Student Projects

 

The Challenge​​

We invite students to identify a specific public policy challenge created or transformed by technological change and propose a concrete, actionable policy intervention to address it. Proposals might consider how governments can harness technology to improve lives, expand access and opportunity, protect citizens from emerging harms, or ensure that the benefits of technological change are widely shared and equitable. Projects may also address developing new policy responses to the challenges technological change creates.

 

• Proposals should identify a specific public policy challenge and explain how the solution would deliver measurable public benefit.

• Proposals should identify a specific public policy challenge and explain how the proposed solution would improve policy outcomes.

• If teams propose a technological solution, they should clearly articulate the policy change or societal challenge it addresses, rather than presenting technology as an end in itself.

• Successful entries will demonstrate both innovation and a clear understanding of the policy context and impact.

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All proposals must clearly identify:

• Policy actor(s): The specific government or public agency that your proposal is directed to (local, subnational, federal governments, or international organizations such as United Nations agencies, World Health Organization, World Bank, etc).

• Policy domain: The specific policy area you are addressing (e.g. public health, education, climate policy, labour markets, etc).

• Policy problem(s): The concrete problem(s) your proposal aims to solve, and how these manifest in a policy context.

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We are looking for proposals that demonstrate:

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1. Argumentation

• Precise identification and analysis of the target population, territory, or governance context

• Thorough problem analysis that precedes discussion of solutions

• Explicit consideration of stakeholder divisions, competing interests, or jurisdictional complexities

 

2. Analytics & Evidence

• Strong use of data, empirics, and analytical methods

• Evidence-based approach to understanding the problem and supporting your proposed solution

• Appropriate quantitative or qualitative analysis

• Clear demonstration of how evidence informs your policy design

 

3. Implementation Strategy

• Astute understanding of political economy and stakeholder interests

• Realistic assessment of implementation barriers

• Clear mechanisms for building coalitions or navigating opposition

• Consideration of sequencing, timing, and institutional capacity

• Attention to how your policy functions across divided contexts

 

4. Learning & Adaptation

• Mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation, and course correction

• Multiple scenarios or contingencies based on different levels of cooperation/resistance

• Awareness of when similar solutions have been tried previously

• Understanding of why past efforts succeeded, failed, or required modification

• Built-in flexibility to adapt to changing political or social conditions

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To see examples of past proposals, please watch the four presentations on the GPPN website from the São Paulo conference: https://www.gppnetwork.org/saopaulo2023

 

Teams 

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Students should form teams of 2 members minimum and 4 members maximum and work together to develop their proposals. A student cannot be a member of more than one team, and no team can submit more than one proposal.

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Criteria 

 

Proposals will be assessed using the following equally weighted criteria:

 

1. Problem: Policy analysis and strength of design (i.e. if it is based on sound analytical principles) (25%)

2. Solution: Implementation concerns including awareness of stakeholder interests (relevance of the solution) (25%)

3. Implementation: Mechanisms for learning, self-correction and refinement over time (setting up the proposal over time: the proposal must include different scenarios) (25%)

4. Presentation: Quality of presentation (clarity, legibility, compliance with instructions) (25%)

 

Format 

 

Teams will each deliver a presentation of up to three minutes on Friday 19 February. Following these presentations, the Jury of Deans will select up to eight teams to progress to the final round. The selected teams will present again on Saturday 20 February. Finalists will have up to five minutes to present their proposal, followed by a short question-and-answer session with the Jury of Deans.

 

Please note that attendance is mandatory throughout the conference for all students selected to participate.​​

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