From November 4th till evening November 5th, the UCU Open 2016 will take place in Utrecht, Netherlands. Being an international tournament, its debates will be held in British Parliament Style and in English. Following five preliminary rounds, there will be semi finals and a final as well as a novice final. The CA team consists of Rebecca Irvine, Nishith Hegde, Clíodhna Ní Chéileachair, Ilija Ivanišević and Ybo Buruma, the convenor is Jelte Schievels. Questions can be directed to ucuopen@gmail.com. All known information: Date: November 4th - November 5th (late evening) Convenor: Jelte Schievels Accomodation: Crash Registration: Online formular Registration fee: 30 € ...

From November 14th till November 17th (the week between Oxford IV and Cambridge IV), the Scottish EUDC 2018 OrgComm will organize two free training sessions each night at varying universities in London. These training sessions are open to anyone interested and will also be streamed and recorded to make them accessible to people who cannot make it to London. So far, no further information is known, but anyone interested may check out the Facebook page of the event. jgg./jm.

On Saturday, November 19th, the first Maastricht Novice 2016 will take place. Located in Maastricht, it is a British-Parliament-Style novice tournament (speeches 5 minutes each) with four preliminary rounds followed by a final. The Chief Adjudicators are Srdjan Miletic, Jelte Schievels and Lucy Lester, any questions may be directed to rhetoricadebating@gmail.com. All known information: Date: November 19th, 2016 Accomodation: None, but crash can be organized if needed by contacting the organizer using the above e-mail address Registration: Onlineformular Registration fee: 10€ per speaker, 5€ per judge Adjudicator rule: tba Format: BPS Rounds: 4 preliminary rounds, finale Chief adjudicators: Srdjan Miletic, Jelte ...

From Friday, December 9th, til Sunday, December 11th, the Centrale Open 2016 takes place in Paris. Since this is an international tournament, debates will be held in British Parliament Style and in English. Following five preliminary rounds, there'll be semi finals and a final, as well as an ESL final. Sella Nevo, Harish Natarajan und Sharmila Parmanand are the Chief Adjudicators; any questions can be directed to ecpdebating@gmail.com. All known informations: Date: December 9th - December 11th, 2016 Accomodation: Crash on campus Regisration: Online formular Registration fee: 55 € per speaker Adjudicator rule: n-1 Format: BPS Rounds: 5 preliminary rounds, semi finals ...

From Friday, December 2nd, to Sunday, December 4th, the Lund IV 2016 will be hosted in Lund. The tournament is international, therefore it will be held under British Parliamentary Style (BPS) rules with English as the spoken language. It consists of 5 preliminary rounds, followed by quarter finals, semi finals and a final. Also, it includes a novice break. The CA-Team consists of Olivia Sundberg Diez and Michael Dunn Goekjian. Questions may be directed to lundiv2016@gmail.com. The information on the tournament in a nutshell: Date: 2-4 December, 2016 Host: Lund Debate Society Accomodation: Hotel Registration: Online Formular Registration fee: 750 SEK Adjudicator rule: n-1 ...

From Friday, November 25th, to Sunday, November 27th, the Tilbury House IV 2016 will be hosted in Cologne. The tournament is international, therefore it will be held under British Parliamentary Style (BPS) rules with English as the spoken language. It consists of 5 preliminary rounds, followed by semi finals and a final. The CA-Team consists of Johan Båge, Duncan Crowe and Melda Eren. Also, mixed teams are allowed. Questions may be directed to Agnes Ineza who can be reached via agnes.ineza@gmail.com. The information on the tournament in a nutshell: Date: 25-27 November, 2016 Host: Tilbury House Accomodation: Hostel Registration: Online Formular Registration fee: ...

From Friday, December 9th, to Sunday, December 11th, the 18th SSE Riga IV will be hosted at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. The tournament is international, therefore it will be held under British Parliamentary Style (BPS) rules with English as the spoken language. It consists of 5 preliminary rounds, followed by an open break with partial quarter finals as well as a novice break and completed by semi finals and a final. Mixed-teams are accepted. The CA-Team consists of Monica Forman, Johan Båge, Michael Dunn Goekjian and a yet to be announced member, Stefan Siridzanski will be the equity ...

On October 28-30, 2016, the Munich Open will take place for the first time. The tournament is international, therefore it will be held under British Parliamentary Style (BPS) rules with English as the spoken language.  It consists of 5 preliminary rounds, semifinals and the final. Chief Adjudicators are Melda Eren, Olivia Sundberg Diez and Ben Shaw. The role of the equity officer will be fulfilled by Milla Huuskonen. Responsible for the well-being of the participants will be the Chief Convenors Christian Rausch and Katharina Heinrich. You can contact them via vorstand@debattierclub-muenchen.de or on Twitter (@DC_munich). The information on the tournament in a nutshell: ...

