Col·legi Oficial de Pedagogia de Catalunya - Frederic Company i Franquesa Pedagogical Essay Award

Frederic Company i Franquesa Pedagogical Essay Award

You win 1,500 EUR plus an award plaque for the best pedagogical essay in this competition. The prize money is taxed as usual. The second-placed entry receives a Special Mention but no cash. COPEC publishes winning essays in its journal and on its website. Each round sets a theme; the most recent one asked about the challenges artificial intelligence poses for education. The award runs every two years. It is given by the Col·legi Oficial de Pedagogia de Catalunya (COPEC), the official professional body for education specialists in Catalonia.

Who can apply

• Your degree: You have a university degree in pedagogy or educational psychology (Bachelor’s, Licentiate or Doctorate).
• Where you come from: You live in Catalonia or elsewhere in Spain. You do not need to be a COPEC member.
• Your essay: You must submit an original, previously unpublished essay of between 5 and 8 pages, written in Catalan or Spanish, which addresses the theme of the current round.
• No repeat winners: You are not allowed to take part if you have won either of the last two rounds.

How to apply

Please email your essay to COPEC. Use a pseudonym in the subject line to ensure the assessment remains anonymous. The deadline for the final round was 26 May. A jury comprising members of COPEC’s Executive Board and committees will make the decision. It may decide to split the prize or not to award it at all.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a one-off prize for an essay and not a general scholarship, so competition is very fierce and the judging panel may decide not to award the prize. However, the pool of entrants is limited: only qualified graduates in Education and Educational Psychology in Spain are eligible to take part, and the essay must address a specific topic in each round. If you have the right qualifications and can write a concise, original piece on this topic, you stand a real chance.