Part One: General
The IONS essay competition is conducted annually.
Eligibility and Conducting Authority
Eligibility
The competition is open to all uniformed and civilian members of IONS member and observer navies, regardless of rank/seniority.
For member and observer countries to IONS that do not have a formally constituted 'Navy', the term 'Navy' means the principal agency responsible for maritime security.
Conducting Authority
The conducting authority for the essay competition will be the chairman of IONS, the competition will be managed on his behalf by the respective IONS Secretariat.
Guidelines and Rules
Security Classification
The content of each essay is to be UNCLASSIFIED.
Pseudonym
- In order to preclude any apprehension of bias, the competitor’s name, rank and nationality are NOT to appear on their essay; instead, a pseudonym of the author’s choice is to be used.
- The essay is NOT to contain any reference or indication of the author’s name, rank or nationality.
- Only the pseudonym is to appear on the top of the first page of the essay.
Author’s Certificate
A signed Author’s Certificate is to be submitted with each essay (pro forma enclosed).
Language & Format
Essays are to be submitted in ENGLISH.
Each essay must be written in Microsoft Word on A4 or letter-sized paper, using Times New Roman font at size 12, with 1.5 line spacing, and should be between 6,000 and 7,000 words in length.
Acknowledgements and References
Entrants are to ensure that full acknowledgement to source material is provided by way of footnotes and a comprehensive bibliography, using accepted layout and referencing systems, which cite the author, title, publisher, location, date and page of any book, article or other text from which the material is derived.
Judging of Entries
Judging Authorities
The IONS Secretariat reserves absolute authority in regards to the judgment of this essay competition. The Secretariat will form an independent panel consisting of scholars and professionals to assess the papers.
Judging Criteria
Essays will be judged against the following criteria:
| Criteria | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Creativity | 30% |
| Originality | 30% |
| Logical Structuring | 20% |
| Grammar & Linguistics | 20% |
Penalties
Plagiarism: Detection of any level of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification from the competition and will be advised to the appropriate authority.
Length: A penalty of 10% will apply to essays not conforming to the specified lengths.
Prizes
The Conducting Authority reserves the right not to award prizes if essays are assessed as not being to a suitable standard.
For papers received satisfying the rules of the competition, the following prizes will be awarded to the three best essays, provided there are at least five entries; otherwise the quantum of the prize will be reduced according to the following scale:
| Number of Entries | First Prize | Second Prize | Third Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Entry | €200 | - | - |
| 2 Entries | €300 | €200 | - |
| 3 Entries | €350 | €250 | €100 |
| 4 Entries | €400 | €300 | €150 |
| 5 (or more) Entries | €500 | €350 | €200 |
Reference:
Copyright
Transfer of Copyright
Once submitted, essay copyright will automatically transfer to the conducting authority.
Prize-winning Essays
The copyright of all prize-winning essays will remain with the conducting authority.
Non Prize-winning Essays
Once the conducting authority has announced/promulgated the list of prize-winning essays, the copyright of essays not selected for prizes will automatically transfer back to the respective authors.
Dissemination
The conducting authority will circulate the prize-winning essays to all IONS members and observers, by hard copy and by posting them on the IONS website and IONSPHERE.
Any journal or magazine - other than those produced and/or published by the IONS Secretariat - that wishes to publish any given prize-winning essay is to seek written permission from the conducting authority.
Part Two: Guidelines Specific for IONS essay competition
Topic
Topic of the essay competition would be promulgated by the IONS Chair every year. The details can be found on the website.
Submission of Essays
Entries to the competition should be submitted electronically in both PDF and Word document versions along with the author’s certificate and are to be emailed to the IONS Secretariat on the mail indicated.
Last date for Submission
Entries are to be submitted as per the promulgated date.
Results
The results will be notified as per the instructions issued for each edition of IONS essay competition.
Draft Author's Certificate
I hereby testify:
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
Essay Competition
I have not used any confidential information and/or resources in the writing process.
I have read and understood the rules of the competitions and I agree to abide by them.
I accept that the verdict of the Conducting Authority is the final decision and that no correspondence will be entered into in this regard.
