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Thank you for your interest in the International Christian University (ICU) 2024 Global Youth Essay Competition!

This essay contest invites youths from around the world to reflect on and write about ways to make a better society. Essays must focus on one of this year’s topics. Each topic presents challenging questions in the areas of human rights and current events.

In order to apply, you must first check your eligibility. All participants must currently reside outside of Japan and be born between October 10, 2005 and October 09, 2010. Current university/college students are ineligible to apply. 

Essays must be written in English, consist of no more than 650 words, and have a title. Participants may only submit one essay per cycle. The review committee consists of ICU faculty, as well as trustees and staff of ICU and JICUF. Committee members will review each essay using the following criteria:

• Thesis
• Supporting Arguments
• Style/Execution
• Originality

The essay must abide by the ICU Policy on Academic Integrity and ICU's Perspective on the Use of Generative AI by Students. All essays will be checked for plagiarism as well as AI generation.

Participants must submit their essay by October 09, 2024, at 23:59 Japan Time. Check your corresponding deadline by entering your location HERE.

PRIVACY POLICY

ICU and JICUF will use personal information (name, address, email address, date of birth, sex, and so forth) internally for the purposes of administering the competition only. ICU and JICUF will not share or disclose any of the personal information gathered in this application with third-party service providers without your consent. Moreover, based on its Basic Policies for the Prevention of Human Rights Violations, ICU will not discriminate applicants on the basis of gender, race, nationality, origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, etc.

Click here to view ICU's Privacy Policy: https://www.icu.ac.jp/en/policy/.

In addition, Submittable's Privacy Policy complies with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information transferred from the European Union to the United States.

If you have any questions, please contact ICU at ICU-Essay@icu.ac.jp, or JICUF staff at information@jicuf.org.