Vision for Cities Global Essay Competition

The Vision for Cities Global Essay Competition has now closed.

RICS has launched an essay competition for student members as part of Vision for Cities, a global research programme that examines key thinking on the delivery of sustainable cities for 2030 and beyond. Through this competition, we aim to promote and showcase innovative thinking by future leaders of the profession.

The competition is open to all of our student members worldwide who are enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate course. It closes at midnight (GMT) on 30 April 2012.

Enter your essay for a chance to win an expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to attend COBRA 2012, our world-leading annual construction, building and real estate research conference held at the exclusive Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in September 2012. We will award a free APC E-Learning course to the authors of the top three entries, and also promote each of these essays.

RICS and our members have a unique contribution to make to the sustainable evolution of cities across the globe. We are an independent and chartered organisation that regulates the professional standards of over 91,000 qualified members and over 50,000 trainee and student members throughout 146 countries, and we firmly operate within the public interest. We can draw on substantial shared knowledge and expertise in the property profession to help frame the strategic principles which will promote the development of sustainable cities.

Essay questions
The essays should be no longer than 1500 words and address one of these six questions:

1. 'The goal of sustainable development is to enable people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations.' Discuss how sustainable development might address this goal at a range of urban scales across a city
2. 'The positive impacts of globalisation on local economic development are outweighed by their negative effects on income disparity and social exclusion in the modern city.' Discuss this statement using examples of cities around the world
3. 'Poverty in urban areas is increasing rapidly. The best urban projects are those which are created by the urban poor, take action within their communities and work together with government to find solutions to urban poverty.' Critically discuss this statement 
4. According to the UN over 1.2 billion people live in informal urban settlements. What, in your opinion, would be the necessary steps to bring formal property rights to these people, and what economic, political and environmental advances might be made by doing so? 
5. Some see 'sustainable development' as an outcome. Is it more helpful to see it as a process?
6. 'Transforming the use of buildings and behavioural processes are more relevant than technological innovation when aiming to create sustainable built environments.' Critically discuss this statement 

Submitting your essay
The competition closes at midnight (GMT) on 30 April 2012.

All essays must be submitted via email in Microsoft Word format, with a completed essay submission form. Please email submissions to studentessay@rics.org.

View our guidance for candidates for help on how to present and answer your essay.

The competition is subject to terms and conditions.

Student membership
If you would like to enter the competition but are not yet registered as an RICS student member, find out how to join in our student area. Student membership is free and provides a wealth of resources and discounts.

For more information
Christopher Roche
RICS Corporate Affairs Officer
t +44 (0)20 7695 1568
e studentessay@rics.org