National Student Paper Competition

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
• Graduate (master's and PhD) students enrolled in a publicly funded Canadian university for at least one academic term during the 2023-2024 academic year, on a full-time or part-time basis
• Team applications, with a maximum of two members, are permitted, although, all members must meet the above requirements. A team application that includes collaborators from other universities is permitted.

The NSPC initiative is committed to contributing to a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Canadian public service. We strongly encourage the participation of students from equity-seeking groups, including graduate students with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ students and BIPOC students.

If you are interested in participating in the NSPC, you should:

• Contact a professor or supervisor in your Canadian university department, program or faculty to seek support
• Submit the paper to the professor or supervisor, who should then complete the online application form and submit three versions of the paper.

The NSPC is designed to allow graduate students to share inspiring and innovative ideas on topics related to governance and the Public Service of Canada. Papers should focus on the current priorities and concerns of the Government of Canada. All submissions on any other issue relevant to the federal public service are also welcome. To understand our current priorities, see in particular:

• The Speech from the Throne, which identifies government-wide priorities or objectives
• The Clerk's Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada
• Various departmental plans and reports
• Ministerial mandate letters

More information is available on the websites of the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Each paper should be a forward-looking think piece that explores innovative ideas and approaches to help position Canada and Canadians for the coming decade through solutions delivered by the Government of Canada.

In determining the paper's topic, applicants may want to consider the following questions:

• What are your ideas about how to ensure that the public service is ready to meet the needs of the future?
• What are the major social, economic, technological and/or environmental challenges facing Canada in the next decade? What policy strategies should Canada pursue to address them?
• What emerging topics will have a significant impact on the federal public service and service excellence for Canadians?
• What would it take to move your idea from policy approval to implementation?

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Quality of life and the well-being of Canadians
• Ethics and Values in the Public Service
• Anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion
• Government and democracy
• Federalism in Canada
• Digital government and artificial intelligence
• Climate change and sustainable development
• Indigenous affairs and reconciliation
• Public administration innovation and partnerships
• Canadian policies and program improvement
• Geopolitics, trade and National Security
• Skills development and the future of work

Submitted papers must meet the following technical requirements:

• A single-authored or co-authored paper, either in English or in French
• A new work or one adapted from an earlier original academic course or academic research work
• A maximum of 1500 words (excluding the cover page, bibliography, footnotes/endnotes, appendices or any tables, charts and figures)
• Essay format using any standard citation style
• Submitted in each of the following three formats
  • PDF, including:
    • cover page with the paper's title and word count
    • author's name and email address
    • university and program of study
    • name and institutional email address of professor or supervisor who is submitting on behalf of their student
  • MS Word
    • Identical content to PDF version
  • MS Word, including:
    • cover page with only the title of the paper and the word count. Do not include the author's name and university.

• 1. Find a professor or supervisor from your university program to endorse the paper and provide necessary information. (See application form.)
• 2. Define a topic for the paper based on the competition criteria.
• 3. Review the paper to meet the guidelines.
  • 3.1 The paper is a maximum of 1500 words, excluding the cover page, bibliography, footnotes/endnotes, appendices or any tables, charts and figures.
  • 3.2 The paper follows an essay format.
  • 3.3 The paper uses a standard citation style.
• 4. Submitting the paper: Three copies
  • 4.1 PDF format:
    A cover page formatted with cover page including title, author names, email addresses, word count, university, and author university program. Name and institutional email address of professor or supervisor.
  • 4.2 MS Word format:
    A cover page formatted with cover page including title, author names, email addresses, word count, university, and author university program. Name and institutional email address of professor or supervisor.
  • 4.3 MS Word format:
    A cover page with name of paper and word count only, omitting author name and university.