From March 25th to 27th, the second annual Shanghai International Debate Open at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) was held, attracting 112 debate teams and 30 adjudicators from 56 top universities from across China and across the world.
On March 25th, the opening ceremony of Shanghai International Debate Open was held at Entrepreneurship Training Center. Over 400 people, attended the opening ceremony. In the beginning, Huang Ying, Vice President of SUFE addressed the ceremony and declared it open for the competition.
Candidates coming from various universities, such as Beijing University, Fudan University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Foreign Studies University, the University of Hong Kong and the University of Oxford gathered together in SUFE to present a grand debate feast. In addition, distinguished and honored adjudicators including Mr. Loke Wing Fatt, “the father of English debate in China”, and Chen Cong, one of the most influential figures of English debate in China and other brilliant debate experts all participated in the Shanghai International Debate Open.
British Parliamentary Style, as one of most popular academic debating styles practiced in the international debate scene was adopted for the Shanghai International Debate Open and the debate topics varied from social life, economic development, to international relations, and cultural geography
After the intense competition, the team with debaters from Oxford University and the University of Hong Kong won the championship. Runners up included debaters from SUFE, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing Language and Culture University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
The second Shanghai International Debate Open of 2016 was the largest debate event in China with numerous candidates and prominent experts and judges. This contest not only establishes a relationship with international academic universities but also nurtures students’ ability in critical thinking.
