AIEN Student Writing Competition 2026-2027: Essays on International Energy Negotiations, Contract, Law or Policy

The Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN), formerly the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), is a professional association based in Houston, Texas, with regional chapters including Africa, Asia, Australia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean and MENA. It publishes the AIEN Model Contracts and its official journal, the Journal of World Energy Law and Business, is published by Oxford University Press.

Since 2001, AIEN has sponsored an annual Student Writing Competition, giving students the opportunity to submit an original essay on a topic related to international energy negotiations, including matters of contract, law or policy. The 2026-2027 edition is now open.

The essay must address a topic directly related to international energy negotiations, such as contract, legal or policy matters. Students choose their own topic within this field.

• Applicants must be current AIEN members or applicants for membership.
• Applicants must be full-time seniors in a four-year program or graduate students enrolled at an accredited university during either the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semester.
• Previous Student Writing Competition winners are not eligible to participate.
• Students related to current AIEN Officers or Directors are not eligible to win.
• By submitting an entry, you certify that you are not related to any foreign (outside the United States) government official, nor subject to any United States economic sanctions.

The official page and briefing document state no nationality restriction, so students at Indian universities who meet these conditions may enter.

• Length: not more than 4,000 words, excluding footnotes (approximately 12 double-spaced pages).
• Footnotes in Bluebook citation format, placed at the bottom of each page.
• A current curriculum vitae of not more than one page in 12-point font, including full name, email address and phone number.
• Proof of enrolment, if AIEN does not already have a copy on file as part of your student membership records.
• A high-resolution JPEG (300 dpi) headshot-style photo (the awardee will be featured in the AIEN Advisor newsletter and on AIEN's LinkedIn page).

The official page and briefing document do not mention an entry fee for the competition itself, but entrants must be AIEN members or applicants for membership. AIEN's Join page states that the annual fee for Student Membership is USD 50. Student Member applicants must list one Active or Government/National Company Member in good standing as a reference and submit proof of student status and expected graduation date. AIEN offers help finding a reference at membership@aien.org.

The winning student will receive registration to either the AIEN International Energy Summit (15-17 June 2027, Westin Singapore Hotel, Singapore) or the Model Contracts Workshop (4-7 October 2027, Pan Pacific Vancouver, Canada). The prize also includes roundtrip coach airfare (advance purchase), up to USD 300 in reimbursable travel expenses (with receipts), standard hotel accommodation during the conference and one year of complimentary AIEN student membership.

In addition, the winning essays may be eligible for publication in the Journal of World Energy Law and Business. AIEN reserves the right to award one winner or no winner if no submission meets the competition standards; selection is at AIEN's sole discretion.

Send all documentation together in one e-mail (PDF documents preferred) to education@aien.org by 15 December 2026. Items received after this date or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Students enrolled at schools associated with AIEN's Education Advisory Board program must submit their essays to their faculty representative, who may nominate up to four papers from that school. Students at non-participating schools submit directly to AIEN.