iucn global youth essay competition 2022

• COMPETITIONS
• Competitions
• Essays should be in 12-point, Times New Roman, single-spaced, and in a Word document.
• The Word document should include your name, grade, and the prompt you'll be answering along with your response.
• All submissions should be sent to [email protected] by July 1st with the subject as "[AM] 2020 International Essay Contest - Your Name".
• The Word document should include your name, grade, and the prompt you will be answering along with your response. 
• All submissions should be sent to [email protected] by October 20th with the subject as "[AM] 2018 International Writing Contest - Your Name"

Please choose  one  of the three options to write about. All essays should follow the theme:  Service . Please limit your essay response to  250-500 words . 1) Explain a cause that is important to you (i.e. women''s rights, homelessness, etc.). Tell us why.  2) What drives you to volunteer? Why is it important to you? 3) Tell us about your most memorable community service experience. How has it influenced you? 

Blog English

ICU Global Youth Essay Competition 2021 Winners Announced

Luke Palermo Essay , Global Youth Essay Competition March 21, 2022

On March 14th, the winners of the 2021 ICU Global Youth Essay Competition were invited to an online awarding ceremony hosted by ICU President Shoichiro Iwakiri. The competition was cohosted by ICU and JICUF.

Youths aged 14~18 from around the world (excluding Japan) were invited to submit essays based on contemporary global issues. (access to education, gender equality, and the COVID-19 pandemic) The purpose of the competition, as outlined by ICU, was “to fulfill our social role as an institution of higher education in fostering the next generation by providing youths opportunities to be exposed to various global issues in the contemporary world, to think about how they can contribute to society from an interdisciplinary perspective, and to acquire persuasive writing skills.”

Out of 355 essays from 36 different countries, 72 essays exhibiting a solid understanding of the competition’s purpose and having good overall structure were selected. Then, 14 finalists (12 third-place, 1 second-place, and 1 first-place) were chosen based on 4 criteria: a strong thesis statement, good supporting arguments, creativity & originality, and good execution of writing. The finalists and their essay topics are listed below. Congratulations to all the winners!

FIRST PLACE Jea Campos (Philippines) “A Book for Every Child”

SECOND PLACE Jesslyne Yau (Singapore) “Diamonds in the Sky”

THIRD PLACE WINNERS Chloe Wrzesinski (Australia) “Addressing Gender Inequality in Australia”

Keiko Ito (USA) “Left Out: Racial Inequality and Education in the United States”

Imran Aly (USA) “An Essay of Hope: The unequal scars in the United States education system and how they can fade”

Prisha Agrawal (India) “Gender [In]Equality”

Sena Gesteland (USA) “COVID-19 and How to Solve Global Inequality between Rich and Poor Nations”

Kotomi Hasegawa (Hong Kong) “Respect Your Team”

Grace Lee (South Korea) “Not So Temporary Measures”

Angela Patrice Navarrete (Philippines) “Quality Education in The Philippines – Right or Privilege?”

Caden Coleman (USA) “The Human Right of Quality Education”

Elisabeth Eckstein (USA) “Solutions for Education Inequality in the United States”

Mija Pranckutė (Lithuania) “Gender norms should not exist”

Karen Tun (USA) “Education Deserts Across the Nation”

Related Posts

Blog English /

Introducing the 2024-25 JICUF Student Ambassadors

JICUF Japan Office Will Hold Opening Events in May

JICUF Launches Refugee Education Japan

Search the United Nations

• UNAI Principles
• Map of UNAI Members
• List of UNAI Members
• Special Series
• Select UN Events
• UNAI Events
• SDGs Best Practices
• SDGs Guidelines
• SDGs Training Sessions
• SDGs Workshops
• The Why Join Guide
• Tools for Researchers
• Bulletin Board
• Submit the 2024 Activity Report
• Become a Millennium Fellow
• UNAI Voices
• Sustainable Development Goals
• UN Agencies
• UN Information Centres
• Dag Hammarskjöld Library
• UN Stories Archive
• UN Publications
• Internships

Many Languages, One World® International Essay Contest Winners Unveil Action Plans for a Sustainable Future at the United Nations General Assembly

Nearly 60 students from around the world gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 29 July to present their action plans for building a sustainable future through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The event was the culmination of the weeklong Many Languages, One World ® Global Youth Forum, held at Hofstra University in New York from 25 to 29 July.

