Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq) has won the top spot in the 6th International Universities Debating Championship, beating the team from Jordan’s University of Science and Technology and the team from Higher Institute of Islamic Studies and Research in Mauritania, who won second and third spots, respectively.
The debating championship, was organised by Qatar Foundation (QF) member QatarDebate, in which Arab, Asian, European, and American countries participated – some competing for the first time in an Arabic language debate.
The event was graced by dignitaries, including HE Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi, Undersecretary of Qatar's Ministry of Education and Higher Education and officials from some of the participating countries.
QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University president Dr Ahmad M Hasnah was the guest of honour.
QatarDebate executive director Dr Hayat Abdullah Marafi, highlighted how 324 debaters, 150 judges, and 80 volunteers, representing more than 50 countries, gathered at this competition.
“The Arabic language has brought together young people from many countries. Their races, their varied religions and cultures, their different languages and dialects, shared in their belief of the message of the spoken word,” Dr Marafi said.
The official noted that this year has witnessed many events that demonstrate the far-reaching message of QatarDebate, including the appointment of Salma Elkhaoudi, a PhD candidate from Stanford University, as QatarDebate’s ambassador in the US – a result that stemmed from the co-operation between QatarDebate and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.
A centre, known as 'Arabic Language Studies and Debating', was also launched as the result of the partnership between the university and QatarDebate.
QatarDebate also recently announced the QatarDebate Research Fellowship Programme that seeks to empower and support researchers in order to develop knowledge in the field of debates.
Tamuq students who won the championship expressed their joy at this achievement despite the intensity of the competition.
Moaz Mahmoud Ahmed Rabie said that the real meaning of “victory” changes after winning such an intense competition against extremely strong teams.
Mohamed Khalid Suliman Ahmed, another student from Tamuq's winning team, said: “My association with debating started when I was in first grade, and since then I have continued on the path of debating, experiencing the various stages of loss and victory.
“Next year, when I graduate from Tamuq, I will aim to focus on coaching and refereeing in debating competitions.”
At the competition, the Debating and Thought Foundation from Jordan was announced the winner of the Debating Pioneers Award, given every two years to honour people of determination and innovation in the field of debating.
The debating championship, was organised by Qatar Foundation (QF) member QatarDebate, in which Arab, Asian, European, and American countries participated – some competing for the first time in an Arabic language debate.
The event was graced by dignitaries, including HE Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi, Undersecretary of Qatar's Ministry of Education and Higher Education and officials from some of the participating countries.
QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University president Dr Ahmad M Hasnah was the guest of honour.
QatarDebate executive director Dr Hayat Abdullah Marafi, highlighted how 324 debaters, 150 judges, and 80 volunteers, representing more than 50 countries, gathered at this competition.
“The Arabic language has brought together young people from many countries. Their races, their varied religions and cultures, their different languages and dialects, shared in their belief of the message of the spoken word,” Dr Marafi said.
The official noted that this year has witnessed many events that demonstrate the far-reaching message of QatarDebate, including the appointment of Salma Elkhaoudi, a PhD candidate from Stanford University, as QatarDebate’s ambassador in the US – a result that stemmed from the co-operation between QatarDebate and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.
A centre, known as 'Arabic Language Studies and Debating', was also launched as the result of the partnership between the university and QatarDebate.
QatarDebate also recently announced the QatarDebate Research Fellowship Programme that seeks to empower and support researchers in order to develop knowledge in the field of debates.
Tamuq students who won the championship expressed their joy at this achievement despite the intensity of the competition.
Moaz Mahmoud Ahmed Rabie said that the real meaning of “victory” changes after winning such an intense competition against extremely strong teams.
Mohamed Khalid Suliman Ahmed, another student from Tamuq's winning team, said: “My association with debating started when I was in first grade, and since then I have continued on the path of debating, experiencing the various stages of loss and victory.
“Next year, when I graduate from Tamuq, I will aim to focus on coaching and refereeing in debating competitions.”
At the competition, the Debating and Thought Foundation from Jordan was announced the winner of the Debating Pioneers Award, given every two years to honour people of determination and innovation in the field of debating.
