Doha, Qatar - Wednesday, May 8th 2013 [ME NewsWire]
QatarDebate organized the 2nd International Universities Arabic Debating Championship, held under the patronage of the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, got underway at Qatar National Convention Centre from 21-24 April 2013. A total of 42 universities from 27 countries participated in the event.
Around 250 debaters participated in the competition from all the Arab countries except Syria. Teams from six non-Arabic countries - the US, the UK, Canada, Australaia, Turkey and Malaysia - are also participated in the championship.
Al-Khartoum University team won the championship, the second and third positions were bagged by Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) from the Sultanate of Oman and the University of Jordan respectively. The competition was powerful and strong, which reflected in the high levels of performance of the various participating teams.
Dr. Hayat Abdullah Maarafi, Executive Director, QatarDebate Centre, said that the Championship has given an access to the Arab youth for opened new horizons for development.
Maarafi added: The journey continues, as it further establishes the confidence and trust of all societies in your capacities, thus it becomes your legitimate right, you, the ones who make the glory of our present and future, thus," We are entitled to call the second decade of the third century (youth decade).
She said: "The second version of the Arabic tournament is part of the center’s efforts to promote the art of debate in Arabic language and raise awareness about its importance in preparing future generations and training future leaders on values and better serve the interest of the Arab culture, identity and language.”
The central significance of the championship is to make it a meeting venue for self-discovery, establishing connections and exchanging opinions among various countries and the participants, she added.
Dr. Maarafi further expressed her gratitude towards all who contributed to the success of this youthful festive, including volunteers, media, judges and Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI); and also to non-Arab speaking countries and sponsors of this championship, specifically the golden sponsor ConocoPhillips for its continuous support for the Center and Ooredoo for their support as well.
Gratitude also goes to the team at QatarDebate Center, from the various units and departments of the Center, and the anonymous soldiers for their keen efforts in making this championship successful at international standards.
Dr. Maarafi concluded her speech with naming Fahed Al- Subaie from Kuwait and Ibrahim Al-Qarqoy from Tunisia as ambassadors for QatarDebate Center with honor, where both have established within a very short period that the spark which lights with perseverance, determination and insistence: "They deserve the unlimited support of the Center, for us and them to draw together the scene we have started, making it sharper and more visible through your contours and inputs."
The final ceremony also included honoring the best ten speakers, where The President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Dr. Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali al Thani honored the top three speakers: Amjad Abdul-Rahman from Al-Khartoum University in the first place, Othman Hasan Muhammad Al-Nu'man from Sanaa University in the second place, and Hussam Al-Din Shakib from Sanaa University in the third place.
In turn, Mr. Salem Al-Halbadi, Government Affairs Director, ConocoPhillips Qatar, accompanied by Mr. Ali Sultan Al-Muftah, Communications Manager, QatarDebate Center, honored the other seven top speakers, who are: Omar Mahmoud from Jordanian University (fourth place), Abdul-Rahman Hasan Abdul-Raheem from Assiut University (fifth place), Fatima Ahmad Al-Sayyed from Qatar University-Girls (sixth place), Muhammad Ahmad Asaad from Beirut Arab University (seventh place), Muath Salem from Tripoli University (eighth place), Jalal Abdul-Hadi from Assiut University (ninth place) and Islam Muhammad Mahmoud from Assiut University as well (tenth place).
The Championship comprised five rounds, on which basis eight teams qualified for the quarter-final rounds. These teams are: Qatar University Girls, Sana'a University, Beirut Arab University, Tripoli University, International Islamic University Malaysia, Khartoum University, University of Jordan and Al-Sultan Qaboos University. From the above, the following four teams qualified to the semi-finals: University of Jordan facing Al-Khartoum University and Al-Sultan Qaboos University faced International Islamic University of Malaysia.
The Universities' Championship aims at strengthening ties and relations in the fields of educational and cultural affairs among universities of participating countries, and at fostering the culture of peaceful constructive dialogue that produces knowledge and opens up spaces of enriching diversity and difference, in addition to activating Arabic debating and promoting it through encouraging freedom of opinion and open dialogues.
Many of the monitors and trainers of the participating teams at the second championship commended the superior high-quality competition level, and the high efforts on behalf of the QatarDebate Center, towards fostering the fundamentals of dialogue, tolerance, and constructive dialogue among youth from all around the world.
Actually, many of the mentors of the participating teams –especially those who were participating for the first time- expressed that they are considering transferring this experience of debate into similar competitions at their home countries, thus establishing QatarDebate Center as an ideal to follow and build upon its experience.
The participating teams at the second International Universities Arabic Debating Championship emphasized the sound success of QatarDebate Center in leading the efforts of reviving the culture of debate in the Arab World, through the great efforts of the Centre, up until restoring the earlier glory of this fine Arabic art that diminished in current Arab cultures, whereas earlier Arabs were among the pioneers of this art.
Noteworthy is that the idea of establishing QatarDebate Center was the inspiration of her Highness, Shiekha Mouza Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. It aims at developing human resources, valuing them as the highest among natural resources, with development focused along two parallel lines: seeding knowledge and love of learning, and unleashing creative capacities through developing the skills of expression, interaction with the other opinion and not clashing with it.
QatarDebate Center has provided training for thousands of male and female students through workshops and training courses. Many of these students have also participated in local, regional and international championships organized by the Centre. Such a large participation proves the levels of success attained by "QatarDebate” Center throughout the past period, and reflects the enormous efforts on behalf of the Center’s management and staff. This success could not have been possible without the generous support it enjoys from Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.
QatarDebate Center was established in 2007 with the goal of developing the standards and practices of open dialogue and debate, and enhancing it among the students in Qatar and the Middle East, in what best contributes to the preparation of the future’s global citizens and thought leaders.
Recently, the Center has published and released a book entitled "Al-Murshed fi Fann Al-Munazara [lit. The Complete Guide on the Art of Debate] which is a translated book, but the first of its kind in Arabic language about the art of debate. The launch is considered as the official launch of Arabic debate program after QatarDebate has come a long way in its English program and its many international successes.
The Centre had also organized the first International Universities Arabic Debating Championship with the participation of 40 teams representing universities from 12 Arab countries in addition to Malaysia. The Championship took place on 23-28 April 2011, and the winner was the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM).
Contacts
QatarDebate
Khaled Al-Ibrahim:
+974 4454 0396/ +974 4454 0633
kibrahim@qf.org.qa
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