Student Achievement
After months of research and writing, our winners have achieved:
3 Silver Medals
3 Bronze Medals
A total of 6 global awards!
Additionally, in the HIR Academic Writing Contest—Summer 2024, Aralia students also won 2 Silver Awards, 1 Bronze Award, 2 High Commendation awards, and 1 Excellent Writing award. We would like to send the warmest congratulations to all 12 students who delivered exceptional writing skills and the ability to analyze global issues. We would like to offer our warmest congratulations to all 12 students whose exceptional writing and analytical skills have earned them these prestigious titles.
For 2024, our students chose between 2 themes:
- 2024 Theme A: Inequalities in a VUCA World
- 2024 Theme B: Global Challenges and Collective Actions
About Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest 2025
Competition introduction: The Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest is a prestigious competition encouraging young students to study and engage with international issues. Organized by the Harvard International Review, the competition is judged by a panel of esteemed journal editors and Harvard scholars. The magazine has published reviews of 43 presidents and prime ministers, 4 secretaries-general, 4 Nobel Prize winners in economics, and 7 Nobel Peace Prize winners, making it a highly respected platform for young writers to showcase their skills and knowledge. By participating in this competition, students can develop their academic writing skills and gain recognition for their work on a global stage.
Competition format: The Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12 worldwide. The competition invites students to submit a short essay on a topic related to international affairs, which will be graded by the editors-in-chief of Harvard International Review.
If selected as a finalist, students defend their work in an online HIR Finals event. During HIR Defense Day, students will deliver a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to a panel of esteemed Harvard International Review judges.
Submissions must be in English and must use traditional American spelling. This competition is an excellent opportunity for high school students to showcase their academic writing skills, gain recognition for their work on a global stage, and engage with important issues in international affairs.
Writing Theme: For the 2025 contest, students can choose 3 different themes:
- Theme A: Global Commons and Stewardship of Shared Resources
- Theme B: Emerging Powers in a Changing Global Order
- Theme C: Resilient Cities and Urban Futures
Submission Guidelines:
Articles must be around 800-1200 words long, excluding figures, data tables, or authorship statements. The writing style should provide an analytically supported perspective on an underappreciated global topic.
It’s important to note that HIR does not accept op-eds or opinion pieces. As a journalistic organization, HIR requires submissions to follow the latest version of AP Style. Submissions are also required to be culturally sensitive, fact-checked, and respectful.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 attending school in the United States or other countries
Prizes: Finalists will be eligible to receive a medal and an HIR certificate, and have the opportunity to showcase their work on the HIR website and win a print subscription to HIR.
More information about this content can be found on Aralia’s competition website.
