Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deadline: February 1, 2023
A great deal of our lives is influenced by when we are born. As those currently alive, we have inherited the world that previous and older generations have built. We owe a great deal to the efforts of our forebears, but we also inherit problematic legacies.
For this year’s St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition on the theme «A New Generational Contract», we are calling for students worldwide to provide their perspective on one of the following two questions:
A) What’s the best legacy your generation has inherited from those before you? And how can we preserve it?
Choose and briefly describe a major accomplishment which has only become possible through the efforts of older and previous generations. This can be from political governance, economic development, social norms and ethics, education, health, technology, ecology, arts or any other area you deem relevant. Of particular interest are ideas, institutions, technologies or norms you believe are challenged by current developments. Describe how current developments challenge this major achievement by older and previous generations and offer a concrete and actionable idea of how it can be preserved for your generation and future ones.
B) What’s the worst legacy your generation has inherited from those before you? And how can we replace it?
Choose and briefly describe a major problematic legacy passed on from older and previous generations to yours. This can be from political governance, economic development, social norms and ethics, education, health, technology, ecology, arts or any other relevant area. Ideas, institutions, technologies or norms are of particular interest at the core of how our world currently works. Describe a concrete and actionable idea of eliminating this problematic legacy left by older and previous generations and what should replace it.
SEE ALSO: World Literacy Awards 2023
Essay Requirement
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
| Form | Essay (max. 2,100 words, excl. abstract, bibliography, and footnotes) |
| Language | English |
| Deadline | 1 February 2023, 11:59 p.m. last time zone (UTC-12) |
| Anonymity | Your name, e-mail address, university, or identifying details must not be mentioned anywhere in the contribution file. |
| Individuality | Individual work is expected, and no group work is allowed. The essay must be written exclusively for this contest. The idea must be the author’s own. |
| Citation | All sources must be cited and referred to in the respective part of the essay. All contributions will be tested for plagiarism. |
| Template | Download the Template for the Global Essay Competition |
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, you must fulfil 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 1993 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 2023 (download sample document here)
- Your contribution file with no indication of your name in the file name, the file metadata or the file itself
Application Registration Deadline: 1st February 2023
To Apply: Click here
Official Website: Click here
