The administration and oversight of the European Sociological Essay Olympiad (ESEO) are carried out by the following official bodies:

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a) The ESEO Executive Board

The Executive Board is the primary governing body of the Olympiad and is responsible for managing the overall affairs of ESEO, ensuring that regulations and ethical standards are upheld, and representing the Olympiad in international matters. It convenes and organizes official meetings and communicates with national delegations. The Board is also responsible for the final approval of participating delegations, oversight of the essay topic selection process, and the coordination of the annual competition.

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ESEO Current Executive Board Members:

• Prof. Elena Kotsiopoulos (Chair)

• Dr. Giannis Papadimakis (Senior Researcher)

• Prof. Sofia Müller (Academic Coordinator)

• Dr. Luca Bianchi (Assessment Chair)

• Prof. Ingrid Svensson (Ethics Committee Chair)

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The Executive Board reaches decisions by simple majority. Any significant decisions affecting delegations or participants are communicated to all official delegation contacts within 10 days.

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Contact: executiveboard@eusocolympiad.org

 

b) The Academic Committee

The Academic Committee is entrusted with overseeing the academic integrity and intellectual standards of the ESEO. Each year, national delegations are invited to propose essay topics for consideration. From these, the Academic Committee selects the final set of topics to be used in the competition, ensuring they reflect current sociological debates and diverse perspectives.

The Committee is also responsible for confirming essay evaluation criteria, supervising the anonymous grading process, and addressing any academic issues or disputes raised during the assessment period. In addition, it provides delegations with resources and guidance to help participants understand expectations and prepare effectively.

The Academic Committee works closely with national delegations, academic reviewers, and, where appropriate, external researchers or doctoral candidates to assist in maintaining high scholarly standards.

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*Note that to maintain academic rigor and fairness, the Academic Committee may consult external specialists, including independent researchers, doctoral candidates, and experienced educators, to assist in the development of grading frameworks or participate in the essay review process. These contributors are carefully selected based on their expertise in sociology or related fields and are bound by the same confidentiality and ethical standards as official Committee members.*Note that to maintain academic rigor and fairness, the Academic Committee may consult external specialists, including independent researchers, doctoral candidates, and experienced educators, to assist in the development of grading frameworks or participate in the essay review process. These contributors are carefully selected based on their expertise in sociology or related fields and are bound by the same confidentiality and ethical standards as official Committee members.

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c) The Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee ensures that all aspects of the Olympiad are conducted fairly, respectfully, and in accordance with established ethical guidelines. Any participant, delegation leader, or academic reviewer may approach the Committee if they believe they have been treated unfairly or if any irregularities occur.

Its primary function is to mediate disputes confidentially between parties involved. If a resolution cannot be achieved through mediation, the matter is formally presented to the Executive Board for a final decision. The Ethics Committee guarantees that all processes respect participant privacy and uphold the ESEO’s commitment to transparency and integrity.

The names of the Ethics Committee members are communicated to all official delegation contacts in advance of the competition.

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