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Call for St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition 2026 is open now !!!
Compete in Global Essay Competition and qualify for participation as a Leader of Tomorrow in the world’s premier opportunity for cross-generational debates: The St. Gallen Symposium. The topic question for global essay competition 2026 is Disruption in Tech + Politics + Demography: What happens when they collide?
Pick a case where at least two of these forces meet, and propose a bold idea to maximize the benefits while minimizing the risks over the long term.
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The St. Gallen Symposium is annually organized by the International Students’ Committee (ISC), an independent student initiative at the University of St.Gallen. For ten months, a team of approximately 30 students voluntarily engages in the challenging task of organizing an outstanding St. Gallen Symposium. During the symposium week, the ISC Team is supported by about 450 student volunteers. Three members of last year’s team are taking up the role of Head of the Organizing Committee.
In addition to designing and planning, the student team is especially involved with the development of the conceptual framework and content of the symposium. It decides on the key themes and fosters contacts with Partners and Donors, as well as selected Speakers and key figures as a whole. It also maintains links with media representatives and leading universities around the world.
The St. Gallen Symposium is the world’s most relevant student-driven organization and platform for cross-generational dialogue and collaboration. They connect leaders of today and tomorrow from business, politics, science and civil society to foster mutual understanding and joint action on their most pressing challenges and chances. Their global community comprises more than 400 businesses and institutions and over 300 universities.
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The St. Gallen Symposium has a unique atmosphere because of the role the students play in its organization at their alma mater. It is their conference. They believe in positive change for a better world by bringing generations together along with their vision: Lead with the Next Generation in Mind.
The St. Gallen Symposium promotes cross-generational dialogue on the most pressing issues of our time. Every year, they focus their annual main symposium, their year-round dialogue initiatives and their publications on a core theme.
This serves to inspire the cross-generational community of leaders of today and tomorrow to reflect and act upon key questions in five thematic areas, related to business, governance, sustainability, technology, and the social and generational contract.
Location:
OnlineBenefits
- Win prize money of CHF 20,000 split amongst the three winners
- Qualify for participation as a Leader of Tomorrow in the world’s premier opportunity for cross-generational debates
- 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
Eligibilities
- Individual work expected, no group work allowed.
- The essay must be written exclusively for this contest. The idea must be the author’s own.
- Enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate program (master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university
- Born in 1996 or later
Application Process
- Download Template for the Global Essay Competition from their official website.
- Apply for the competition from the apply now link.
Application Deadline: February 2, 2026 (76 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
