Talking the talk

Are you a university or high-school student who likes to speak your mind? If so, the "4th EU-Thailand National Intervarsity Debate Championship 2008" is an opportunity not to be missed.

For the past four years, the Delegation of the European Commission has actively supported the promotion of debate culture among university students in Thailand.

Starting out as a small contest at Thammasat University, the EU-Thailand National Intervarsity Debate Championship has now become the country's largest English-language debating tournament, with more than 300 debaters and adjudicators participating each year.

Each year the tournament provides an exciting opportunity for debaters to put their skills to the test in a friendly and challenging atmosphere.

According to the Head of Delegation of the European Commission, Ambassador Dr Friedrich Hamburger, "In a contest such as this there can be no losers. Simply taking part is an achievement in itself. The winning team may walk away with a trophy but all participants are able to sharpen their skills and boost their confidence in this most intellectually demanding of activities."

The "4th EU-Thailand National Intervarsity Debate Championship 2008" will be held from March 29 to April 1. Each participating university can register as many as six teams of three students. Each team is required to bring a corresponding adjudicator.

With ever increasing standards of debate amongst high-school students, this year's event will be broadened to involve high-school teams for the first time. This will provide an excellent opportunity for high-school debaters to enhance their debating skills in order to prepare for a higher-level competition.

Cash and other prizes including internships at European organisations will be awarded to the top teams. Certificates of achievement and participation will also be presented to all universities, high-schools and participants involved.

For more information and registration, please visit www.eu-thailanddebate.com or contact Ms Duangkamol at (089) 777 4062. Registration is free of charge and accommodation subsidies will be available for teams from outside Bangkok.

The EU-Thailand National Intervarsity Debate Championship is the largest English-language debating tournament in Thailand. Supported by the Delegation of the European Commission and co-organised by Thammasat University, the event aims at promoting intellectual debate culture among university students as well as their discussions on important issues including the EU and its relations with Thailand and Asean.

Source: European Union Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand