National Universities Debating Championship

National Universities Debating Championship 2021

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Debating Championship

National Universities Debating Championship (NUDC2021)

December 2021

The National Universities Debating Championship in Libya (NUDC2021) is a national tournament that brings together debating teams representing Libyan universities. The competition is held in the form of debates between teams, and this championship serves as a qualification for the 6th International Universities Debating Championship (IUDC6). Students participate in this championship to develop their skills in dialogue, critical thinking, and effective exchange of opinions and arguments. The championship provides an important opportunity for students to compete and exchange experiences with students from other universities, while enhancing sportsmanship and mental capabilities of the participants.

The tournament was organized in partnership with Misrata University Student Union, hosted by Misrata University, and in a strategic partnership with QatarDebate. Twenty teams representing thirteen different Libyan universities from across the country participated in the championship. The tournament was divided into two categories: online and in-person. In the online category, all teams competed through synchronous debates divided into three rounds over three days, with one debate per day. Based on the principle of strength, the top 8 ranked teams qualified for the in-person championship.

Attendees

The championship included more than 140 participants from 13 Libyan universities, as follows:

20 teams.
60 debaters.
+30 national adjudicators.
10 international adjudicators (remotly).
+25 volunteers.

Activities

The championship included the following activities:

Evaluation and Adjudication Sessions: These sessions targeted the selected adjudicators to assess their strengths and weaknesses, enhance their knowledge, and improve their debating skills. The aim was to bridge the gap related to different judging criteria.
Opening Ceremony: The opening ceremony served as the official announcement of the championship’s commencement. It was attended by distinguished figures from the municipality of Misrata, Misrata University, and the Council of Elders and Dignitaries of Misrata.
Remote Qualifying Rounds: Three qualifying rounds were organized in which all participating teams engaged in debates on various issues. A total of 26 remote debates were conducted during this phase.
In-Person Qualifying Rounds: Five qualifying rounds were organized for the 8 qualifying teams. These rounds consisted of 20 realistic debates held in person.
Elimination Rounds: Four teams, namely Tripoli University, Misrata, Al-Murgub, and Gharyan, qualified for the elimination rounds, which included semi-finals and finals. The teams competed in a knockout format.
Final Rounds: On Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the third and fourth place determining round took place between Al-Murgub University and Gharyan University. The debate, discussing the cancellation of Third World debts, was held at the Engineering College Theater – Misrata University, with the presence of all participating teams. Later that evening, the closing ceremony took place, which served as a celebration of the championship’s success.
Closing Ceremony: The closing ceremony was held at the College of Arts and Media Theater – Misrata University. It was attended by a number of university students and interested individuals from the youth community.

NUDC Official Video

Introduction:

In the context of the continuous work of the Dialogue & Debate Association to promote and disseminate the culture of debating in Libya, and with reference to the letter from QatarDebate regarding the organization of the 6th International Universities Debating Championship in Arabic in May 2022 in Istanbul, and the invitation extended to Libyan universities through the Dialogue & Debate Association to participate, and our notification of the acceptance of the top three winning university teams in the national championship organized by the association in strategic partnership with QatarDebate, the Dialogue & Debate Association, in coordination with QatarDebate, has decided to launch the National Universities Debating Championship 2021 to provide an opportunity for all Libyan universities to participate and have a chance to represent Libya in the international championship.

The association has decided that the National Universities Debating Championship will be held on the campus of one of the Libyan universities, with Misrata University being targeted to host this championship. The association has entered into a partnership with the General Union of Misrata University Students, and a memorandum of understanding was signed to establish a short-term partnership for organizing the championship. The technical and logistical aspects of organizing the championship were entrusted to the association, while the student union assumed responsibility for the logistical aspects, and both institutions shared the financial costs.

Signing an MOU to organize the NUDC2021

Signing an MOU between Dialogue & Debate Association & Misrata University Student Union to organize the NUDC2021

The organization announced the championship through its website and social media platforms, and published its technical regulations and related information. Concurrently with this announcement, the organization launched an online application form to receive participation requests for the championship, and teams that wish to participate were required to meet the same conditions specified in the technical regulations of the 6th International Universities Debating Championship.

Twenty (20) teams representing thirteen (13) different Libyan universities from various parts of the country applied to join the championship, and all of them were accepted. The participating universities are as follows: Tripoli University (two teams), Misrata University (two teams), Al-Asmarya Islamic University (headquartered in Zliten) (two teams), Sabratha University (two teams), Zintan University (two teams), Zawia University (two teams), Gharyan University (two teams), Al-Mergib University (headquartered in Al-Khums), Sirte University, Benghazi University, Sebha University, Open University (headquartered in Tripoli), Tobruk University.

The National Universities Debating Championship was divided into two categories: online and in-person. In the online category, all teams competed through synchronous debates divided into three rounds over three days, with one debate per day. Based on the strength principle, the top 8 teams qualified for the in-person championship.

Remote Qualifying Rounds:

On December 2, 2021, the National Universities Debating Championship officially commenced online with the participation of all twenty teams. Each team consisted of 3-4 debaters along with a coordinator representing their university. The championship also witnessed the presence of over 30 national and international judges who supervised and adjudicated the debates. Libyan and international judges from Tunisia and Algeria were involved in the championship. Additionally, more than 25 volunteer observers assisted in time management during debates and monitored the teams during preparation.

The online championship was inaugurated with an opening ceremony that included encouraging speeches by Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Abu Sinnina, the Executive Director of the Dialogue & Debate Association, Mr. Musab Qasaybat, the President of the General Union of Misrata University Students, and Mr. Turki Al-Suwaidi from the strategic partner of the championship, QatarDebate. The Registrar of Misrata University also delivered remarks as the host institution of the in-person category. The official launch of the online championship gathered more than 150 individuals, who participated in the National Universities Debating Championship through the Microsoft Teams platform.

The gathering of this elite group, including judges, debaters, observers, and partners, played a crucial role in achieving one of the key criteria set by the association as a measure of the championship’s success: inclusivity. From the beginning, the association aimed to include and accommodate the largest number of universities, cities, and cultural backgrounds from the Libyan society in this championship.

The opening moments of the virtual tournament.

After the opening ceremony, the Senior Adjudication Committee explained the tournament system and conducted a small workshop on debating. They also addressed all relevant inquiries raised by the participants. The committee consisted of experienced judges with over 7 years of experience in debating adjudication. The committee members included Fadwa Faisal Al-Kharraz from Misrata as the committee chair, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Ansari from Sabha, and Ahmed Majahed from Tunisia. Following this, the zero-round took place with the participation of all teams to test their readiness and assess the quality of internet connections. It also aimed to familiarize those who were not previously acquainted with how to use the Microsoft Teams platform, which was adopted for organizing the championship. Immediately after the zero-round, the first day of the championship concluded.

On the second, third, and fourth consecutive days of the championship, three rounds were held simultaneously. All teams competed based on the strength principle, meaning that winning teams faced each other, and vice versa. This ensured a high level of competitiveness and differentiated the rankings, allowing us to determine the top eight teams. At the end of the final day, the following teams qualified for the in-person championship: Al-Mergib University, Open University, Tripoli University (two teams), Misrata University (two teams), Zawia University, and Gharyan University. With this, the quota of qualified teams for the in-person championship was complete. (Results).

Announcing winners in the virtual settings

In-Person Qualifying Rounds:

On Monday, December 13th, the qualified teams, along with the adjudicators, arrived at the tournament venue at Misrata University, where the halls were well-prepared to host the debates. The tournament organizing committee provided accommodation for the adjudicators coming from outside Misrata. Additionally, lunch was provided for all participants throughout the three-day duration of the championship, from December 13th to December 15th, 2021. The volunteer teams welcomed the participants at the entrances of the university halls, where the tournament ceremonies took place. They distributed identification cards, files, notebooks, and tournament-related materials to the participants. The participants were also guided to wear their identification cards at all times during the championship.

The opening ceremony of the championship in its physical stage was attended by all participants, adjudicators, as well as several notable figures from the university and the municipality. It included a welcoming speech by a representative of the Dialogue & Debate Association and a representative of the General Union of Misrata University Students. Additionally, general remarks explaining the tournament system were provided by the Senior Adjudication Committee.

Photos of the opening of the tournament.

IT Solution:

The National Universities Debating Championship was organized according to international standards in the management and organization of competitive tournaments. The adjudicators were selected based on the competence criteria adopted by the Dialogue & Debate Association, which are regularly developed in accordance with the institution’s curriculum in this field.

A total of 40 adjudicators were selected and accepted to participate in this championship after filling out the participation questionnaire and undergoing a high-quality performance assessment test. They were selected through the registration form for adjudicators published on the website and social media platforms of the Dialogue & Debate Association.

A detailed regulatory framework was prepared before the start of the championship, outlining the technical and logistical details specific to the tournament. It explicitly outlined the responsibilities and duties of the participants and adjudicators, as well as the responsibilities and duties of the Dialogue & Debate Association and the organizers towards them.

The activities of the championship, both in its virtual and physical stages, spanned a total of 7 days, during which 46 debates were organized on 9 diverse topics ranging from political, economic, social, educational, and environmental issues. The debaters presented their arguments, expressed their positions, and showcased their skills and abilities.

The virtual stage of the championship included three qualifying rounds in which all twenty teams participated. Thirty debates were organized over three days. This was followed by three physical qualifying rounds, in which 8 teams out of the original 20 advanced to the next stage. The semi-final round started directly with the elimination of the losing teams.

One of the notable strengths of this championship, considered a great achievement in the field of tournament organization and management by the Dialogue & Debate Association, is the “Automated Tournament Management and Adjudication System.” It is a web application designed and developed by the technical team of the association, divided into main components that collectively form the integrated system for the automated management and adjudication of tournaments.

Registration: This system starts with the foundations, as the registration process for teams, adjudicators, and volunteers is done through the official portal of the championship, dda.ly.
Adjudicator Management and Organization: This part is specialized in managing the present adjudicators for each round, by dividing them into balanced panels based on each adjudicator’s ranking.
Tournament Rounds Formation and Management: The main function of this part is to form the rounds by distributing the teams based on the established criteria for team allocation in each round, relying on the recorded results of each team in the previous rounds of the National Universities Debating Championship. Additionally, it involves determining the debate room and its specific adjudication panel, as mentioned earlier.
Results Management System: This system is divided into two important parts. The results input interface is a special interface for the adjudication panel chairs, through which they can monitor and enter the debate result by filling in the speaker scores, as well as justifying the reasons for winning/losing from the adjudication panel’s perspective. The second part is the result calculation, where the system automatically calculates the result of each debate, determines the best speakers and the winning team, and then qualifies the teams for the upcoming rounds based on each team’s recorded result history.
Adjudicator Evaluation System: This system is divided into two main parts. Firstly, the adjudicator evaluation interface, through which members of each adjudication panel evaluate each other’s performance according to specific criteria. Based on these results, the system, in the second part, adjusts the rating of each adjudicator in the system, and this rating affects their eligibility to chair an adjudication panel and be selected as a member of the adjudication panel in the advanced elimination rounds.
Round Details Announcement Interface: This is an open interface for the public, allowing debaters and adjudicators to access the round allocation for teams and rooms, as well as the motion text for each round and the position of each team as proposition or opposition.
Automated Debate Timer: This is an electronic timer specifically designed to fit the structure of the National Universities Debating Championship. It is displayed during the debates to indicate the duration of speeches by indicating the protected minutes and the allowed intervention times, in addition to alerting the end of each speaker’s allocated time and recording it in the system for easy monitoring by the adjudication panel.

This step represents a significant achievement for the Dialogue & Debate Association, ensuring the organization of debates and tournaments in a professional manner with fewer errors. The process of reviewing and calculating results, as well as managing and distributing members of the adjudication panels, is a heavy burden and poses a major challenge when done manually. It requires a considerable amount of time and effort to take all criteria into account. Utilizing the capabilities provided by technology is a smart step in the right direction, by designing a system specifically owned by the association that can be regularly developed and built upon.

The Decisive Rounds::

Teams of the universities of Tripoli, Misrata, Al-Mergib, and Gharyan qualified for the semifinals of the National Universities Debating Championship 2021. The semifinal rounds took place simultaneously at the end of the second day of the championship. The top four teams from the qualifying rounds competed against each other to determine the three teams that would advance to the international championship. The two winning teams directly qualified for the international competition, while the two teams that did not succeed in the semifinal debate competed for the third and fourth place in the ranking in a separate debate. These two teams were the team from Al-Mergib University and the team from Gharyan University.

Photos illustrating the atmosphere of the final qualifiers.

Final rounds and closing ceremony:

On the morning of Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the debate for determining the third and fourth place took place between the teams from Al-Mergib University and Gharyan University. The debate tackled the issue of canceling the debts of the Third World countries. It was held at the theater of the Faculty of Engineering, Misrata University, with the presence of all participating teams in the National Universities Debating Championship.

In the evening of the same day, the closing ceremony took place, which was a celebration of the National Universities Debating Championship (NUDC)’s success and the tremendous work done during the seven days of the championship. The closing ceremony was held at the theater of the Faculty of Arts and Media at Misrata University. It began with the thrilling final debate between the teams from Misrata University and Tripoli University, discussing the issue of democratizing the Arab world. This debate was televised on the Libyan channels “February” and “Panorama,” and it was also live-streamed on the Facebook pages of the Dialogue & Debate Association and the General Union of Students at Misrata University.

After the conclusion of the final debate, the award ceremony took place. The top five speakers in the championship, as well as the winner of the Best Rebuttal Speech, were honored. The winning speakers were selected based on their performance in the three qualifying rounds of the realistic stage, using the average scores and standard deviation. The announcement of the top four ranked teams was also made, according to the table provided below.

Photos illustrating the atmosphere of the NUDC finals

Honoring::

The teams and speakers who ranked first were honored according to the following tables:

Here is the table of the top four ranked teams:

Tripoli University
Misrata University
Al-Mergib University
Gharyan University

Best Speakers:

The detailed results for the teams, top speakers, and rebuttal speeches have been published on the official website of the Dialogue and Debate Association.

Firstly, you can find the team results at the following URL: https://www.nudc.dda.ly/results/index.php.

Secondly, the results for the speakers can be accessed at: https://www.nudc.dda.ly/results/speakers.php.

Lastly, for the rebuttal speeches, you can visit: https://www.nudc.dda.ly/results/r_speakers.php.