The 2025 Advancing Development Goals International Contest for Graduate Students aims to present innovative and pragmatic solutions to address the challenges of migration.
Eager to stimulate reflection and innovation on development issues from diverse disciplinary and contextual perspectives, and with the generous support of Ambassador Jenö Staehelin, the Graduate Institute launched the Advancing Development Goals Contest, an international competition for master’s students, in 2014.
The competition gathers contributions that are both theoretically grounded and offer pragmatic solutions to international development problems. Each team must consist of three to five enrolled master’s students from anywhere in the world, working collaboratively from different disciplinary perspectives.
Five prizes will be awarded, one in each of the following categories based on the UN Statistics list:
– Universities located in Africa
– Universities located in Asia
– Universities located in Europe
– Universities located in North America and Oceania
– Universities located in Latin America
About Geneva Graduate Institute
The Geneva Graduate Institute is a higher education institution focused on global issues. Through academic research, teaching, expertise, and forum activities, the institute produces and shares knowledge on international relations, development issues, and global governance. Located in the heart of International Geneva, the institute engages with international organizations, NGOs, and policymakers to address major global challenges.
Geneva Challenge 2025 Advancing Development Goals International Contest
Application deadline: July 16, 2025
Type: Contest
Sponsor: Geneva Graduate Institute
Gender: Men and Women
Aim and benefits
– A total of 25,000 CHF in monetary prizes:
– First-place project: CHF 10,000
– Two second-place projects: CHF 5,000 each
– Two third-place projects: CHF 2,500 each
– All members of the five finalist teams will be invited to Geneva for an oral presentation, where they will defend their proposals and answer questions from the jury and the public.
– Travel expenses, including flights, visa requests, and accommodation, will be covered for finalists.
Eligibility criteria
– Participants must be enrolled as graduate students at the time of registration.
– Teams must consist of 3 to 5 graduate students.
– Submissions must integrate an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from at least two different disciplinary perspectives.
– Each team member must provide proof of graduate student enrollment before the team’s registration is confirmed.
Application deadline: July 16, 2025.
