St. Gallen Symposium Leader of Tomorrow Essay Competition 2023 (CHF 20,000+Funded to Switzerland)

Compete for St. Gallen Symposium Leader of Tomorrow Essay Competition 2023 and qualify for participation as a «Leader of Tomorrow» in the world’s premier opportunity for intergenerational debates: The St. Gallen Symposium.  

Application Deadline: 1st February, 2023 11:59 p.m. last time zone (UTC-12)

Offered annually? Yes

St. Gallen Symposium Leader of Tomorrow Essay:

The best or worst legacy from previous generations: How to preserve or replace it?

A great deal of our lives is influenced by when we were born. As those currently alive, we have inherited the world which 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 the realm of 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 which 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 as well as 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 which has been 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 area you deem relevant. Of particular interest are ideas, institutions, technologies or norms at the core of how our world currently works. Describe a concrete and actionable idea of how we can get rid off this problematic legacy left by old

Eligible Countries: All

To be taken at (country): St. Gallen, Switzerland.

About the St. Gallen Symposium Leader of Tomorrow Essay Competition: Meet 300 of society’s brightest young minds. Present and debate your ideas with 600 senior leaders. Be inspired by some of the world’s most impressive speakers. Gain a unique and new perspective on this year’s topic. Become a member of a unique global community. Win prize money of CHF 20,000 split amongst the three winners.

Type: Essay Contest

Eligibility: To be eligible, candidate 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

Selection Criteria: All contributions will be evaluated according to specific criteria by an independent jury composed of professors, corporate executives and entrepreneurs. The authors of the best 100 contributions qualify as Leaders of Tomorrow and will be invited by the ISC to the next St. Gallen Symposium.

Number of Awardees: 3

Value of St. Gallen Symposium Leader of Tomorrow Essay Award: Expenses for travel, board and lodging covered, travel service provided. The award is endowed with a total prize money of CHF 20,000

Duration of St. Gallen Symposium Program: 52nd St. Gallen Symposium

How to Apply for St. Gallen Symposium Leader of Tomorrow Essay Competition: Apply here

In addition to your contribution, make sure to upload

• a copy of your passport (or any other official government ID but no driver’s license) to verify your age
• a confirmation of matriculation from your university confirming your graduate or postgraduate student status as of February 2023
• a short abstract (200–300 words) which can be entered in the registration form directly

in the applicable field of the registration form.

Visit Award Webpage for details

Award Providers: 35 students from the University of St. Gallen, working on an honorary basis and supported by over 350 partners.