Students represent IE University for the 2025 Technology Governance Student Policy Challenge

IE University students recently shone at the highly anticipated 2025 Technology Governance Student Policy Challenge, hosted by the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Canada. 

The challenge brought together some 25 students from various world-leading institutions to focus on the 23 objectives of the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Young talent then crafted analyses aimed at influencing policy development in preparation for the 2026 International Migration Review Forum. 

This year centered around "Emerging Technology for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration," addressing the rise of global migration in the 21st century. 

Participating on behalf of IE University was a team comprised of students Ana Michele Sanchez Holzwarth, Carolina Ciriani, Gabriela Álvarez and Juan Antonio Chapa Guzman. They proposed BridgeYou—an inclusive, tech-driven platform aimed at recognizing and validating the skills of refugees in alignment with Objective 18 of the Global Compact for Migration. Their platform addresses the challenge faced by displaced individuals who arrive in host countries without documentation of their education and work experience, allowing users to upload existing documents and undergo AI-supported assessments, including digital interviews and competency evaluations. 

BridgeYou also proposes to provide targeted online training, certifications and cultural orientation while guiding users through local accreditation processes and connecting them with employers. Sanchez Holzwarth comments: "We proposed BridgeYou as a collaborative pilot involving key organizations such as UNHCR and UNITAR, envisioning future scalability through bilateral and multilateral agreements." 

"Overall, the challenge was an incredibly rewarding experience. It gave us the space to take a humanitarian issue and reimagine it through a tech and policy lens—blending innovation, ethics and real-world impact," Sanchez Holzwarth continues. "The diversity of projects and mentorship made it even more enriching, and we left feeling both challenged and inspired." 

IE University also submitted student Kadambari Balasubramanian as a solo entrant. Balasubramanian focused on Objective 9, which aims to strengthen transnational responses to migrant smuggling. The proposal explored frugal technological solutions—such as using heat mapping to identify recruitment hotspots—to support more effective and targeted interventions. "This kind of approach can help transition migrant protection from reactive to proactive by identifying local vulnerabilities before they're exploited," says Balasubramanian. "It also enables limited resources—like educational initiatives and legal aid—to be directed where they're needed most. This helps inform smarter, more responsive regional migration policies."

Reflecting on highlights of the competition, Balasubramanian says: "I loved working with Andrew Thompson, who served as a mentor throughout the event. His feedback was consistently insightful, practical and encouraging. It was clear he genuinely cared about supporting participants and helping us develop meaningful policy ideas. It was a truly rewarding experience."

All candidates study at IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs and prepared for the competition with advanced training workshops and mentoring sessions, refining their ability to craft actionable policy recommendations. The competition finished with each presenting their projects to an expert panel of judges comprising industry practitioners, government representatives and expert faculty members. 

The 2025 Technology Governance Student Policy Challenge is a landmark initiative that engages bright minds from top academic institutions including Balsillie School of International Affairs, American University, New York University, the University of Western Cape and Sci Po. A visioning report has been compiled from the competition, which aims to influence policymakers in the ongoing discourse surrounding technology and migration. 

IE University commends students on their contribution and looks forward to seeing their careers progress as global changemakers after graduation.