FIRST EVER EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES ARABIC DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIP - VNR

Featuring 20 universities from 15 European countries, organised by #QatarDebate

 

Vienna, Austria, January 2019: QatarDebate Centre, member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, concluded the European Arabic Debating Championship in Vienna, Austria. The championship, which took place from 3-5 January 2019, featured 20 universities representing 15 European countries. 

Dr. Hayat Abdullah Maarafi, Executive Director of QatarDebate Center, praised this milestone that marks an outstanding achievement for the center and ushers a successful new year. She reiterated QatarDebate Center’s keenness, through this championship, to promote the Arabic language among speakers and spread the culture of positive debate and dialogue as an effective skill. 

European Institute of Human Sciences Team, Winner of the European Debating Championship 

The European Institute of Human Sciences (EIHS) from Germany team, namely Mounir Rabeh, Salima Ahwazi and Mounir Al Bayk, bagged the championship’s title in the inaugural edition of the European Arabic Debating Championship. 

Yalova University team, from Turkey team which included Mansour Bikir, Mohamed Olgak and Khalid Akmen came in second position. 

The Center also honored the Championship’s Best Speakers, namely; Student Mounir Rabbah from European Institute of Human Sciences; Anis Francis from the 
Institut Europeen Des Sciences Humaines; Areej Mohamed Amin from University of Strasbourg; Students Yaseen Yildrem and Mustafa Esk from Fatih Sultan Mehmet Waqf University. 

Commenting on the championship, Ms. Aisha Al Nesf, Head of the Educational Programs Department at QatarDebate Center said: “The Championship provides a diverse and exceptional platform that brings together people from all educational backgrounds, cultures and opinions to celebrate a culture of debate and nurture critical thinking skills. Despite their different backgrounds, participants enjoyed a fruitful and ongoing communication on various topics, including ways to boost their debating and dialog skills in classical Arabic, even outside of the competition.”

Abdulrahman Al Subaie, Head of Outreach Programs and Marketing at QatarDebate, expressed his thanks and appreciation to all those who thought of, organized and implemented the championship, under the leadership of Dr. Hayat Abdullah Maarafi, Executive Director, for the unwavering confidence given to the Qatari delegation.      

He said: “The European Arabic Debating Championship comes to an end today, having celebrated dialogue under the theme ‘Cultural Dialogue by European Students’. 

We gather today to declare that the QatarDebate center has extended its reach all over the world by spreading the art of debate and expression, which represents a key pillar in human life.” 

He also extended thanks to media representatives and to the European Institute of Human Sciences’ administration in Germany for their valuable idea; and to all participating teams, judges, and volunteers.

Mrs. Amel Al Rabai, Head of Arabic Language at the European Institute of Human Sciences , Frankfurt who submitted the idea, said: “We had the opportunity to participate in the 4th International Universities Arabic Debate Championship (IUADC) 2017 in Qatar and we are very much looking forward to partake in the upcoming International Universities Debating Championship in March 2019.”  

7 January 2019