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Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) Essay and Art Competition 2023 for Age Group of 13 & Above: Apply by Aug 21

• Gaurav Chaurasia
• Aug 1, 2023

The Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) is accepting applications for its Essay and Art Competition 2023.

About the Organizer

The Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) was founded in 1991 to create a forum of exchange for students and young professionals to discuss and learn about the most important economic, political, and social issues facing the Asia-Pacific region.

About the Competition

This competition is open to individuals aged 13 and above, allowing young talents to showcase their creative abilities and share their unique perspectives. By encouraging participants to delve into writing and art, they aim to identify and nurture the young leaders who will shape the future.

Through this competition, they hope to inspire a generation of individuals who can effectively convey messages and ideas, making a lasting impact on society. This competition will recognize excellence with prestigious awards and/or cash prizes that will serve as a testament to the exceptional accomplishments of its winners.

Categories and Eligibility

The competition is open to anyone aged 13 and above. There will be two content groups that participants can choose to participate in:

Art & Video : Submit an original artwork or video.

All Art & Video submissions will require a supplementary description that includes the:

• Prompt being addressed.
• Summary/interpretation of art.
• Inspiration.

Essay : Submit an original essay.

Participants are classified into two divisions:

• Junior Division: 13-17 years old.
• Senior Division: 18 years old and above.

Participants can choose any one of the following topics for their essay/artwork. Multiple entries to each content category are permitted.

• The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Shaping the Future of Asian Industries.
• Sustainable Urban Transportation in Asia.
• Renewable Energy Transition in Asia.
• Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Asian Societies.

Junior Division Prizes

Ralph Waldo Emerson Best Overall Prize : Named after the esteemed Harvard graduate and essayist, this award celebrates the participant who demonstrates overall excellence across both categories. The winner of this prize will be awarded a cash prize of $150.

T.S. Eliot Best Essay Award : Named after the renowned Harvard graduate and Nobel laureate in Literature, this award recognizes the best essay that provides a deep and unique insight into the chosen topic. The winning essay will receive a cash prize of $100.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Best Visual Art Award : Named after the Harvard graduate who served as the 35th President of the United States, this award honors the most captivating and original art or video submission. The creator of the winning piece will be awarded a cash prize of $100.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Impact Award : Named after the Harvard alumnus and the 32nd President of the United States, this award is given to the most inspiring submission that has the potential to make the greatest impact.

Senior Division Prizes

The Kennedy Eloquence Award : Commending the essay that echoes the charismatic oratory of John F. Kennedy, Class of ’40, and sways hearts and minds with its compelling rhetoric. The winner will be awarded a cash prize of $100.

The Crimson Coppola Prize : Celebrating the artwork that displays a cinematic mastery akin to Francis Ford Coppola, Class of ’60, and captivates like a timeless movie. The winner will be awarded a cash prize of $100.

HPAIR ‘Spirit of Asia’ Best Overall Prize Award : Honoring the submission that best embodies the conference’s themes and represents the spirit of Asia, this prize will be awarded to the participant whose work demonstrates creativity, insight, and deep understanding of the chosen topic. The winner will be awarded a cash prize of $200.

HPAIR ‘Architect of Tomorrow’ Most Impactful Submission Award : This award is given to the participant whose submission presents innovative and actionable ideas that can shape the future of Asia. The winning submission, be it an essay, art, or video, will demonstrate a powerful potential for real-world impact.

How to Apply?

Interested students can apply online via  this link.

Application Fee

The application fee is $15 fee (INR 1,234 Around).

Application Deadline

August 21, 2023.

Submission Guidelines

• Participants can submit entries in all categories. Multiple entries for each category are permitted.
• All submissions must be the original work of the participant. Any form of plagiarism or use of unoriginal content will lead to immediate disqualification.
• Art and Video submissions must be in digital format.
• Essays must be written in English.
• The word limit for essays is 500-750 words.
• The video length should not exceed 5 minutes.
• The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the creation of Art, including but not limited to AI-Generated Art and ChatGPT, is strictly prohibited. Violation of this rule will result in immediate disqualification and blacklisting from HPAIR.
• Finalists may be asked to provide proof of the originality and authenticity of their work. This may include sketches, drafts, storyboards, or any other proof deemed necessary by the competition committee.

