Celebrating Brilliant Minds: Meet the 2025 Nottingham-World Bank Essay Competition Winners

Semenyih, October 31 2025 — The University of Nottingham Malaysia’s School of Politics, International Relations and Economics, in collaboration with the World Bank Group, proudly announces the winners of the Asian Economics Essay Competition 2025.  

This year’s competition drew exceptional essays from across Asia, exploring themes such as demographic shifts, sustainable development, and policy innovation. Winners were recognised for their originality, analytical depth, and policy relevance.  

This year, participants addressed two critical questions:  

• Pre-University: Is an aging population an economic burden to Asia, and what policy reforms are needed to address this demographic shift?  

• Undergraduate: To what extent can the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be achieved in Asia by 2030, and what specific reforms are necessary to accelerate the process? 

Pre-University Winners 

• First Prize: Wong Qi Xuan (Lead International School) 

• Second Prize: Jaishivan Sivanesan Paranam (Tenby International School Setia Eco Park) 

• Third Prize: Ong Wei Shien (Methodist College Kuala Lumpur) 

Undergraduate Category Winners 

• First Prize: Alka Kaur (Universiti Sains Malaysia) 

• Second Prize: Mohamed Aabidh Mohamed Jaufer (University of Nottingham Malaysia) 

• Third Prize: Sharanya Kannathasan (Monash University Malaysia) 
   

Read the full list of winners and their essays here.  

About the Competition

The Nottingham–World Bank Asian Economics Essay Competition is an annual initiative fostering critical thinking and policy-oriented research among students in Asia. By engaging with real-world economic issues, participants gain valuable experience in research, writing, and policy analysis. 

Launched in Malaysia in 2014, the Nottingham–World Bank Asian Economics Essay Competition is an annual initiative fostering critical thinking and policy-oriented research among students in Asia. By engaging with real-world economic issues, participants gain valuable experience in research, writing, and policy analysis. The competition expanded regionally in 2024 and introduced an undergraduate category in 2025.