The students were winners of the 3rd annual Many Languages, One World international essay contest and they came from 54 universities in 36 countries. Each year the contest is organized by United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and ELS Educational Services, Inc., and challenges college and university students around the globe to write an essay examining global citizenship, cultural understanding and the role that multilingualism can play in fostering both. Entrants are required to write essays in one of the six official United Nations languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), which can be neither their first language nor their primary language of instruction. More than 9,000 individuals from 165 countries took part in the initial phase of the contest this year.

Nearly two dozen UN staff members across four departments used their language skills, serving as judges for the contest. Jason Pierce was a reader for the English language essays and impressed by the quality of the students' writing: The essays have reaffirmed my belief that multilingualism can help to overcome cultural barriers, serve as a unifying force, and lead to global citizenship.

Students who participated in the contest are pursuing undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees. Their fields of study include language and linguistics, medicine, architecture, computer science and technology, business, and sustainable research management.

The Youth Forum is a transformative experience for many of the students, like Amani Naburi from Tanzania: Many Languages, One World is definitely one of the most influential platforms to create change and to inspire a better world. Imagine 60 young and vibrant minds from around the globe, who are aspirants of varied sectors, discussing global issues and coming up with collective solutions. Imagine these minds, trying to be curious about each other's cultures, challenges and opportunities, and craving to identify similar patterns between themselves.

Cristina Gallach, Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information at the United Nations, opened the event by underlining the importance of multilingualism in our lives: Communication and continuous dialogue are core tools for peaceful societies, and multilingualism is not only a means we use to share information about the work of the UN, it also reflects our respect for diversity and inclusion that lie at the heart of our work.

The President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, echoed these sentiments: Multilingualism and diversity can provide us with different ways to view the world. They can help us to be humble and more tolerant of others. And they can expand the reservoir of ideas and innovation that we need to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ahmed Alhendawi, the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, who addressed the students on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, pointed out the students' important role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: To realize this bold vision, we need the power, energy and ideas of today's young people, who are part of the largest generation of youth in history.

Mark Harris, President Emeritus of ELS, noted that the number of contest entrants tripled this year, reaching forty more nations than 2015, a sign of the growing importance of multilingualism in a globalized world. Susan Adams, Senior Advisor to the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), highlighted the collaboration between UNAI, ELS and IAUP in their efforts to promote Global Citizenship education as a means of improving the world.

Learn more about Many Languages, One World and sign up for updates here . If your college or university is interested in becoming a member of United Nations Academic Impact you can enrol here.

UNITED NATIONS

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

TAKE ACTION

• Lazy Person's Guide
• UN Volunteers
• Youth Engagement
• Past Contests and Scholarships
• Request a Speaker
• Visit the UN

NEWS AND MEDIA

• UN News Centre
• Press Releases
• Office of the Spokesperson
• UN in Action
• UN Social Media
• The Essential UN

ISSUES AND CAMPAIGNS

• SDG of the Month
• Observances and Commemorations
• Celebrity Advocates for the UN

Space4Youth Essay Competition

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in collaboration with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), have launched the 2022 edition of the Space4Youth Essay Competition.

UNOOSA and SGAC want to give a voice to and promote young people's ideas on the use of space for water resources management and aquatic ecosystem preservation.

Participants are asked to submit an essay on the theme "Space as a tool to accelerate change in sustainable water resources management, hydrology and the protection of aquatic ecosystems", but can choose their own topic within that theme. 

Entrants will focus on how space can be used to tackle water challenges by underlining concrete, realistic and original examples of how space science, technology and its applications can inform and/or support the delivery of actions and commitments for water management problems and adaptation of policies at local, national, regional and, or international levels.