Click here to view the official notification of the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) Essay and Art Competiton 2023.

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Project for Asian and International Relations goes virtual

Manisha Aggarwal-Schifellite

Harvard Staff Writer

By bowing to pandemic, student conference trebles participation

Juniors and Quincy House residents Zeel Patel and Eric Lin excitedly took the reins of the Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations last summer as its new co- presidents. They looked forward to hosting the group’s two flagship student-run conferences — one in Cambridge and one in an Asian city — carrying on the 30-year-old group’s longtime tradition of creating spaces for a global cohort of students and young professionals to connect to one another.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, they had to cancel their summer conference in Taipei, scheduled for August. They were disappointed, but undeterred. Given the logistical obstacles and ongoing political and public health uncertainties, Patel and Lin designed a virtual version of their winter conference, which would normally take place on Harvard’s campus.

This weekend, young Asian professionals, students, and others from around the country will join them to learn from speakers including Tedros Adhanom, director-general of the World Health Organization; Kevin Sneader, the CEO of consulting firm McKinsey & Company; and Yang Lan, a media executive and talk-show host known as the “Oprah Winfrey of China.” So far, more than 1,800 participants have registered to attend.

“We realized a lot of the friction points for running a conference were no longer there in a virtual setting. Speakers wouldn’t have to fly in to our site and stay in hotel rooms, and then speak at the conference. They could just dial in from anywhere, and the same [was true] with the delegates,” said Patel, a computer science and neuroscience concentrator from Calgary, Canada. “So we wanted to be really ambitious about the speakers we invited and how we organized it.”

Using their computer science skills and knowledge of the Silicon Valley start-up world, Patel and Lin secured a contract with events platform Run the World to manage delegate coordination, breakout rooms, one-on-one pairing with mentors, and social events. It’s a move that the team hopes will help bring the intimacy and collaborative spirit of an in-person gathering to delegates logging on from more than 10 time zones worldwide.

The theme of the conference is “Embracing Change,” with a focus on the democratization of information and providing networking resources to students and young people who lack the access to high-powered individuals that a Harvard education can provide. The conference is free for Harvard undergraduates and HPAIR offers scholarships for low-income delegates, no matter where they are located.

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“Eric and I saw this as a really cool opportunity to leverage the power of software and make our conference super-accessible to everyone,” said Patel.

“We see these resources offered at well-off institutions like Harvard, and in Western countries more generally, but the same opportunities are not present in other areas,” added Lin, a computer science concentrator from McLean, Virginia. “We want delegates to see what, for example, the CEO of McKinsey’s vision is for the world, and be able to talk to him in an intimate setting. I hope it triggers inspiration and ignites some kind of motivation for them to explore beyond their local communities.”

The changes to the conference format haven’t deterred interest from would-be participants; sign-ups from applicants for the 2021 meeting are more than three times what they have been in the past. Lin attributed the increase to the outreach and promotion work by the planning team of 40 Harvard students and their 30 counterparts at Asian universities.

The growth of the conference also allowed the team to expand in a new way. In previous years, financial margins were tight. But after the unexpected bump in revenue and reduced costs from this year’s conference, HPAIR will donate a portion of the funds raised by the conference to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

These achievements are a “testament to how hard our team has worked to get this up and running and to grow it in a completely different new way, [and was] a full team effort,” said Lin.

“I hope Harvard students [who attend] can see the different cool organizations that are part of Harvard’s campus and what they can be involved in when they’re back on campus,” said Patel. “[Eric and I] have similar immigrant backgrounds, and [with HPAIR], it’s been exciting to see what life is like in developing countries, and then put a spotlight on it so that other people who haven’t had that exposure can see it.”

