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Arab American University Team won the 1st place in the First National Debate Championship for Palestinian Universities 2017, AAUP hosted its finals organized and sponsored by Afkar Foundation for Educational and Cultural Development, in which the teams of Al-Najah, Birzeit, Bethlehem and AAUP universities competed.
The coronation of AAU team in the first place
The debate started with the Vice President for Training Affairs Dr. Nizam Diab speech, welcoming the audience and stressing on AAUP keenness to organize and host all social, university scientific and extracurricular activities. Today, hosting the national debate championship reflects the importance of constructive dialogue in all dialectical issues and improve the dialogue culture among university youth.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afkar Foundation for Educational and Cultural Development Mr. Majed Sawalha said the foundation supports and sponsors youth programs that will promote the Palestinian youth culture honoring their personalities and develop their intellectual talents to prepare them for the future to be constructive leaders in Palestinian institutions. Adding, the championship aims to enhance dialogue as the basis for debate on any issue and create a generations embracing the idea that dialogue is fundamental for building solutions in social and dialectical issues
Arab American University winner team included the students Malak Abu Arrar, Mariam Abu Hantash and Maram Abu Saleh.
The debate included two dialectical topics; for Arab American University and Birzeit university “The Council believes we should criminalize marriage before the age of 18”, for the universities of Bethlehem and Al-Najah the topic was “The Council believes we should authorize euthanasia Voluntary”.
The debates had fairly symmetrical atmosphere, in which respect for the other opinion and the culture of difference prevailed instead of the traditional debates concepts prevailing in Arab societies. It was based on arguments, evidences, and how to use higher thinking skills to refute the adversary arguments. The audience helped by asking questions, which contributed to embodiment of participatory approach between the audience and the debaters.
Deanship of Student Affairs Activities coordinator at the Arab American University Joana Al Hafie congratulated the university team for winning the debate’s first place. "This is the victory for the Arab American family and its outstanding students", She said. Stressing on the importance of students' participation in such extracurricular activities in order to respect different opinions, explaining that the Deanship of Student Affairs is always open to encourage and support students in all intellectual, cultural and artistic activities.
“We thank the University interest, encouragement and continuous training, we affirm that our participation in these debates was based on conveying good image of us as Palestinian student community and of our Arab American University and to be able to present our extent ability to think, analysis, constructive criticism and ability to convince the other party with evidences, proofs, figures and statistics. Such events require a process of research, review and serious reading on the subject, laws and studies”, said the Arab American University team.
By end of competitions, Arab American University was announced the first place winner by the jury of Head of Students Cultural Activities Department at the Ministry of Higher Education Mr. Hamid Abu Makho, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences at UNRWA Mrs. Khadijah Oweidat and the Executive Director of Learning for Life Foundation “Tanweer” Mr. Huthaifa Galamneh.
