SISU holds Shanghai International Debate Challenges

  • Enrtants preparing for SIDC

  • The hot debate during the final

  • Entrants advancing to the final and the adjudicator team

T

he first Shanghai International Debate Challenge (SIDC), which ran from Sep.16 to Sep.17 on Shanghai International Studies University’s (SISU’s) Songjiang campus, drew a record 160 competitors and 80 teams, plus 58 judges from six regions and countries. 

SIDC adopted the format of British Parliamentary. Every four teams with two debaters each simulated “government” and “opposition” of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Debating topics were around current challenges of globalization, including education, social media marketing, international relations, welfare systems, self-employment, feminism, and business start-ups.   

SIDC aims at strengthening participants’ debating skills and encouraging them to think of global issues further.

Chanel Chen, the debate trainer and the judge of World University Debate Championship (WUDC), was invited to be the chief adjudicator of SIDC. Dr. Chandran Somasundram, associate professor of Malaya University, with other 19 judges, formed SIDC’s international adjudicator team.

SIDC’s final still had four teams debating on “whether private property rights will be terminated or not” after strict selections for more than five rounds. Kevin Yang and Evan Shen from US, two members of number two team of “Learning Leaders”, won first place for great live performance and fluent spoken English.

Before the final, Chanel Chen and three other experienced judges showed competitors the British parliamentary debating skills by debating on the immigration policy.

The challenge, hosted by Communist Youth League of China and SISU Committee, was organized by SISU Student’s Union with the co-organization of SISU English Debate Society.

The preparations for SIDC started this April and they hope more students will pay attention to English debate through this competition, according to Yu Youqi, the convener of SIDC.

The adjudicator team also set up the pre-school training camp in Honors College from September 14 to 15. The course covered not only the rules and techniques of British Parliamentary, but also international relations and socio-economic expertise.