HPAIR Harvard Conference 2021: Embracing Change runs Jan. 15-18. Content from the conference will be available on the group’s YouTube channel later this month.

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HIR Academic Writing Contest

The Harvard International Review is a quarterly magazine offering insight on international affairs from the perspectives of scholars, leaders, and policymakers. Since our founding in 1979, we've set out to bridge the worlds of academia and policy through outstanding writing and editorial selection.

The quality of our content is unparalleled. Each issue of the Harvard International Review includes exclusive interviews and editorials by leading international figures along with expert staff analysis of critical international issues. We have featured commentary by 43 Presidents and Prime Ministers, 4 Secretaries-General, 4 Nobel Economics Prize laureates, and 7 Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

The Contest

Inspired by our growing high school readership around the world, we have run the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest since 2020 to encourage and highlight outstanding high school writing on topics related to international affairs.

Contest Format

Participants in the contest submit a short-form article on a topic in international affairs. Each submission will be read and scored by the Harvard International Review .

A number of contestants will be selected as finalists, who are invited to participate in a virtual HIR Defense Day. At the Defense Day, students will have the opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to Harvard International Review judges.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must adhere to the following requirements, as outlined in the Submission Guide below.

For the upcoming Spring 2024 contest, participants will have a choice of two different themes and must note which prompt they have chosen at the top of their submissions.

Theme A: Inequalities in a VUCA World

Theme B: Global Challenges and Collective Actions

Contestants may choose either topic above when writing the article.

Content: Articles should address a topic related to international affairs today. Potential categories include (but are not limited to): Agriculture, Business, Cybersecurity, Defense, Education, Employment & Immigration, Energy & Environment, Finance & Economy, Public Health, Science & Technology, Space, Trade, and Transportation. Articles should examine the theme from a global perspective rather than focusing on the United States.

Length: Articles should be at least 800 words but not exceed 1,200 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, or authorship declaration).

Writing Style: Submissions should present an analytically backed perspective on an under-appreciated global topic.  

AI Policy : The usage of ChatGPT is prohibited. Judges will be running all articles through multiple AI checkers, and articles that receive high AI generation scores across multiple checkers will be disqualified.

Excellent contest submissions will aim to present a topic holistically from a balanced perspective. Evidence and nuance are critical. Submissions should be well-researched, well-informed, and formal in style and prose.

The HIR does not accept op-eds , otherwise known as editorials or opinion pieces for its competition. Articles are expected to have a thesis but should not have an agenda. Submissions should also not be merely a collection of facts.

As a journalist organization, we ask that submissions follow AP Style's newest edition . We also ask that submissions are culturally sensitive, fact-checked, and respectful.

Examples of pieces that would be considered excellent submissions are below.

Citation and Sources : All factual claims must be backed by a citation from a reliable source. All ideas that are not your own must be properly attributed. Citations should be made via hyperlinks. Non-digital sources are welcome but must be cited properly as per AP Style . See the examples above for examples of using hyperlinks for citations.

Click Here: Submission Guide

Contest dates.

There are three distinct submission cycles for the 2024 Contest.

Please note that contestants are requested to register and pay before becoming eligible to submit their articles prior to the submission deadline.  

Admissions are done on a rolling basis! Capacity is limited.

Spring 2024

Article Submission Deadline: May 31, 2024

HIR Defense Day: June 29, 2024

Summer 2024

Article Submission Deadline: August 31, 2024

HIR Defense Day: October 5, 2024

Fall 2024 / Winter 2024

Article Submission Deadline: January 2, 2025

HIR Defense Day: February 5, 2025

Contest Prizes

All submissions will receive a score from the Harvard International Review based on the Evaluation Rubric described in the Submission Guide. Contestants that receive a passing score without qualifying for a HIR Defense Day will receive individual prizes. Finalists will be eligible for the following Gold/Silver/Bronze medals based on their scores and performance in the HIR Defense Day.

