GPPN Annual Conference
March 5 - March 7, 2025
Hosted by the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs will host the 2025 international conference of the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN) between March 5 and 7, 2025.
Students selected to participate will have the opportunity to present their projects to the Deans of eight of the most prestigious schools of public affairs as well as network with students from all over the world.
Theme
The theme for the 2025 GPPN Conference is Policies and innovations that foster sustainable development.
As the world faces escalating climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, social inequality, and other grand societal challenges, there is an urgent need for policies and innovations that foster sustainable (social, environmental, and economic) development.
How can we create enabling environments for the development and financing of innovative solutions in climate tech, renewable energy, nature-based solutions, and social innovations, especially in vulnerable regions where we need them the most?
We are looking for policy proposals that address this question and offer actionable solutions.
Student Projects
The Challenge
The GPPN invites students to work on an important policy challenge in any field in line with the chosen theme. Proposals can incorporate public, private or hybrid approaches. Please note that a maximum of 3 "app proposals" will be selected.
We are looking for student presentations on public policy proposals that demonstrate:
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Argumentation : A precise identification and analysis of the targeted population or territory; this precise analysis of the problem will need to be clear prior to discussion of any possible solutions
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Figures : A strong use of analytics and empirics and how these can be applied to inform a solution to the public policy problem identified
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Implementation : An astute understanding of how policy solutions can be implemented given the interests of the policy actors in the chosen context
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Benchmarking : A clear awareness of when similar solutions have been tried in the past, why they were successful or amended in order to be successful in the future.
To see examples of past proposals, please watch the four presentations on the GPPN website from last year’s conference: https://www.gppnetwork.org/saopaulo2023
Teams
Students should form teams of 2 members minimum and 4 members maximum and work together to develop their proposals. Each member should only participate in 1 team.
Criteria
Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria, which are equally weighted. These are the same criteria as will be used at the conference.
a) Problem : policy analysis and strength of design (i.e. if it is based on sound analytical principles) (25%),
b) Solution : implementation concerns including awareness of stakeholder interests (25%), (relevance of the solution)
c) Implementation : Mechanisms for learning, self-correction and refinement over time (25%), (setting up the proposal over time : the proposal must include differents scenarios)
d) Presentation : Quality of presentation (25%) (clarity, legibility, compliance with instructions)
Format
Selected teams and proposals selected to participate in the GPPN Conference at Sciences Po will each give a presentation on the first day of the conference of up to 3 minutes.
Up to 10 teams/proposals will be given detailed feedback by the Jury of Deans and selected to present on the second day of the conference. This second presentation will be for up to 5 minutes followed by questions from the Jury.
Please note that attendance is mandatory during the 2 days of the Conference for all the students selected.