[caption id="attachment_29710" align="alignright" width="344"] View over Warsaw - © Lennart Lokstein[/caption] The European Universities Debating Championship is over. Winner of the ESL-final is Tel Aviv A (Dan Lahav, Ayal Hayut-man) from Closing Government, thus becoming ESL-Champions, whereas the teams Tel Aviv C (Tom Manor, Noam Dahan) from Opening Government, Leiden D (Lisa Schallenberg, Simon Martina-Perez) from Opening Opposition and Leiden A (Floris Holstege, Emma Lucas) from Closing Opposition become vice ESL-Champions. The final's motion was "This house believes that western states should support breakaway regions in former Sovjet states (e.g. East Ukraine l South Ossetia) joining the Russian federation conditional on holding free and ...

[caption id="attachment_29710" align="alignright" width="344"] View over Warsaw - © Lennart Lokstein[/caption] At the EUDC 2016, hosted in Warsaw, the following teams make the break. Note that, different to WUDC, ESL (English as a Second Language) teams can be in both the EPL (English as Primary Language) and ESL break if they are high enough in the total ranking. ESL teams in the EPL ("main") break are marked. In the EPL category (English as Primary Language): Durham A PEP A LSE A Cambridge B TCD Phil B Durham B Oxford C Hebrew A Tel Aviv A (ESL) Cambridge A Oxford A Tel Aviv ...

Coming Sunday at the 14th August the European Debating Championship 2016 will take place in Warsaw and, as usual, the Achte Minute will be there to report. But for now the big question is not yet who managed to break but rather what to bring along. As a wonderful German proverb states: "Life ain't no pony yard" - it means that life isn't easy. Most participants have to pack their own bags, since mother or father don't do it for them anymore. So we want to have a chat out of the sewing box with you about things we deem ...

[caption id="attachment_29548" align="alignright" width="400"] Team England wins the WSDC 2016 - © Dominique Brewing[/caption] The English high school students Rosa Thomas, Archie Hall and Kenza Wilks won the grand final of the WSDC 2016 in Stuttgart as proposition on the motion „This house believes that states should be allowed to pay other states to relocate and settle refugees.“ The English team debated against the opposing Canadian team represented by Dasha Metropolitansky, Rory Flynn and Alex Wu. In the WSD format, teams consist of five students, three of which speak per debate. Therefore, Edward Bracey and Ife Grillo of Team England also ...

On the 19th-29th Juli the World Schools Debating Championships take place in and around Stuttgart, Germany (an article about the WSDC 2016 can be found here). The Achte Minute was visiting the event and we’ve interviewed some of the participating debaters from all around the world. Because of the large number of interviews the first part of this Mittwochs-Feature was already published yesterday. In this part you can find the interviews with: Naz Gocek, Branksome Hall - Canada Barbara Krumpholz, Europäisches Gymnasium Bertha-von-Suttner - Germany Thomas Murphy, Dubai College - United Arabic Emirates Abhaya Gauchan, Ratobangala School - Nepal   Naz Gocek, Branksome Hall - Canada [caption id="attachment_29517" ...

On the 19th-29th Juli the World Schools Debating Championships take place in and around Stuttgart, Germany (an article about the WSDC 2016 can be found here). The Achte Minute was visiting the event and has interviewed some of the participating debaters from all around the world. Because of the large number of interviews, the first part of this Mittwochs-Feature is already published today. The second part will be published regularly at 10am on Wednesday. In this part you can find the interviews with: Kenza Wilks, Dulwich College - England Alejo Gonzalez Virgili, Belgrano Day School - Argentina Jay Tanatswa Muzhingi, Kutama College - Zimbabwe Kenza ...

In addition to debating at universities, competition has spread at schools all over the globe in recent decades. For example, participating countries annually send a delegation of pupils aged 14 to 19 to the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC), which are comparable to the World Universities Debating Championships. Laura Alviz of the Debating Society Germany e.V. explains what exactly that means. WSDC takes place in Stuttgart next week. After the German team had to cover long distances in 2014 and 2015 to reach the Southeast Asian cities Bangkok and Singapore, traveling becomes easier this year. WSDC takes place in seven days ...

The WUDC - World Universities Debating Championship - are hosted annually around New Year and decide, who will become the english speaking university debating champions in one of three language categories. [caption id="attachment_28793" align="alignleft" width="400"] An Komfort völlig ausreichend? Jugendherberge in Tübingen // Sufficient comfort? Youth hostel in Tübingen // © Lennart Lokstein[/caption] In the German (in this article meaning: German speaking language region - primarily Germany, Austria and Switzerland) debate szene international tournaments aren't really important. The WUDC 2013 in Berlin and the EUDC 2015 in Vienna may have risen attention and as far as I'm informed the number of VDCH ...

