Take part in this semester’s student essay challenge on just transition policy!

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new edition of the Chair’s student challenge, this time for the 2023-2024 Fall Semester. This essay challenge will be on the topic ‘policy for a just transition in Europe’ and winners will present their research and findings at a Chair-hosted student seminar.

Open to all current master’s students from PSIA and EAP.

Deadline: 4 December, winners will be announced by early January.

The transition to a green economy is arguably one of the greatest challenges of our time. Working towards this transition in a way that is fair and inclusive presents an added layer of difficulty and complexity, especially in a moment when political pressure is mounting. As such, adopting a ‘just transition’ framework is key to evaluate policies that affect several stakeholders and encompass not only climate but also social justice and inequality aspects. Moreover, regional policy plays a key role in ensuring quality jobs, putting in place upskilling and reskilling programmes and supporting SMEs.

The challenge:

Hand in a two-page research article that addresses the following research question: ‘How can policy ensure that the transition to a green economy is fair for all workers and regions in Europe?’ 

Your essay can be on a specific European or national policy, on a case study or government program or on an area of action of just transition policy (skills, regional inequalities, role of coal in a given economy…). We encourage taking an original approach as well as developing a robust research framework. 

Additionally, please include a short paragraph in your email explaining how you would transform this paper into a presentation that you can give at a future student seminar if you are selected. 

The seminar

If you are selected as one of the top student essays, you will have the opportunity to present your research and findings at a student seminar organised around mid January as well as the chance to shape the structure of this conference alongside the other selected students and the Chair’s team. 

Submission requirements:

• Essay length: Maximum of 1500 words (not including references and footnotes/endnotes)
• Must be an original work
• Use APA or Chicago style of citation
• Submission in pdf format

The essays will be judged based on the following criteria:

• Quality and coherence of the analysis
•  Innovative thinking
• Diversity of sources and use of evidence
• Professional presentation: absence of typos and grammatical errors, consistent formatting

If you are interested in taking part in the challenge, send us your essay by email at sdctchair.info@sciencespo.fr!