The Nottingham–World Bank Asian Economics Essay Competition is an essay contest co-organized by the University of Nottingham Malaysia and the World Bank. The 13th edition took place in 2026 and invited pre-university and undergraduate students studying at institutions across Asia to engage with pressing regional economic questions.
2026 pre-university essay prompt: "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are transforming economies across Asia. Will these technologies widen or reduce economic inequality in the region? Discuss the potential impacts and propose policies that governments should adopt to ensure inclusive digital growth."
2026 undergraduate essay prompt: "Geopolitical tensions and rising protectionism are contributing to the fragmentation of global trade. To what extent will this trend reshape Asia's economic development model, and what policy strategies should Asian economies adopt to remain competitive in a more fragmented global economy?"
Historical 2026 prizes (per category):
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| First | RM1,000 |
| Second | RM800 |
| Third | RM600 |
Historical 2026 eligibility: Students at pre-university/high schools and higher-education institutions across Asia entered separate pre-university and undergraduate categories. A submission could have one author or two joint authors, with only one entry per student. The rules describe study location rather than an explicit Asian-citizenship requirement.
Historical 2026 submission: An English essay of 1,500–2,000 words was submitted online as a PDF through Microsoft Forms. The official terms count footnotes in the word limit but exclude references, charts and tables.
Historical deadline: August 14, 2026 at 23:59 Malaysia time. No next-cycle deadline is announced. The 2026 terms expected results by the final quarter of 2026; they do not establish that results have already been released.
Checked November 4, 2026 against the official competition page, 2026 terms, 2026 flyer and 2026 entry form. The form remained readable without an explicit closure notice. These sources do not explicitly confirm free entry or a fee amount.