It is that time of year when debaters all around the world flock to virtual forums to discuss the merits of the bids for the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC). Most will argue that this year’s one horse race has already been decided. It probably has, and the Mexicans can be proud of the bid they have presented. This situation makes it all the easier for me to present what I believe to be a helpful metric in deciding on bids in general. With only one bid, I can hardly be accused of partisanship. I hope my words will resonate in ...

  Worlds are over, but some questions remain. Why was there a delay during the preliminary rounds every day? Did Tabbie2 malfunction at any time? Or were the adjudicator scores lost? Worlds Tab Master Jakob Reiter from DK Wien talked to Achte Minute about tabbing the biggest international tournament, his software Tabbie2, and other technical details. Achte Minute: Dear Jakob, you were one of the Tab Masters at the World University Debating Championships in Thessaloniki. How do you feel after this tournament? Jakob: I am really happy I had the opportunity to be the Tab Master. It is always a great challenge to ...

The World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) is the largest international debating tournament. The first WUDC took place in Glasgow in 1981 in which only 43 teams from seven nations participated. This year, more than 440 teams from all continents compete for the title of World Debating Champion. The WUDC 2016 will take place in Thessaloniki, Greece. Two clubs cooperate to host the tournament: The Rhetoric Club of Thessaloniki, one of the oldest debating societies in Greece, and the Debating Society of Greece, a group of experienced Greek debate trainers and organisers that provides debate training to young people in universities. ...

On September 6-10, 2015, the Red Sea Open will take place once more in Eilat, Israel.Besides the Red Sea, a pool and free alcohol at the hotel, the organization comittee promises workshops and an experienced Chief Adjudication Core, consisting of Monica Forman, Helena Ivanova and Amanda Moorghen.Teams and adjudicators can still register.The information on the tournament in a nutshell:Host: tba.Convener: tba.Date: 6-10 September, 2015Rounds: Six preliminary rounds, Semifinals and FinalChief Adjudicators: Monica Forman, Helena Ivanova and Amanda MoorghenRegistration fee: Israeli participants - 550 NIS, Participants from abroad - 470 NIS (about 110 Euros)You can find more information in the Facebook-event ...

St. Andrews A (Ruairidh Macintosh, Alex Don) and Tel Aviv B (Stav Singer, Iddan Golomb) are the European Champions 2015.St. Andrews won the debate on "This House would treat the deaths of soldiers as regrettable losses of lifes rather than examples of heroism." out of Closing Opposition against GUU A (Duncan Crowe, Chris Edgar) in Opening Government, UCD LawSoc A (Aodhan Peelo, Paul O'Dwyer) in Opening Opposition and Tel Aviv A (Ayal Hayut-man, Dan Lahav) in Closing Government.The final in the category "English as a Second Language" was won by Tel Aviv B out of Opening Opposition. They debated against ...

The European Universities Debating Championships (EUDC) are almost over. Time to publish the break and the results of the outrounds so far:The BreakThe following teams broke into the quarterfinals of this year's EUDC:     The outrounds were judged by Adam Hawksbee, Amanda Moorghen, Anat Shapira, Andrew Ford, Annabelle van Beusekom, Ary Ferreira de Cunha, Ben Adams, Bethany Garry, Beth Eades, Bionda Merkens, Claudia Hyde, Cerys Bradley, Christine Simpson, Craig McDonald, Daan Welling, Daniel Bregman, Eitan Har Oz, Eliot Pallot, Emilia Carlqvist, Franny Solnick, Fred Cowell, Gavin Tucker, Gavin Illsley, Gareth Williams, Sarah Jennings, Hannah Metcalfe, Harish Natarajan, James Clough, James Dixon, Jamie Batchelor, Jess pierce, Jess Redmond, Joe Mayes, Karin Merckens, Kitty Parker Brooks, Leela Koenig, Louis Collier, Luke Murray, Madeline Schultz , Mark Haughton, Matthew Wilmore , Michael Shapira, Niels Schröter, Nika Jelaska, Omer Nevo, Oskar Avery, Penny Sadeghi, Pete Doughton, Radu Cotarcea, Rebecca Irvine, Richard Hopps, Rosie Unwin, Ruby Holmes, Sam Block, Samuel Ward Packard, Sella ...

