Call for Registration – EPRN 4th University Students Conference 2020

Deadlines and submissions : 24/07/2020, 5 PM

1. Background

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have had far-reaching consequences beyond the spread of the COVID-19 disease itself and efforts to quarantine it (Johnsen and al’ 2020). What was widely viewed as a ‘Chinese problem,’ and then an ‘Italian problem’ has become an ‘everybody problem.’ In most cases, Governments imposed severe social distancing policies, work, and school closures, and the like. This inevitably has led to almost immediate economic hardship, which then leads governments to propose increasingly bold anti-recession measures.

For the 4th time now, the Economic Policy Research Network (EPRN Rwanda), through its Students’ Chapters is organizing a competition and conference for university students around the following theme : “Multidimensional impacts of COVID-19 on youth in Rwanda, challenges and opportunities”.

2. The purpose

The competition and conference will attract and connect university students ; create a discussion forum on relevant COVID-19 related issues affecting youth in general and students in particular, and foster a culture of reading and scientific writing.

3. Methodology and selection process

For paper writing, authors of selected abstracts are assigned with mentors and reviewers who work with them until the date of the conference whereby the best papers are presented and financially awarded.

For groups’ quiz and/or debate competition, after groups have registered, preselection is conducted across all universities and higher learning institutions and finals take a place on conference day.

4. Conference Theme and sub-topics

EPRN selected the following central theme for the 4th annual students’ conference : “Multidimensional impacts of COVID-19 on youth in Rwanda, challenges and opportunities”. This theme is broken down into six sub-topics :

a. COVID-19 and education
b. COVID-19 and unemployment
c. Corona virus economy and Digitalization
d. Economic impacts of COVID-19 on small and medium sized business
e. Impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture : Youth Cooperatives and Farmers
f. Effects of COVID-19 on SDGs targets

Note : Each sub-topic should involve youth and gender-related issues, and lessons and recommendations for medium and long-term economic recovery.

5. Applications guidelines

For abstracts :

a. A student is allowed to submit only one abstract. Co-authorship is allowed.
b. Avoid plagiarism
c. Abstract will not be considered if it is for a paper which has been presented anywhere else before
d. Applicants must be undergraduates from a higher learning institution prior to the submission period
e. Abstracts should not be more than 1 page (max 400 words, Fonts : 12 ; Times New Roman and 1.5 line spacing).
f. Abstracts should be submitted in WORD or PDF format and language is English.
g. Add your name, university, telephone number and email to the Abstract

For Group competition (Quiz and/or debate) :

a. A group should be made of 3 students (at least 1 is female) from same University
b. A Group should have a random name
c. Quiz Competition is English
d. Quiz competition or debate will be about the sub-topics highlighted above.

6. Deadlines and submissions

The submission of abstracts and groups’ registration is made by sending an e-mail to : info@eprnrwanda.org and cc : tuyishimesamuel60@gmail.com and is due on 24/07/2020, 5 PM, CAT. Failure to meet the deadline would result into disqualification.

7. Who is allowed to compete ?

The competition is limitedly open to undergraduate students from all universities and higher learning institutions in Rwanda. Note that students who are active (paid membership) members of EPRN are given priority.

8. Awards

Group Quiz/debate competition
a. Winner : 500,000 Rwf
b. 1st Runner-up : 200,000 Rwf
c. 2nd Runner-Up : 100,000 Rwf

Paper writing Competition
a. Winner : 300,000 Rwf
b. 1st Runner-up : 100,000 Rwf
c. 2nd Runner-up : 50,000 Rwf

For further information and details, kindly liaise with your EPRN Students’ Chapter in the specific campus. Or write to us : info@eprnrwanda.org Or call us on 0789648172/ 0788357648. You may also visit our office at University of Rwanda-CBE Gikondo or visit our website : www.eprnrwanda.org.

Done at Kigali, 24/06/2020.

Seth Kwizera
Coordinator