China's Fudan University is inviting young students from all over the world to submit their ideas on global issues to compete in the first global governance competition.

 

 

Khalid Malik, the UN resident coordinator in China (center), Long Yongtu, secretary of the Bo'ao Forum and dean of Fudan University's School of International Relations and Public Affairs (third left) and Fudan President Wang Shenghong (third right) touch a ball with Chinese and foreign students yesterday to launch the official Website for the First Youth Innovation Competition on Global Governance.

 

The event is sponsored by Fudan's school of international relations and public affairs and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in China.

 

Participants from all over the world must submit proposals on any issue regarding global governance -- like security, the environment, the international economy, cross border crime and public policy -- to the competition Website before May 15.

 

The proposals can be research reports, organizational start-up plans, policy advice or any other beneficial project. Students are asked to participate in teams of two to five people.

 

Khalid Malik, the United Nations resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative in China, said the competition was organized to raise global awareness among young people.

 

"Challenges brought by globalization have become infinitely complicated. Since you are leaders of the future you should learn to play a key role in shaping and redefining the world," the Pakistani UN official said in an address to Fudan students yesterday.

 

All the projects will be evaluated by an expert panel made up of industry experts, senior officials and leading scholars from world-renowned universities such as Princeton University, the University of Munich and Science Po in Paris.

 

Final contestants will be invited to attend an event in Fudan in July with the most outstanding and valuable proposal being awarded the top prize.

 

(Shanghai Daily January 23, 2007)