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Submission Deadline: October 30 2013

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.  The 2013/2014 GDPPC challenge theme “Rethinking Drugs” invites participants to explore the policy questions raised in the area of international drug policy.

Students are asked to explore what policies governments should adopt to address the current challenges drugs, and drug-related crime and violence pose on a social and political level. This encourages students to think critically about the war on drugs, the implications of current drug policies on security, health, justice and human rights. Students are asked to submit two written papers on different scenarios, the first one due 30 October 2013.

The Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge  is an ongoing written and oral policy competition for undergraduate students from around the world. It provides a platform which embraces the concept of open society, bringing together outstanding undergraduate students from across the globe in an effort to foster a rich and lively exchange of ideas through critical thinking and well informed debates.

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.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 and tasks

Any undergraduate or recent graduate  studying any subject, anywhere in the world, can take part by submitting a policy memorandum in stage one of the Challenge. From these submissions up to 200 participants will be selected to proceed to stage two based on their policy memo score and invited to submit a policy brief. Once stage two submissions are judged, up to 50 finalists will be invited to the GDPPC Budapest Forum based on the score of their policy brief. The cost of travel and accommodation for the Forum will be paid for by the organisers.

There is no age limit for participation, but all participants must be at least 18 years of age on 1 March 2014. 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.

Budapest Forum

In Budapest, all finalists will attend workshops to hone their debating and advocacy skills, as well as compete in progressive stages at the Forum for the scholarship / stipend awards. All finalists will be asked to present their policy brief in front of a jury. The average score of their brief together with their presentation determines if they are among the top 12 finalists. The top 12 finalists will compete for the prizes through written and oral assignments.
Prizes

• Outstanding students have a chance to present their ideas at a final forum in Budapest with the chance of earning one of the 5 up to $10.000 scholarships and grants.
• Up to five winners will receive a scholarship of up to $10,000 payable to a graduate program of their choice. Winners may also make the money payable to a non-profit institution where they want to intern or work. The graduate program and non-profit should be related to the field of public policy.
• Once stage two submissions are judged, up to 50 finalists will be invited to the GDPPC Budapest Forum based on the score of their policy brief. The cost of travel and accommodation for the Forum will be paid for by the organisers.