Info for Councils

The Carlos and Malú Alvarez 2022-2023 Academic WorldQuest National Competition is scheduled for April 29-30, 2023. Prepare yourselves for the increasingly interconnected and complex world of the 21st century and show what you know!

Purpose

Preparing the next generation of leaders, scholars, and decision-makers to thrive in a complex and rapidly changing world - where our national interests are intertwined with the global community - is one of the greatest challenges facing our country. It requires a renewed enthusiasm for global studies in our high schools. Too many American students today fall behind their counterparts from other countries in their knowledge and understanding of world history, geography, and current international events.

The mission of Academic WorldQuest is to close the gap.

AWQ Study Guide and Topics

The World Affairs Councils of America’s AWQ Study Guide is the primary resource to help students and teachers prepare for the topics covered in timed question-and-answer AWQ competitions hosted by local Councils. WACA will distribute local competition questions with all Council AWQ contacts. Councils may adapt the topics (and questions) to align with their local programming initiatives. However, using WACA's designated topics and questions will allow your local team to be more competitive at the National Competition in April. Typically, teams prepare in an after-school setting over the course of several months.

The AWQ Official Study Guide is also an essential resource for the Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition, hosted by WACA every April in Washington, DC. Winning teams are invited to represent their high school, city, and local Council at the national AWQ championship weekend, which includes the competition, unique programming planned to enhance the global education experience, and an opportunity to meet and engage with more than 250 likeminded peers from around the United States. All participating Councils must fill out a National Competition Registration Form (released at a later date) with the winning team's information immediately following the completion of its local AWQ competition.

2022-2023 Academic WorldQuest Topics

• Securing the Future of the World's Wildlidfe
• The Arctic Council: Frozen Cooperation
• Atrocity Prevention and Accountability
• Combating Global Food Insecurity
• Economic Sanctions - A Double-Edged Sword
• Great Decisions
  • Changing Demographics
  • Outer Space
  • Climate Change
  • Russia and the U.S.
  • Myanmar and ASEAN
  • Quad Alliance
  • Drug Policy in Latin America
  • Industrial Policy
  • Biden's Agenda
• Country in Focus: Ethiopia
• The Future of Supply Chains
• Battle of the Century: Autocracy vs. Democracy
• Current Events

2019 AWQ National Competition Highlights

• For a list of 2019 winners, click here to read the official WACA press release 
• A big thank you to the Friday evening Welcome Reception host the Qatar-America Institute, and the 2019 AWQ National Competition host the United States Institute of Peace
• A special thank to 2019 AWQ's Presenting Sponsor: the Embassy of the State of Qatar
• Click here to view all highlights from the 2019 AWQ National Competition