The 1st National Student Debate Competition, organized by the University of Tehran and the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, was held May 8-9.
University of Tehran hosted the event whose purpose was to identify representatives to attend the Student World Debate Competition, ISNA reported.
Representatives should be fluent in English or one of the world’s widely spoken languages. They should also be skilled in negotiation and discourse, and able to speak about key global developments.
On May 9, winners of the national competition were awarded at a ceremony attended by the head of ACECR Hamidreza Tayyebi, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar, Tehran University Chancellor Mahmoud Nili, a group of Tehran University professors and deputies of ACECR.
The jury of the competition included faculty members from Tehran University and Allameh Tabatabai University as well as officials from ACECR.
“The competition was a cultural initiative for learning the skills of negotiation in a scientific and ethical environment. By holding such events we can learn how to express our opinion in global forums,” Tayyebi said.
“Today, one of the most important challenges is to establish and maintain dialogue with the outside world. With dialogue and debate we can protect our values and culture. Communication skills can also help us understand differences,” Ebtekar said.
She referred to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the international nuclear deal Iran signed with six world powers in 2015) as one of the most successful developments in contemporary history of discourse. “What happened in JCPOA was an important step forward. Dialogue and debate gives the power to resolve conflicts despite differences,” she added.
