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UNITED NATIONS
YEAR OF
DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS

INTERNATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS 

“If humanity, at the threshold of the new millennium, devoted all efforts to institutionalizing dialogue, and replacing hostility and confrontation with discourse and understanding, it would leave an invaluable legacy for the benefit of future generations.“

  President Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling for a Dialogue among Civilizations
September 21, 1998, United Nations General Assembly

The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations and the International Centre for Dialogue among Civilizations, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), invite your university to participate in an international essay contest administered by the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University, New Jersey, USA.  Your university is requested to encourage broad student participation according to the instructions below.  University leadership should select the top essay for submission to the Dialogue among Civilizations International Essay Contest.

In addition to the this information, as well as that available on UNESCO's Official Dialogue among Civilizations website, consult the following web sites: United Nations www.un.org/Dialogue , Secretariat at Seton Hall University diplomacy.shu.edu/dialogue, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations www.un.int/iran , and the International Centre for Dialogue among Civilizations at http://www.dialoguecentre.org

TOPIC

“How do you envision the contribution the Dialogue among Civilizations can make to better prepare the peoples of the world, especially the youth, for the challenges of tomorrow?”

ESSAY FORMAT

The essay should be between 900 and 1200 words in length, excluding sources.  If it is necessary to cite sources, bibliographic information should be included as an endnote immediately following the essay.   Entries must be typed, double-spaced.  Paper size must be 8 1/2- by 11-inch or A4 with one-inch margins (2.5 cm).  The student’s name should appear only on the enclosed Entry Form, not on the essay itself.

AWARDS

Ten winners will be awarded a scholarship of $1000 each, round-trip airfare and accommodations for a 5-day stay in New York during the first week of December 2001. They will attend the culminating events of the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations at the United Nations, and present their essays.  Awards of Honorable Mention will be forwarded to at least 50 semi-finalists.  In addition, students whose essays are nominated by their university will receive a certificate of participation.  Winners are responsible for arranging to obtain their US entry visas.  The sponsors do not assume any responsibility in this respect.

ELIGIBILITY AND SUBMISSION OF ESSAYS

Each university or equivalent institution is eligible to submit one essay written by an undergraduate student, and endorsed by the chief officer of the institution (Rector, President, or equivalent).  Essays submitted to the International Essay Contest must be in English.  It is the responsibility of the submitting university to arrange for translation of the essay.  The nominated essay from each university must be accompanied by a completed Entry Form (attached) and received not later than October 10, 2001.   Entries will not be returned.

SELECTION OF WINNERS

Ten winning essays will be selected, representing each of the 5 regional groups of the United Nations (Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Western countries).  The faculty of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University, will judge essays based on originality, creativity, clarity and style in relation to the question posed.  Winning essays will be announced by October 31, 2001.

Contact Information:

Dialogue among Civilizations International Essay Contest
School of Diplomacy and International Relations
Seton Hall University
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, New Jersey 07079 (USA)
Telephone: 973. 275. 2515
Fax: 973. 275. 2519
E -Mail Address: dialogue@shu.edu