Submissions for abstracts must be received by 24 November 2022. Successful candidates will be contacted by 14 December 2022 and must submit their essays by 15 January 2023.

The Competition is open to all students and young professionals from any Member State of the United Nations. The three best essays will be promoted on UNOOSA’s website and channels, and the authors may be invited to international events.

For full details, please click here.

For media and interview requests, contact us on: [email protected] mentioning [Media request] in the subject heading.

News and Media

Get the latest news from UN-Water; Understand what is happening around the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Interact in our campaigns; Explore newly released publications and where events are taking place around the world.

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

Sign up for our Newsletter

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

• Nov 15, 2022

GYEF International Essay Writing Competition Winner Spotlight

The Global Youth Economics Forum is excited to announce the winners of our global essay writing competition. Contestants were judged on a variety of factors - including cohesiveness of the argument, the strength of the thesis, critical thinking and argumentation skills, among others. All essays went through a rigorous 3 round anonymous judging.

Competition Summary/Winners:

1st place - Saanvi Tripuramallu, Ireland, Rockford Manor, 6th year, 16 Years Old

2nd place - Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Vietnam, École Puginier High School, 11th Grade, 16 Years Old

3rd place - Oceana Zhu, USA, The Bronx High School of Science, 11th Grade, 16 Years Old

Contestants were able to choose from 4 different prompts: student loan cancellation, the viability of cryptocurrency, the China and US trade war, and the impacts of the gig economy.

FIRST PLACE SUBMISSION:

Written by: Saanvi Tripuramallu (Ireland)

Prompt: Recently, US President Joe Biden announced a student loan relief plan that will forgive $10,000 of student loan debt for those earning less than a certain threshold. This has led to a contentious debate in the public with some arguing that inflation will worsen. Others argue that college is a social good and should be treated as one. From your analysis, is this a good decision or not? Please explain why and describe the political and economic effects of this decision.

SECOND PLACE SUBMISSION:

Written by: Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy (Vietnam)

Prompt: The gig economy changed what work could be like for many. People could earn money doing short-term jobs, stepping away from traditional employment. On the other hand, critics have called out the inhumane treatment of these workers including their lack of benefits. Evaluate the impact of the gig economy, its influence (if any) on the future of work, and your own stance on this topic.

THIRD PLACE SUBMISSION:

Written by: Oceana Zhu (USA)

Prompt: China and the US have had a trade war since 2018, with former US president Donald Trump imposing protectionist policies on Chinese imports. Global trade increased by 3%. Who benefits from the conflict? What has it achieved? Are China and the US inevitable enemies or partners?

Congratulations again to all of our contestants! It was a very close vote, and we are so grateful to have you all partake in our competition. We had a wonderful diversity of participants in our competition from the United Kingdom, Africa, South America, India, North America, and more.

Recent Posts

Interview with Kyrin Pollock, a sustainable business engineer at Accenture!

What are NFTs?

Girls in Economics - Severely Underrepresented

Do you want to login with a different account or have you forgotten your password

pexels-kindel-media-7425981

Global Maritime Forum launches 2022 essay competition by inviting youth to help the maritime industry boost human sustainability

The fourth annual Future Maritime Leaders essay competition invites students and young professionals to share their ideas on how to significantly improve human sustainability across the maritime industry by 2030. The winners will secure a place at the Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit 2022 in New York.

"The Global Maritime Forum calls on students and young professionals, within the maritime sector and beyond, to share their ideas on how the maritime industry might significantly improve its approach to human sustainability by 2030."

April 04 2022

Human sustainability equals dignity and respect for every human being across the maritime industry. It has emerged as increasingly important during the pandemic and with the current situation in Ukraine, all of which has highlighted the need for the maritime industry to extend the existing sustainability agenda in maritime to further include the human aspect – both at sea and onshore.

The Global Maritime Forum calls on students and young professionals, within the maritime sector and beyond, to share their ideas on how the maritime industry might significantly improve its approach to human sustainability by 2030. Particularly asking for what participants find to be the most important issue and/or challenge to be addressed, and which concrete actions maritime industry stakeholders need to take to address the issue.

