On the morning of August 16, the final competition of the 2025 Tsinghua International Case Analysis Competition of Public Policy on SDGs was held in the auditorium of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University, with some participants joining online. The competition was jointly hosted by the China Case Center for Public Policy and Management (CCCPPM) and the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals at Tsinghua University (TUSDG), and received support from JA Solar and Pernod Ricard China.
Photo of Competition
Since its launch in April 2025, the competition has attracted 288 participants from 90 teams across 75 institutions in countries including China, the United States, Australia, Vietnam, Canada, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. After more than four months of diligent preparation and two rounds of professional judging, twelve teams advanced to the final round.
Ultimately, the SHEmpowerment team from Nankai University was awarded the First Prize. The Second Prize went to the Betelgeuse team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Chaski Verde team from New York University. The Third Prize was claimed by the ZeroX team from HKUST, the All 2gether team from Wuhan University, and the HMSDGs team from Tsinghua University. In addition, eight individual participants were honored with the Best Individual Performance Award, while the remaining finalist teams received Honorary Awards.
Group Photo of Award Presenters with the Winning Teams and Participants
Professor Zhu Xufeng, Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management (SPPM) and Executive Director of the TUSDG, delivered a speech on behalf of the hosts. Also, Kathie Wang, Vice President of Communications and S&R, Pernod Ricard China, and Yang Aiqing, Executive President of JA Solar, sent their congratulatory messages to the competition.
On behalf of the SPPM and the hosts, Professor Zhu Xufeng extended his congratulations to the finalists. He noted that since its inception in 2018, the competition has grown in scale, demonstrating the profound concern of young global leaders for pressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. Professor Zhu highlighted that the SPPM is committed to cultivating and empowering young leaders to contribute to global governance. This is achieved through initiatives such as the MPP-SDG dual master's degree program, the International Public Policy Case Analysis Competition, Universities for Goal 13 Competition, and a series of other activities. He also pointed out that this year marks two significant anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 10th anniversary of the proposal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, the core concept of “Joining Hands to Build a Sustainable Future” serves as a powerful call to action for all countries, industries, stakeholders, and every citizen—especially the younger generation, who shoulder the future. In conclusion, he expressed his hope that the participants will become unwavering innovators and practitioners of the SDGs. He encouraged them to inspire others through their actions, enlighten others with their innovations, and empower others with their leadership, collectively dedicating themselves to the great endeavor of building a sustainable future, a cause that is vital to the destiny of all humankind.
Kathie Wang expressed her delight at seeing a growing number of young talents paying attention to and actively engaging in the field of sustainable development. She noted that the competitors' focus was both specific and diverse, ranging from occupational injury protection and urban solid waste management to youth participation in sustainability issues. She also emphasized that the innovative perspectives young people bring to global governance are a source of inspiration that continuously drives forward corporate sustainability processes.
Yang Aiqing pointed out that JA Solar, as a core partner of the competition for three consecutive years, has witnessed generations of talented young students from global universities demonstrate extraordinary innovative thinking and outstanding practical capabilities. They achieve this through case studies, focusing on the SDGs. He emphasized that achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development urgently requires the deep integration of industry, academia, and research, the collision of ideas, and the continuous efforts of successive generations of young talents.
From Left to Right: Zhu Xufeng, Kathie Wang, and Yang Aiqing Deliver Speeches
The judging panel for the competition was composed of Associate Professor Zhu Junming, Associate Dean of the SPPM and Vice Director of the TUSDG; Associate Professor Wenchi Wei of SPPM; and Kathie Wang, Vice President of Communications and S&R, Pernod Ricard China. Prior to the competition, Associate Professor Zhu Junming, on behalf of the panel, read out the competition rules. After the competition concluded, the three judges provided a summary and commentary on the participants' performance.
From Left to Right: Kathie Wang, Zhu Junming, and Wei Wenchi Served as Judges
The 12 finalist teams presented a diverse and impressive array of case studies, covering a wide range of sustainable development topics including digital finance, climate justice, public health, gender equality, and the circular economy. The cases spanned from Chinese enterprises promoting cashless payments in Malaysia to multinational security collaboration in the joint patrols of the Mekong River by four nations; from the multi-dimensional governance attempts in the regulation of betel nuts in Hunan Province to the exploration of Canada's carbon tax policy. These research projects not only focused on local practices but also responded to global challenges. The case studies also delved into pressing social issues such as cross-border elderly care collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, occupational injury protection for full-time workers in new forms of employment, and the protection of women’s rights. This fully demonstrated the contemporary students' profound understanding of the SDGs and their innovative thinking in applying interdisciplinary methods to solve complex public problems. During the event, the teams also answered questions posed by the judges.
The Tsinghua International Case Analysis Competition of Public Policy on SDGs was first launched in 2018. It has since progressively expanded into an annual event open to undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students from universities worldwide. The competition aims to fully leverage the educational role of case studies, encouraging students from diverse nationalities, universities, and academic backgrounds to select topics centered around the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through case study research, participants delve into the typical challenges, vivid practices, policy innovations, and solutions in the field of sustainable development in China and across the globe. The initiative is designed to cultivate a keen awareness of issues and innovative ways of thinking, and to enhance the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to analyze and solve practical problems. As of 2025, the competition has attracted a total of 1,428 participants, forming 430 teams from 241 institutions in 19 countries.
Group Photo of Guests and Participants
The Winning Speech from Team SHEmpowerment (First Prize)
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity and platform provided by this competition. It enabled us to go to the grassroots, to step into the fields, and to immerse ourselves in the “capillaries” of our nation’s vast landscape. Through the in-depth analysis of public policy cases, we have built a bridge from theory to reality. The vitality of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) lies hidden within the fabric of our everyday lives. This competition has given us a much deeper understanding of issues such as gender equality and rural revitalization. This invaluable case study experience will further fuel our passion in our future studies and lives, encouraging us to continue our exploration and discovery in the fields of sustainable development and public management.
List of Award Winners
