On August 29, the finals of the 2020 Tsinghua SPPM International Case Analysis Competition of Public Policy on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were successfully held. 101 finalists had a wonderful online competition, and more than 7,000 people watched the final contests via live stream.

The competition was co-organized by China Case Center for Public Policy and Management (CCCPPM) and Institute for Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University (TUSDG), and sponsored by Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC.

This year’s competition attracted 86 teams from 86 universities and colleges across China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, India, South Korea, France, Japan and Canada, with a total of 303 participants. Students selected case topics around the Sustainable Development Goals and worked in teams to study real-world challenges, interview organizations and people, discover interesting phenomena, and find innovative policy solutions for sustainable development problems. After two rounds of competitive selection, 12 master student teams and 16 undergraduate teams reached the final contests.

Students Conducting Interviews and Investigations

In the morning and afternoon, the final contests of master and undergraduate students were held respectively. Each team spent 8 minutes for presentations on topics such as education inequality, poverty alleviation, garbage sorting, smart community, deforestation, wildlife trading, environmental pollution by antibiotics, housing security and tenant protection, impact of COVID-19 on cities’ development narrative and migrant workers’ resilience against public health crisis. Then they took 7 minutes to answer questions from the judging panel.

Master Student Group Judging Panel

(Left to Right: Mei Ciqi, Zhu Xufeng, Zheng Zhenqing)

Undergraduate Student Group Judging Panel

(Left to Right: Zhang Penglong, Poon Kit, Li Yingbo)

Students Competing Online

The award ceremony was held in the evening. The guests present included Zhu Xufeng, Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management (SPPM) at Tsinghua University, Executive Dean of the TUSDG, Gu Lei, Vice-president of Mead Johnson Nutrition of RB Group Greater China, Mu Ling, Assistant Dean of the SPPM and Director of the CCCPPM, Zheng Zhenqing, Associate Professor and Academic Director of IMPA Program of the SPPM, and Zhang Penglong, Assistant Professor of the SPPM.

Zhu Xufeng expressed his sincere gratitude to Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC for its generous sponsorship on behalf of the SPPM. He said: “Our school started to work with Reckitt Benckiser Group since we shared the common ground in promoting SDGs research, talent training and international cooperation. I am so grateful to see both of us has taken the first step in this journey, and I hope our cooperation will promote the implementation of SDGs in the future.”

“The CCCPPM and the TUSDG decided to host this competition during the COVID-19 pandemic, as we intended to turn this global crisis into an opportunity for global cooperation and practice. It is an opportunity not only for governments, social enterprises, education institutions, but also for the young generation.” Zhu Xufeng explained. He encouraged young students to tackle the issues of sustainable development by using the weapon of knowledge, the power of courage, and the strength of innovation.

Zhu Xufeng Giving Speech

Gu Lei congratulated the success of the event and expressed her pleasure to see that young talents are passionate about the sustainability topics, have unique views on real-world challenges, and try to find solutions for sustainable development problems.

She also introduced that Reckitt Benckiser Group is dedicated to building sustainable solutions in its three major business areas—hygiene, health and nutrition, which will help people address the challenges presented by global mega-trends like urbanisation, climate change and digital transformation. She hoped both parties continue to contribute in the field of sustainable development in the future.

Gu Lei Giving Speech

Mu Ling Giving Souvenir to Gu Lei

Based on the aggregate performance of case analysis report writing, final presentation and Q&A session, the judging panel selected seven teams in total for the first, second and third prizes. All other finalists received honorable mention prizes. Zhu Xufeng and Gu Lei announced the final winning teams.

Jenny, one of the participants from National University of Singapore, expressed that she was very happy to work with other students in a passionate and international team, trying to solve real-world problems with the knowledge they had learned. She believed that participating in the competition is not the goal and the end, and she will further devote herself to working on the resolution of related SDGs issues.

Group Photos of Contestants

【About CCCPPM】

The China Case Center for Public Policy & Management (CCCPPM) was established in 2004 as a subsidiary of the School of Public Policy & Management (SPPM), Tsinghua University. It serves to write and store professional case studies on China and other countries for the courses developed by SPPM in order to improve teaching quality and train qualified professional public administrators. The center also organizes seminars and workshops on case teaching and writing to promote teaching techniques and use of case studies among domestic educators. Meanwhile, the center organizes national case analysis competitions for Chinese undergraduate and master students annually with different themes. From 2018, the center has started to hold yearly SDGs case analysis competition targeting to global students.

【About TUSDG】

Housed in the School of Public Policy and Management in Tsinghua University, the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University (TUSDG) was founded on May 14, 2017. It aims to establish a leading platform to conduct interdisciplinary research and collaborate with global partners to address challenges in implementing UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating theoretical learning and practical experience in the field, TUSDG strives to cultivate a new generation of talents who are dedicated to the implementation of SDGs and the improvement of global governance. In addition, TUSDG will make every effort at creating a high-end open platform in the research field of SDGs, attracting world-class experts and scholars to engage in teaching and research activities. Finally, TUSDG aspires to become a leading think tank in China on SDG-related policies through cooperative partnerships with relevant government agencies.

【About Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC】

With over 200 years of history, RB’s driven by its purpose to protect, heal and nurture in a relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We fight to make access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right, not a privilege, for everyone.

Headquartered in the UK, RB has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series for 16 consecutive years, with 42,000+ diverse, talented entrepreneurs globally. RB sells more than 20 million products every day on average and is proud to have a stable of trusted household brands. These include Enfamil, Nutramigen, Dettol, Durex, Veet, Scholl, Nurofen, Vanish, Schiff, Airwick, Strepsils and more.

Hygiene, Health and Nutrition are the three areas of our business, and the categories under which our brands are organised. Each area is dedicated to building sustainable solutions that will help us address the challenges presented by global mega-trends like urbanisation, climate change and digital transformation. These global pressures are challenging public health systems and increasing the need for improved hygiene products, services and education. We continuously innovate in areas like personalised nutrition, wellness, and digital health and hygiene so that individuals, families and communities can live cleaner, healthier lives.

Source | China Case Center for Public Policy & Management