UQ encourages a healthy debate

Discussion will be rife at The University of Queensland this afternoon, when eight of the nation’s best high school debaters battle it out at the St Lucia campus.

The UQ Faculty of Business, Economics and Law is hosting the preliminary final of the National Schools Debating competition – a week-long tournament which sees teams from every state and territory compete in a round robin format.

Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Associate Dean Professor Sarah Derrington said UQ was pleased to host the preliminary final and welcomed the teams and their supporters on campus.

“I would like to congratulate all of the competitors on being selected to represent their State or Territory at a national level and look forward to a lively debate on Friday,” Professor Derrington said.

“Being able to formulate an argument and articulate ideas clearly are skills which will always be valuable, whether at school, university or in the workplace.”

Debates have been held across Brisbane high schools, allowing students an opportunity to see the nation’s best debaters in action.

The tournament is also the setting for the selection of the Australian Schools Debating team, which goes on to represent Australia at the World Schools Debating Championships.

Each team in the competition is comprised of four members, with some States also bringing reserves.

Each State is required to provide two adjudicators to judge the debates, as well as a coach to supervise and advise their team.

The debates are judged by a panel of three adjudicators, all of whom have to pass an annually updated national accreditation test, to ensure the best quality of decision and feedback for the debaters.

Media: Queensland Debating Union (07 3870 0680, admin@qdu.org.au) or Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)