A Selection Committee comprised of senior maritime stakeholders and a former essay competition winner will select three winning essays. The authors will be awarded the opportunity to participate in the Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit 2022 in New York.

“Human sustainability will be a strategic priority for the maritime industry going forward. The essay competition is a unique opportunity for the industry and for maritime decision-makers to learn from leaders of the future and their ideas as to what we need to do to significantly improve on human sustainability,” says Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong . Christine Loh chairs the Selection Committee that will decide on the winners of the competition.

At the Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit taking place on 22-23rd September 2022 in New York City, the competition winners will represent the voice of the next generation and take up active roles as full participants alongside 250 public and private sector leaders. The winners will receive full sponsoring for the duration of the event, as well as have their contribution published on the Global Maritime Forum’s website.

“For any young aspiring leader with the passion to learn, interact and participate in the strategic discussions setting the agenda for what will happen in the industry in the years to come, this is an unique opportunity which will give you the chance to engage with various industry leaders and influential decision makers with your valuable views and contribute towards the enhancement of our industry,” adds Pinak Dandapat, Third Navigation Officer at Eaglestar Marine Holding and one of the winners of the Future Maritime Leaders essay competition 2021.

As a new addition to the competition this year, the top 30 essay contributors will be invited to a strategy seminar in August for a collective discussion on human sustainability in 2030 together with students and young professionals from across the world.

Essay competition topic

If the maritime industry is to significantly improve its approach to human sustainability by 2030, what do you see as the most important issue and/or challenge that needs to be addressed? Discuss concrete actions maritime industry stakeholders need to take to address the issue.

Essay competition criteria

• The competition is open to students and young professionals aged 18-30.
• Essay submissions in “op-ed” form (pdf) should not comprise more than 1000 words
• Participants in the competition should also attach their CV and a submission form
• Submission deadline is 30th April 2022
• Competition winners will be announced in early August

Selection Committee

• Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Head of Committee)
• Stephen Cotton, General Secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
• Oivind Lorentzen III, Director, SEACOR Holdings
• Camille Simbulan, Head of Communication and Special Projects, Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP); winner of the 2020 Future Maritime Leaders essay competition
• Karrie Trauth, SVP Shipping & Maritime, Shell
• Capt. Rajesh Unni, Founder and CEO, Synergy Marine Group

Learn more about the Future Maritime Leaders essay competition here . Photos and logos are available for download here . For further information : Head of Communications (interim), Sofie Rud [email protected] or +45 28102332

Stay informed

2020 All rights reserved

Privacy policy

Competition «Horizon-2100»'22 - RESULTS

The main purpose of the Competition is to motivate thinking youth from different countries with an active lifestyle to carry out a creative search for scientific, scientific-practical ideas, hypotheses, and sci-fi ideas about the distant future; identify the best gifted and active young people who are passionate and capable of scientific creativity, analysis and forecasting of the future.

ABOUT THE CONTEST

The International Youth Competition "Horizon 2100"'22 is a competition of scientific and science fiction works in which young people aged 16 to 26 years of any nationality, ethnic groups and peoples from different countries present their vision of the future at the turn of 2100. The competition has been held since 2019 and during this time has involved more than 1,000 smart creative young people from 55 countries who are passionate about the future, and in general, including experts and participants of forums and various sessions, the project has covered more than 1,200 people from 63 countries.

The choice of the horizon of research, study, modeling and management of the future at the level of 2100 is not accidental. The youth, being the main generator of change, represents the foreseeable future by itself and it is up to them to shape the subsequent scenarios of its development.

The competition was announced on October 1. The results were summed up on December XX.

This year, the organization's website, in particular, in the section about the competition, was visited by 33459 people. Of these: Russia – 22753 visitors, other countries: 10706 visitors. Total – 45494 visits. Moreover, the visitors were from 135 countries of the world.

The working languages of project is Russian and English.

