1. How do I choose a good topic?
Teams choose their own case and topic related to one of the seventeen United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, their targets and indicators. (See our SDG Resources page for more details.) The best topics are current issues or those just on the horizon. We encourage teams to choose topics that they find personally compelling. Some topics may relate to more than one Sustainable Development Goal; in that case, choose just one for your presentation and Executive Summary. To see the broad spectrum of possible topics, visit the Topics and Executive Summaries from last year..
2. What's important to know about the competition?
- We employ blind judging - participating schools will be listed separately from their topics on the website, and team will be asked to give choose a fictional company name that will be used to identify them to the judges.
- We ask you to submit your topics in February because that's when we start recruiting judges, and they like to choose sessions based on topics they find interesting.
- If you have a change your team roster or your topic, please let us know right away.
- We send out periodic updates with deadlines, tips, and presentation schedules. We will do your best to accommodate your scheduling needs, so please read the emails.
3. How do I craft a good solution?
Your solution should seem like a logical outcome of your argument. It should make good business sense and be backed by the data and evidence of your presentation. Your audience should feel that you are proposing action that is affordable, provides a clear benefit the organization, and is ethically compelling. You should also anticipate questions that the judges may ask concerning the validity or implementation of your solution.
4. Where can I see examples of past winning presentations?
We have videos links on all the IBESCC results pages for each year's competition. Take note of the way these presentations analyze the ethical, business, and legal dimensions of their solution and the way they handle the Q&A with the judges.
5. Can we give handouts in addition to the Executive Summary?
Handouts are permitted only for the 25 Minute Presentation. The Executive Summary is limited to one page, but additional handouts have no limitations. However, we strongly advise teams to remember that it is easier for judges to process a few, well thought-out pages than a large pile of paperwork.
The judges for the 10-Minute and 90-Second competitions will be asked to read the executive summary before the presentation begins. That means that the executive summary should give them a good sense of how the team sees the ethical issue and how the proposed solution is effective. The executive summary should NOT simply be a description of the topic that the team is discussing.
6. Why is the executive summary limited to one page?
Brevity is a virtue and, more importantly, a highly valued skill in the working world. Executives and senior managers have many demands on their time and want to be able to see a clear, concise summary in a quick perusal.
7. Can teams and their coaches/advisors watch other presentations?
Teams, coaches and advisors may watch any presentation they choose. Because of the judges are a combination of a core group of very experienced judges and newer judges with a wide range and variety of experience, there is no particular advantage to an earlier or later time slot.
8. What criteria do the judges use to judge the teams?
Check out the For Judges page and the judging forms.