Global Debate & Public Policy Challenge

[Honna Marttila]

JOIN THE GLOBAL DEBATE AND PUBLIC POLICY CHALLENGE AND WIN A $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Are you a full-time university student or recent graduate? Join the Global Debate & Public Policy Challenge today and become eligible to join a policy forum in Budapest and have the chance to win a US$10,000 scholarship. Write, present, and defend your policy recommendation and contribute to the conversation about issues affecting the global community. We've just kicked off the Second Annual Global Debate & Public Policy Challenge, which is a unique annual competition designed to engage undergraduates and recent grads in ongoing public debate and reflection on issues affecting the global community. The Challenge offers students from across continents and educational disciplines an opportunity to explore issues from different points of view. The competition will culminate in a final competition in Budapest in June 2013.

This year’s theme "Digital Freedom and Its Limits" explores what policies governments or other groups should adopt to enhance the potential of digital technology to benefit individuals and societies. It also encourages debates about the limits on internet freedom and covers issues related to social networks, privacy, child safety, freedom, censorship, democracy, transparency, national security and much more.

The Challenge consists of two written tasks and the Forum in Budapest, where the final round of the competition will take place and the scholarships awarded. Any undergraduate or recent graduate studying any subject, anywhere in the world, can take part by submitting a paper in Round 1. From these submissions up to 200 participants will be selected to proceed to Round 2. Once those are judged, up to 50 finalists will win trips to Budapest with the cost of travel and accommodation paid by the organisers. Finalists will attend workshops with their peers to hone their public speaking and advocacy skills.

The Competition will take place in English, but don’t worry if you’re not a native speaker of English! Judges use evaluation criteria to assess each student’s contribution, which focuses on the ability to develop evidence to support arguments, not language ability. Please Join the Challenge today and then submit your policy memo by 30 November 2012.

Who can participate? University undergraduate students currently enrolled in an accredited college or university anywhere in the world, as well as recent graduates.

How to participate? Participation requires three steps below, which are all explained in greater detail on the GDPPC website:

1.    Register for the Challenge at http://gdppc.idebate.org/content/gdppc-join-challenge

2.    Review the materials on the website http://gdppc.idebate.org/news-articles/2012-13-theme-digital-freedom-and-its-limits

3.    Prepare and submit your 800-1,200 word policy memo by 30 November 2012. Instructions can be found here: http://gdppc.idebate.org/content/task-one-details-and-instructions

How Much Are the Scholarships & Stipends and What Can They Be Used For? From the participants who are chosen to participate at the final stage of the Challenge, the Forum in Budapest, there will be up to five $10,000 winners. Each winner will receive either a scholarship payable to a Graduate School of the winner’s choice for study in a field related to Public Policy or a grant payable to a non-profit institution of the winner’s choice for an internship or placement in a field related to Public Policy. The winners get to choose the option they prefer. Please see the Prizes page for more information. The rules of the competition are available here.

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Honna Marttila
PR Officer
UNYANET
honna.m...@unyanet.org
 
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