First edition of ICDD begins, aims to be open platform to discuss issues

In the presence of Qatar Foundation (QF) Vice-Chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani and a number of sheikhs and ministers, the first edition of the International Conference on Debate and Dialogue (ICDD) and the accompanying exhibition, organised by the QatarDebate Centre, got under way Monday.The two-day conference at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) aims to be an open platform for discussing academic issues specialised in the global debate community of researchers, interested people and academics, and exchanging training and educational experiences in a way that contributes to the development of knowledge production in the fields of debate, dialogue, argumentation and interrelated disciplines.The conference will focus on four main themes: 'Argumentation: Frameworks and Applications', 'Debate and Education', 'Debate in Islamic Heritage' and 'Dialogue: Cultural and Social Dimensions".The opening session of the conference included a speech by HE Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater, Minister of State for International Co-operation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and another by Dr Hayat Abdullah Maarafi, executive director of QatarDebate Centre.HE AlKhater, in her speech, attention to the arts of debate in poetry and literature and between Muslim scholars and Orientalists, and how these debates were like "intellectual wars" that enriched cultural life, deepened awareness of various issues and contributed to the development of skills, arts, sciences and language.She noted the role of the QatarDebate Centre in reviving the culture of debate, extending platforms and expanding partnerships, while highlighting its role in disseminating the culture of debate in the Arabic language in various countries of the world, spreading the Arabic language among non-native speakers and raising the level of language and logical arguments among Arabs and others from other nations, as well as its role in establishing academic programmes in many countries.HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation hoped that this conference will bear fruit and achieve its goal of being a comprehensive platform for researchers and those interested in the science and art of debating.Dr Maarafi noted that the centre has become one of the most important institutions concerned with debate and dialogue in the whole world. It contributes to enriching dialogue and empowering minds by organising and hosting the largest international and continental championships in school and university debates in both Arabic and English.She stressed that the centre is determined to continue its competitive debate programmes and allow society to obtain the greatest possible benefit following the great success achieved in the field of competitive debates and the expansion in the number of beneficiaries of its educational programmes and activities to include more than 500 universities and schools in 80 countries and thousands of participants.She continued, "We started five years ago to conclude partnerships with universities within and outside the country to offer university courses on the art of debate and critical thinking, including a debate course for students of the Police College in Qatar, and co-operation with well-established American institutions to offer courses that apply debate to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.”She said these efforts culminated in a qualitative partnership with Tunisia's University Ez-Zitouna to design and launch a masters programme, the first of its kind, titled 'The Art of Debate in Comparative Jurisprudence'.The Qatar Debate Research Fellowship was also launched to sponsor researchers interested in developing knowledge in the field of debate in an integrated programme that extends for two years and provides them with all the resources necessary to devote efforts to practical, interdisciplinary research.Dr Maarafi expressed happiness at launching the first edition of the conference, which will serve as a forum for researchers, academics, trainers and debaters, and the nucleus of an academic network that studies the past and present of dialogue experiences.She highlighted QF's great support aimed at empowering generations, discovering talents and capabilities and employing them to bring about the positive change needed by the State and its institutions, noting that the centre has worked to build an Arab model for debate and dialogue that is open to different cultures."We contributed to training teachers to employ the strategy of debate in classrooms, trained workers in the health sector, including doctors and nurses, contributed to the development of communication skills among security personnel, and provided specialised programmes for workers in the diplomatic corps," she added.Speakers at a panel discussion titled 'Debate institutions around the world: role and impact', stressed the importance of the art of debate in "confronting argument with argument", critical thinking, discussing current topics and issues, and analysing and understanding evidence. They praised QatarDebate for the establishment of their centres and benefiting from it in adapting their activities according to the requirements and conditions of their communities.They noted the role of QatarDebate in spreading the culture of diversity, difference, argumentative debate and constructive dialogue, and how it contributed to helping them transfer dialogue and debate from an elite society to the general public.The speakers reviewed their experiences in establishing debate centres in their countries, while referring to the awards they obtained locally, regionally and internationally and their ability to include the art of debate in educational curricula in schools and universities and to widely spread this culture in co-operation with educational, social and governmental institutions.