Applications are now open for the 2025 Drucker Challenge, an opportunity for international students and young professionals to showcase their ideas and win exclusive access to the Global Peter Drucker Forum in Vienna.Apply below:
When is the Application Deadline:
The application deadline is May 24, 2025 at 16:00 CET (4:00 PM CET)
Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada.
Table of Contents
Tell Me About The Peter Drucker Challenge Essay Contest:
The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award winners of the 2025 Drucker Challenge will receive recognition for their exceptional essays based on Peter Drucker’s human-oriented management philosophy. The awards will be presented during the 17th Global Peter Drucker Forum in Vienna, Austria, on November 6-7, 2025. In addition to the cash prizes, awardees will enjoy exclusive access to various forum events, including workshops, masterclasses, and a gala event, along with an invitation to join the Drucker Challenge Community.
Related:
- UK: University of Strathclyde Diamond Jubilee Research Scholarships 2025/26 (Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences)
- Kenya Revenue Authority Opens Applications For The 2025 Industrial Attachment Programme For Young Kenyan Undergraduates
- Stripe’s Economics Of AI Fellowship 2025 Offers A $10,000 Grant For Graduate Students And Early-Career Researchers— Apply!
- Nikon Small World Photography Competition 2025 Offers A Chance To Win $3,000–(How To Apply)
Which Fields are Eligible?
All fields
Type:
Essay contest
Who can Apply for the Peter Drucker Challenge Essay Contest?
The eligibility criteria include:
- Age: You must be between 18 and 35 years old, inclusive.
- Previous Participation: You are eligible to participate if you previously placed between 11th and 15th in a past Challenge contest. However, if you were a former winner or ranked between 2nd and 10th, you are not eligible to participate.
- Essay category requirements: You can submit one essay in either the Student or Professional category. (Please mention your main occupation in the submission form)
- Student category: Open to part-time, gap-year or full-time students (Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, or PhD) or those seeking their first opportunity after completing their last degree.
- Professional category: Open to managers of people, projects, budgets and/or processes; entrepreneurs or business owners; licensed professionals; social volunteers or community leaders.
Submission Rules:
- Anonymity: Your name must not appear anywhere in the essay.
- Exclusivity: Your entry must be written solely by you, specifically for this competition. Group work is not allowed, and the essay must not have been published elsewhere.
- Original Thinking: If you use any generative AI software (e.g. Chat GPT) to assist in writing, you must disclose the prompts used in sequential order and demonstrate how the tool contributed to refining your work. (see FAQ)
How are Applicants Selected?
The jury will evaluate your essay based on the following key aspects:
- Personal Insights & Original Thinking: Your ability to present unique perspectives and original thoughts on the topic.
- Storytelling & Communication: The clarity, coherence, and impact of your writing style in English.
- Research & Citations: The use of well-researched primary and secondary sources to support your arguments.
- Conclusions & References: How effectively you draw conclusions from the works of Peter Drucker and Charles Handy, as well as other relevant sources, such as blogs on the Drucker Forum website.
Essay Format for Submission
- Word Count: 1,500 to 3,000 words (excluding footnotes and graphics)
- File Format: PDF or Word document
- Font size: 12 points
- Language: English
- Deadline: May 24, 2025 at 16:00 CET (4:00 PM CET)
Which Countries Are Eligible?
All countries
Where will the Award be Taken?
The award will be presented at the 17th Global Peter Drucker Forum in Vienna, Austria, held at the Hofburg Vienna.
How Many Awards?
Not specified
What is the Benefit of the Peter Drucker Challenge Essay Contest?
Additionally, the benefits include:
- Gold Award: 2,000 EUR cash prize, full access to the Global Peter Drucker Forum, travel and accommodation covered, exclusive invitations to special events, and a one-year digital subscription to Harvard Business Review.
- Silver Award: 1,200 EUR cash prize, similar benefits as the Gold Award.
- Bronze Award: 1,000 EUR cash prize, similar benefits as the Gold and Silver Awards.
- Additional Benefits: Special recognition awards, official certificates, publication of essays, and an invitation to join the Drucker Challenge Communit
How to Apply:
- Step 1: Choose whether to participate in the Student or Professional category.
- Step 2: Write an essay of 1,500 to 3,000 words.
- Step 3: Submit your essay by the deadline (May 24, 2025).
- Step 4: Await the selection process and results. Finalists may be asked to submit a video summary of their essay.
Visit the official application webpage.