The first three days and six open rounds of the European Universities Debating Championships are already over. Tomorrow the competing teams will debate three more rounds without getting the results before the break will be announced at the Pratersauna.The Adjudication Team published the resultes in a Google-Doc, which is available online.The results of competing teams of debating societies of the VDCH - Association of German Speaking University Debating Societies are listed here:[caption id="attachment_27073" align="alignright" width="400"] Registration Desk on the first day of Vienna EUDC 2015. (c) Vienna EUDC 2015[/caption]Berlin A - 9 points (Florian Grünwald and Tanja Maximow, Berlin)Berlin B - 8 points ...

From coming Sunday on, the European Debating Championship (EUDC) 2015 in Vienna will take place. The tournament starts on August 2 and ends on Saturday, August 8. The schedule includes nine preliminary rounds, semi-finals and finals among dinners, parties and a Council meeting.Being the second biggest debating tournament worldwide after the World Championship and organized by the Vienna Debating Society, a member of the German debating circuit, it will have over 650 participants arriving from all over Europe.As usual with big international tournaments, there will be equity guidelines, whoch can be read in the current equity briefing. They deal with ...

This summer, about 1000 people will travel to Vienna for the 17th European Universities Debating Championships (EUDC or Euros). The Debattierklub Wien (DK Wien) hosts the week-long tournament. Stefan Zweiker is the convener, overseeing 23 other members of the organising committee and international volunteers.One year after and 267 kilometres to the north of Zagreb EUDC, the championship is again up for grabs. Until then, Sheffield holds the title; in the category of English as a Second Language (ESL), the current champions are from Belgrade.The Blue Danube Euros, as the organisers call them, will last from August 2-8.The Chief Adjudicators (CAs) ...

After Tim Squirrel provoked a debate on free speech, Amanda Moorghen, deputy chief adjudicator of this year's European Universities Debating Championship in Vienna, proposed in a comment on Facebook that chief adjudicators (CAs) should take the debaters' feelings into consideration when setting motions: "Your race, your gender – these are things which affect the feelings a motion creates in you. It is wrong when, even unintentionally, we only selectively attempt to avert the suffering of others."  The post got a lot of attention. Shengwu Li, European Champion 2009 and best speaker of the World Univeristies Debating Championship in 2010, answered ...

After the Nordic Debating Championship in 2013 and the first Helsinki Open last year, the debating societies from Aalto University (ADS) and Helsinki University (HDS) invite debaters in the Far North: to the second Helsinki Open on May 9 and 10, 2015 - one of the Northernmost debating tournaments. The organizers are confident to present a wonderful, not-so-cold event featuring five preliminary rounds with a break into semi-finals as well as socials including traditional Finnish sauna. The tournament will be on Saturday and Sunday, but there will be a social on Friday night. A Google Doc for registration is already ...

The Glasgow University Union (GUU) invites debaters from all over the world to participate at the GUU Ancients and the GUU Women's on Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17, 2015. The organising comitee promises a three course black-tie dinner and yakka.The Chief Adjudicaters for GUU Ancients are Emilia Carlqvist, Simon Tunnicliffe, Hugh Guidera and Heather Whiteside. For GUU Women's, Parnian Sadeghi, Hannah Martin and Maria Ni Fhlatharta sit on the panel.Important information for GUU Ancients:Host: GUUDate: 15 and 16 May 2015Convener: Duncan CroweRounds: Five preliminary rounds, break to the semisChief Adjudicators: Emilia Carlqvist, Simon Tunnicliffe, Hugh Guidera and Heather WhitesideRegistration fee: £40 in advance for UK based institutions and Open teams (£50 on ...

The CBS Debating Society announced the second Copenhagen Open. The tournament takes place from the 27th to the 29th of March 2015 and will provide five preliminary rounds with seven minute speeches and a break to semifinals. The detailed schedule is available at the Facebook-Event.There are going to be two Chief Adjudicators (CAs) and two Deputy Chief Adjudicators (DCAs):CA Dessislava Kirova, who served as DCA at Manchester European Universities Debating Championship (EUDC) 2013, Co-CA of the Pan-African University Debating Championship in Limpopo 2014 and is an English as a Second Language (ESL) Finalist of the Zagreb EUDC 2014, Finalist of ...

South Africa is currently applying to host the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC) in 2017. Should the bid be successful, Dessislava Kirova would form the Chief Adjudication panel, together with Gemma Buckley from Australia and Syed Saddiq from Malaysia. Anne Gaa spoke with her about her plans for the Worlds.Achte Minute: How did you get to be nominated by the South African OrgCom? Is there a special relationship between the German and South African debating communities?Dessislava Kirova: It was quite surprising. At the Paris Open 2013, I met someone who was, at that time, part of the organizing team. That connection ...