DIRECTIONS AND TOPICS

Competition is carried out according to the following profile directions:

HUMAN OF THE FUTURE

Future of society, future of the global world, future of science, future of technologies, future of the world economy, future of the environment and sustainable development, energy of the future, future of human habitat environment, competition results.

A total of 778 people registered for participation in the competition - schoolchildren, students and young people from 37 countries, including Russia: from 66 regions.

459 people took part in the competition, among them - 23 participants of previous years, in total works (including co-authorship) - 424:

- 166 works - for the nomination scientific vision of the future at the turn of 2100; - 258 works - science fiction works about the future at the turn of 2100.

318 works were accepted for the competition. The rest of the works were not admitted to the competition due to inconsistency with the goals and topics of the competition or the rules for submitting an application, as well as the presence of plagiarism.

For 2022, representatives of 42 countries took part in the HORIZON 2100 project as project participants, experts, jury members and organizers.

Participants from Russia are representatives of 56 regions.

The works accepted for the competition were distributed according to the profile areas as follows:

• Man of the future - 104 works • The future of society - 51 works • The Future of the Global World - 44 works • The future of science - 27 papers • The future of technology - 81 works • The future of the Russian and world economy - 14 works • The future of the environment and sustainable development - 39 works • Energy of the future - 24 works • The future of human habitat - 40 works

More clearly, the choice of directions looks graphically (diagram):

An analysis of the ages of the authors of the works was also carried out:

The average age of the participants is 19 years old. Among the participants who submitted more papers - 20 years.

Word frequencies were calculated:

FINALISTS OF THE COMPETITION

OSOKINA IRINA LVOVNA

Russia, Chairman of the organizing committee of the HORIZON 2100 project, author and developer of the project, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Chairman of the Council of the Center for Modeling the Future, Deputy of the Moscow City Duma of the 2nd convocation

SIDELNIKOV YURI VALENTINOVICH

Russia, Chairman of the International Jury of the competition "HORIZON 2100", Doctor of Technical Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Institute of Control Problems named after. V.A.Trapeznikova of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor of the Moscow Aviation Institute - National Research University, First Vice-President of the International Academy for Future Studies.

ALBERTO GASPARINI

Italy, Co-Chairman of the International Jury of the HORIZON 2100 Competition, Doctor of Sociology, Professor at the University of Trieste, founder of the International Institute for European Studies (IUIES), co-founder of the International Academy for Future Studies, Editor-in-Chief of the journal FUTURIBILI.

SUHAIL FARAH

Lebanon-Russia, co-chair of the International Jury of the competition "HORIZON 2100", academician of the Russian Academy of Education, Doctor of Philosophy, President of the Open University of the Dialogue of Civilizations.

For all questions of participation and cooperation in Russian, please contact us by mail — [email protected] For all questions of participation and cooperation in English, please contact us by mail — [email protected]

Follow us on social networks: https://vk.com/futuriblespace https://vk.com/public185555977

PROJECT PARTNERS

2,000 Young Foreigners to Travel to Russia. The WYF 2024 Regional Program to Be Held in 30 Russian Cities

Foreign participants of the World Youth Festival will travel to Russian cities right after the main program in Sirius is finished. 2,000 young people from abroad will get to know the regions of our country.

The regional program will introduce foreign participants to Russia, its cultural and historical heritage, national diversity of peoples and their traditions, unique nature and economic potential. The program will include five thematic routes: Live and Work in Russia, Memory Lane, Country without Borders, We Are Back in Russia and Russia International Exhibition and Forum.

"The regional program will provide a deeper understanding of how young Russian people live, what they do, what they love, what they are proud of, and what they plan to do. The presentation of the programs showed that the guests will not only be warmly welcomed. They will also be surprised and fall in love with our country. This is the goal we have set for ourselves by organizing the regional program. Our foreign guests will definitely get bright emotions, unforgettable impressions and new knowledge about the Great Russia and feel the national character. I am sure that after the Festival our guests will want to tell their friends how great it is to live, study, create and develop in Russia," said Larisa Sulima, Deputy Director General for Regional Cooperation of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

Each participant will visit one of the 30 largest cities along the planned routes. Regardless of the chosen destination, foreign guests will stay for three days in Moscow, where the Russia International Exhibition and Forum will be held at VDNH. Young foreigners will learn about the main achievements of science and industry, culture and traditions of all Russian regions.

