The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced a Call for Papers aimed at understanding the civic and political participation of Generation Z. This initiative is part of a new global research project titled “In the Minds of Gen Z: Understanding Today’s Citizens.”
The project is open to young scholars between the ages of 20 to 35 and Gen Z youth aged 18 to 28. The selected contributions will feature in a global UNESCO study set for release in 2026.
According to UNESCO, the project is backed by an expert group of scholars from around the world. It aims to provide deep insights into the values, motivations, and behaviors of young people when it comes to civic engagement and political action.
“The goal is to showcase the different factors that influence the way Gen Z participates in civic and political life,” UNESCO stated. “We want to highlight both the challenges and the innovative approaches that youth are using to make their voices heard.”
There are two main ways for young people to contribute. The first is through ‘Opinion Pieces’. Gen Z youth aged 18 to 28 are encouraged to share personal stories, creative works, or individual viewpoints that relate to civic or political action. These can be written articles or multimodal expressions, such as images and drawings.
The second path is through ‘Research Papers’. Young or early career scholars, including Master’s students, PhD candidates, and lecturers—are invited to submit academic research. These papers can be authored individually or as part of a research team, and must involve meaningful participation of Gen Z in the research process.
Priority will be given to research that includes high-quality analysis of youth political behavior, social justice involvement, activism, or online engagement. This focus makes the project particularly relevant for scholars in political science, sociology, youth development, and digital media fields.
UNESCO emphasized that these contributions will not only be published but will also shape policies and programs globally. “This is an opportunity for young people to influence how the world understands and supports youth civic participation,” the agency noted.
Applications are open until 30th June 2025.
How to Apply
Interested Gen Z youth can submit their opinion pieces by visiting https://bit.ly/43IFCL4, while early career scholars can submit research papers at https://bit.ly/4kYd46x. For inquiries, UNESCO invites participants to reach out via email at m.kypriotou@unesco.org.
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