WZZeuyCBB9, call (808) 243-4315 or email [email protected].

The contest is the brainchild of Maui County Council Member Alice Lee and has featured the themes of the dangers of vaping in 2023, COVID-19 prevention in 2021, reimagining Maui County in its inaugural year in 2020. ‘Imi Pono means “to search for the right way.”

The ‘Imi Pono Challenge is sponsored by MEO’s Youth Services in partnership with the Maui Chamber of Commerce and the County of Maui.

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