Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge

Deadline: 30 October 2013
Open to: students formally enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program as well as to all recent graduates
Awards: free trip to Budapest and up to five 10,000 USD as a scholarship payable to one or more graduate schools of the winner’s choice for study in a field related to Public Policy

Description

The Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge, or GDPPC, offers undergraduates across continents and academic disciplines an opportunity to explore issues of global importance from different points of view. For the past two years, GDPPC has counted among its participants, students from China, South Africa, the USA, India, Ethiopia, the Philippines, to name just a few. The programme aims to do the same during its 2013-2014 round, which will center on the theme of Rethinking Drugs.

The Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge aims to attract a wide range of university students into the realm of policy advocacy. The Challenge enables participants to develop their capacity to critically engage with issues of public policy that affect them and their communities. It is important for all of us to recognise our shared responsibilities and in that spirit, develop, support and advocate for policies which benefit not only ourselves but the wider society as well. GDPPC challenges participants to think about their locality from a global perspective and vice-versa, whilst reflecting critically on policy question that present serious international challenges. By bringing together undergraduates from across all continents and academic disciplines, the programme endeavors to make a serious contribution to public policy discourse and at the same time identify and further support future policy champions from among its alumni.

Eligibility

The Challenge is open to all students formally enrolled full-time in an “undergraduate program” on or before 1 March 2014 as well as to all recent graduates of an undergraduate program who have not yet enrolled in a graduate program. For the purpose of determining eligibility for participation in the Challenge, the following definitions and conditions shall apply:

  1. An “undergraduate program” shall be defined as including any first degree/certificate course in a tertiary educational establishment/university anywhere in the world.
  2. “Recent graduates” shall be defined as including any person who has graduated from an undergraduate program on or after 28 February 2013 and has not yet enrolled either part-time or full-time in a graduate program before 1 March 2014.
  3. There is no maximum age limit; however, all participants must be at least 18 years old as of 1 March 2014.

Awards

Up to five final winners will be chosen from among the finalists who participate in the Challenge. Each winner will receive up to US$10,000 either as a scholarship payable to one or more graduate schools of the winner’s choice for study in a field related to Public Policy, or as a grant payable to one or more non-profit institutions of the winner’s choice to work for one year in a field related to Public Policy.

Application

These are the steps entrants must follow:

  1. Register for the Challenge.
  2. Review the theme, background materials and details of the first task.
  3. Prepare and submit your policy memorandum by 30 October 2013.

There is no fee to register or to participate in the Challenge. Registration will be confirmed by e-mail. Individuals only may register in the Challenge; teams composed of two or more individuals may not register together to participate in the Challenge. Participants however are encouraged to discuss the topic and tasks with fellow participants and other students while developing their arguments. Students who have attended the Forum in Budapest in the past are not eligible to participate in the 2013-2014 Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge.

For more information visit the official website.

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