WASHINGTON (August 4, 2026) – The George Washington University will join a select group of leading institutions participating in the 2027 Entente Cordiale University Challenge, offering opportunities for GW students to collaborate with peers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France on solutions to contemporary global challenges.
GW Students Join Expanding U.S. Cohort
Announced during the 2026 Entente Cordiale Summit in Paris, GW is among the inaugural group of U.S. universities invited to participate in the Challenge, joining the University of Virginia, William & Mary, Columbia University, Lafayette College, and the University of Alabama.
For the 2026–27 competition, student teams will explore the theme, Artificial Intelligence, Power, and Ethics, examining how rapidly evolving technologies are reshaping governance, markets, information systems and society. Teams will develop innovative policy or technical solutions to real-world challenges, with finalists advancing to the Entente Cordiale Summit at the University of Oxford on April 7–8, 2027, where they will present their research before an international grand jury.
Expanding Global Opportunities at GW
Participation in the Entente Cordiale University Challenge reflects GW's longstanding commitment to preparing students for leadership through international engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration and research that addresses global challenges.
The competition is open to undergraduate, master's and doctoral students from all disciplines. Teams of three students will collaborate on an original research report proposing practical solutions to issues at the intersection of artificial intelligence, power and ethics.
Student registration is open through Oct. 30, 2026, with written submissions due Jan. 10, 2027. Interested students may reach out to the GW Center for Undergraduate Fellowships & Research.
About the Entente Cordiale Summit
Launched in 2024, the Entente Cordiale Summit has emerged as an international forum bringing together leading universities, policymakers, and future leaders to address complex global issues. Often described as a "Student Davos," the initiative provides students with an opportunity to engage directly with distinguished leaders from government, academia, and industry while developing interdisciplinary solutions to contemporary challenges.
Established as a Franco-British initiative under the joint patronage of His Majesty King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron, the Entente Cordiale Day Association celebrates international cooperation inspired by the 1904 Entente Cordiale agreement between the United Kingdom and France.
At the heart of the initiative is the annual Entente Cordiale University Challenge, which invites teams of three students from any discipline and degree level to develop original, solution-focused research addressing a shared global theme. Student submissions are evaluated by an international jury, with the top teams advancing to present their work before distinguished leaders during the Entente Cordiale Summit. Participating institutions include the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the London School of Economics and Political Science, Sorbonne University, Sciences Po and École Polytechnique, alongside a select group of U.S. universities.
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