Russia is becoming the center of international youth policy. An effective and modern youth policy is rightly considered one of our country's achievements. The demands of the younger generation, rather than bureaucratic regulations, are the basis for government decisions in this area. Russia is also becoming an important platform for building international relations in the field of global youth projects. The largest of them will be the World Youth Festival. This world-class event will bring together young people from all over the world and allow the younger generation to build a strong foundation for productive and close international cooperation for many years to come.

The Live and Work in Russia participants will visit major industrial, technological, scientific and educational Russian centers, universities, enterprises, and tourist and historical sights. This thematic route will include 17 cities: Korolyov, Kazan, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Vladivostok, Chelyabinsk, Grozny, Murmansk, Vladikavkaz, Salekhard, Khanty-Mansiysk, Saransk, Pyatigorsk, Yaroslavl, Krasnoyarsk, and Perm.

The Memory Lane route includes hero cities and cities of military glory: Volgograd, St. Petersburg, Smolensk, Tula, Kursk, and Belgorod. Participants of the regional program will visit unique museum complexes and learn about the feat of Soviet soldiers.

The Country without Borders thematic route includes four cities located in different parts of the country. Participants will visit Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kaliningrad, Makhachkala, and Khabarovsk and get acquainted with the national and natural wealth and historical and cultural diversity of the largest tourist centers of Russia.

As part of the We Are Back in Russia route, young foreigners will travel to Crimea and the Lugansk People's Republic and visit Sevastopol, where they will learn about life in new regions, their history, culture, architecture and the urban development.

The regional program of the World Youth Festival will be full of bright events. Participants will be able to participate in discussions with young people from the region and famous speakers, cultural and educational events, performances of national creative teams. The will also be able to learn traditions, customs and national cuisine, attend sports events in national and regional sports, and visit iconic places and unique natural, historical and cultural monuments of material heritage. You can apply to participate in the regional program in your Account on the official WYF 2024 website at https://fest2024.com .

The World Youth Festival will take place in 2024 according to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. At the first meeting of the Organizing Committee chaired by Sergey Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration, it was decided to hold the Festival in the Sirius Federal Territory in early 2024.

20,000 young leaders in education, science, international cooperation, culture, volunteering, charity, sports, business, media, etc., including 10,000 foreign participants, will take part in the WYF 2024. For the first time in the history of the festival movement young people aged 14-17, 500 from Russia and 500 from abroad, will have the opportunity to participate in the event. Registration of participants is open at fest2024.com until December 1, 2023.

5,000 volunteers from all regions of Russia, including 228 residents of the LPR, DPR, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions will be involved in the organization and delivery of the Festival.

The World Youth Festival is organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and operated by the World Youth Festival Directorate.

Prepared by the WYF Press Office

• _Multi DropDown
• __DropDown 1
• __DropDown 2
• __DropDown 3
• _Shortcodes
• _Error Page
• Documentation
• __Video Doc
• Download This Template

ICU Global Youth Essay Competition 2022

About this competition 

International Christian University (ICU) and Japan ICU Foundation invite youths from around the world to share their views on how to make society better. Each year, essay topics are selected in the areas of human rights and current events. For 2022, the application will be open from August 16 to October 11. Apply to win great prizes, including the top prize of two round-trip tickets to Japan!

Second Prize ( 1 winner ):  50,000 yen gift card.

Third Prize ( 10 winners ):  5,000 yen gift card.

Special Prize (1 winner) : 5,000 yen gift card for those who have not been educated in English for more than 1 year.

Way of Application:

All essays must be submitted online through Submittable platform.

The application form will open from August 16 until October 11, 2022.

Please visit our website to submit during this time.