Commendation Prize: HIR Certificate

Outstanding Writing Content / Style Prize : HIR Certificate

High Commendation Prize : HIR Certificate

Bronze Medal : HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top 20 percent)

Silver Medal: HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top 10 percent)

Gold Medal: HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top three percent)

All scoring and prize decisions are final. The contest will not be able to provide additional detail beyond the scores provided by HIR graders. All contestants who manage to submit their articles will receive a certificate of completion.

Contest Eligibility:

United States

Students are eligible if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

International

Students in countries outside of the United States (grades 9-12) are also welcome to submit. Submissions are expected to be written in English and with traditional American spelling. For more information on submissions in your country, please contact [email protected]

Register Here

HPAIR Essay

Essay on HPAIR program

MY HPAIR 2017 SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

• Provide a dynamic forum of exchange on international issues vital to Asia
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RAS Korea President Steven L. Shields, left, poses with, from second from left, Lee Bo-mi, Kim Ji-myung of the Korea Heritage Education Institute, Ra Se-hyun, Ambassador Kim Jae-bum who is also a RAS Korea director, and Park Jae-in’s mother, during an awards ceremony for the RAS Korea essay contest, held at RAS Korea headquarters in downtown Seoul, June 29. Courtesy of Joanne Hong

The Fifth Annual Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea Essay Contest was met with great enthusiasm from students across the nation. After a challenging choice among dozens of submissions, the winners were presented with their awards at the RAS Korea office in downtown Seoul on Saturday.

RAS Korea extends heartfelt gratitude to the contest sponsors, first to Kim Ji-myung of the Korea Heritage Education Institute, who has generously contributed the prize money for several years. Also, RAS Korea's sponsor, the Asia Development Foundation, provides essential administrative support for the society's work. We appreciate our panel of judges, who evaluated the essays without knowledge of the writers or the schools they represented and did so without compensation.

Two topics were presented to challenge the essayists. They were asked to pick one. One topic was "You have been asked to make a new holiday in Korea. When is your new holiday, what is it about, and how is it celebrated?" The other topic was "During which century (or two) was Korea at its best? Explain your reasoning." The ideas presented by these budding scholars were not only interesting but also thoughtfully articulated. The judges were impressed by the high standard of the competition.

There are two awards: a Grand Award and a Runner Up in each of the two categories of competitors (foreign language high schools and international high schools). Each Grand Award includes a cash prize and a trophy. Each Runner Up receives a trophy. All awardees receive letters of commendation and certificates. The two Grand Award essays are published in RAS Korea's journal, "Transactions."

Both winners in the foreign language high school category chose the second of the two topics suggested. Lee Bo-mi, although of Korean heritage, is a recent immigrant to Korea, having been sent to middle school when she arrived not knowing a word of the language. A student at Gimpo Foreign Language High School, she described her experience with one of the world's richest languages: Korean. Kim Gyoung-wan of Busan Foreign Language High School gave an excellent summary of Goryeo's history, highlighting several factors that make the 918-1392 kingdom stand out in history.

For the international school category, in a serendipitous coincidence, both winners in this category not only chose to make a new holiday, but each titled their holiday the same. Their proposals, though, were very different. Park Jae-in focused on celebrating the colorful diversity of Korea's growing immigrant population, while Ra Se-hyun focused on the inner peace that may help alleviate the stress that Korea's ultra-competitive society creates in people's hearts.

We were deeply impressed by the response to the contest. We applaud all the writers who participated.

Rev. Steven L. Shields, FRAS, is president of RAS Korea and a columnist for The Korea Times . Visit raskb.com or email [email protected] for more information about the society.

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Connecting a Global Community: the 31st Harvard College Conference

Since our first conference in Taiwan in 1992, HPAIR has expanded its mission of connecting people across the Asia-Pacific and the world. From Taipei to Nur-Sultan, HPAIR has democratized information and brought hundreds of notable speakers to all corners of Asia. Every Harvard Conference, taking place at Harvard University, serves to create meaningful dialogue regarding the current socioeconomic and political landscape across the globe. Historically, we have had the honor of hosting industry leaders, academic pioneers, and cultural trailblazers — we have held candid conversations with Bob Sternfels (Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company), Tedros Adhanom (Director General of the World Health Organization), Ambassador Katherine Tai (U.S. Trade Representative), Ban-Ki Moon (Former U.N. Secretary General), President Kim Dae-Jung (former President of South Korea, Nobel Peace Prize 2000), Adam D’Angelo (CTO of Facebook & CEO of Quora), Naryana Murthy (CEO of Infosys), His Majesty Abhisit Vejjajiva (former Prime Minister of Thailand), and many more. This year, for our 31st anniversary, we reflect upon each conference’s critical pillars of intellectual vigor and build upon our tradition of bringing together the world’s greatest visionaries at Harvard University.

An international gathering for the leaders of tomorrow

February 17-19, 2023

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Teensthink transitions to international stage with 2024 essay competition on food security.

TeensThink, renowned for its role in nurturing leadership and educational excellence among teenagers, achieved a significant milestone with its 4th annual edition, now evolved into an international essay competition. Held at the Radisson Blu in Lagos, Nigeria, the event attracted participants from various corners of Africa, including representatives from Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, as well as entries from Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda.

The theme of the 2024 edition, “Food Security,” emphasized TeensThink’s commitment to addressing pressing global challenges through the lens of youth empowerment and education.

Aboyeji Toluwanimi Elizabeth of Funaab International School, Abeokuta emerged as the overall winner of the competition. Her profound essay not only delved into the complexities of food security challenges but also proposed innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture in Africa. Otito Ofolue and Owoeye Ayomide, from Babington Macaulay, Lagos, and Advanced Breed Comprehensive, Lagos, respectively, secured the first and second runners-up positions with equally compelling perspectives.

The awards, which included Lenovo laptops, cash prizes, and gift packs, recognized the outstanding achievements of the winners. Aboyeji Toluwanimi Elizabeth received 150,000 Naira, while Otito Ofolue and Owoeye Ayomide were awarded 100,000 Naira and 70,000 Naira, respectively. These prizes underscore TeensThink’s commitment not only to academic excellence but also to providing tangible support to nurture the potential of young leaders.

Kehinde Olesin, the Convener and Founder of TeensThink, expressed pride in the participants’ accomplishments, highlighting the organization’s dedication to equipping teenagers with the skills and knowledge essential for navigating global food systems. “TeensThink believes in the transformative power of education and leadership,” said Olesin. “Through our comprehensive programs, workshops, and mentorship, we empower young minds to proactively address challenges like food security.”

The event also featured Deina Mayaki, Co-Founder and CEO of Agriarche Ltd., as a special guest. Mayaki, a prominent agro-entrepreneur, encouraged participants to harness technology to drive agricultural adoption across Africa. Her keynote address underscored the critical role of innovation in achieving sustainable food security measures on the continent.

Adeboye Adeyemi, Chairman of the Advisory Board at TeensThink, commended the winners for their exceptional contributions. “Your exceptional work sets a benchmark for others to follow,” remarked Adeyemi. “Your essays have the potential to spark meaningful conversations, challenge societal norms, and pave the way for a more secure future.”

Sifax Group, Nigerian Breweries, Multichoice, Tulcan Energy, Nigeria, Friesland Wampico,STL Trustees Hansol Geonetworks, Viju, MTN, and Pepsi were amongst the partners and sponsors for the 2024 edition of TeensThink.

TeensThink is a dynamic leadership and educational platform initiated by MarchMedia, a prominent marketing and communications agency based in Lagos, Nigeria. Dedicated to cultivating exceptional leaders with marketable skills and a passion for education and global issues, TeensThink continues to empower youth through innovative programs and initiatives.

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