2022 Essay questions

Essays must focus on one of this year's topics. Select one of the following questions from the areas of human rights and current events.

• Environmental Studies is one of the majors offered at ICU. In this major, students critically think and learn about issues such as food safety and water quality, consumption and development, ethics and education, etc. from a range of perspectives. What environmental issue(s) do you care about? What are unique and creative solutions to address them?
• Born of deep remorse over World War II, ICU was founded with the aim of nurturing global citizens who serve to create peace in the world. What does peacebuilding mean to you? How can young people work towards peace in our fractured world? What experiences related to peace and peacebuilding have had an impact on you?

There are no right answers to these questions; we are not looking for essays that propose the "correct" solutions that already exist. We want to learn about YOUR original ideas. As you write, start by reflecting on your own experience, think about what the problem is, and then write your own opinion.

Language:  Essays must be written in English.

Word Limit:  No more than 650 words, excluding essay title and bibliography

Essay Title:  Essays must have a title. Please create a title that best describes the essence of your essay. The title does not count towards the word limit.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be aged 14-18 as of October 11, 2022 and must currently reside outside of Japan. University/college students as of October 11, 2022 are ineligible to apply.

How are essays evaluated?

A group of judges from ICU and the Japan ICU Foundation will evaluate all essays using the the following factors:

• Supporting arguments
• Creativity/Originality
• Execution of writing (Audience/Coherence/Clarity/Grammar/Style)

All essays will be checked for plagiarism.

An essay will be disqualified if:

• It does not address the topic.
• It does not include a title.
• An applicant covers more than one topic.
• It is not the applicant's original work.

Resource and Registration : Click Here

Post a Comment

Please Select Embedded Mode To Show The Comment System. *

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more

Contact Form

• Deadline Approaching
• Conferences
• Masters/Post Graduate
• PhD/Post Doctoral
• Summer School/Winter School
• Undergraduate
• Exchange Programs
• Fellowships
• Internships
• Miscellaneous
• Post an Opportunity

The Young Diplomats Forum 2022

• Deadline August 28, 2022
• Region United Kingdom

• September 5 - 9, 2022

The Young Diplomats Forum (YDF) is an intensive week long programme of practical sessions, workshops, policy exercises and institutional visits delivered by world leading experts.

Set up to recognize, enhance and develop the next generation of diplomats. This community of exceptionally bright and accomplished future leaders will gain further insight, tools and opportunities to engage with key stakeholders at a crucial time in their careers and broaden their connections to influence global leaders.

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

The 16th Edition of Young Diplomats Forum (YDF) is a meeting of 100 young and aspiring diplomats from over 75 countries covering every region in the world to tackle hot topics of international affairs.

Previous editions took place in Ankara (September 2013), Mexico (June 2014), London ( September 2014), Greece ( June 2015), Croatia ( September 2016) and Latvia ( September 2017) and online ( Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Brussels, London, Brasilia)

• Increase your knowledge
• Increase your skills
• Build contacts and network
• Hands-on experience
• Great for career opportunities

Eligibilities

18-35 years.

Application Process

• Submit a personal statement stating your motivation on why you want to take part in this programme. What are policy interests and aspirations for the future . max ( 500 words). Send by email to [email protected]
• The Participation fee is £995. The participation fee includes shared accommodation. Food (breakfast and lunch), receptions, institutional and cultural visits are all included within the fee. For delegates not requiring accommodation, the participation fee is £695.
• For delegates needing additional requirements for accommodation, including single rooms, please contact them for more information.

Application Deadline: August 28, 2022

For Further Queries

UN Young Leaders Training Programme 2024

European Parliament Traineeships Program 2024

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship 2024

Physics Brawl 2024- International Competition

The Danish Government Scholarship 2024-2025 (Fully Funded)

Keep connected.

Youth Opportunities is the largest opportunities discovery platform for youth across the globe.

© 2024 Youth Opportunities

Youth Opportunities

• Local Networks
• Promote Program

Log in with your credentials

Forgot your details?