At Avenor College, we had the pleasure of hosting the second edition of the regional stage of the prestigious Oxford Schools’ Debate Competition, one of the largest debating tournaments for high school students in the world.
The event brought together 64 debate enthusiasts from 9 international schools in Romania, who, for one day, put on a true showcase of argumentation, logic, and teamwork. Avenor was represented by 12 enthusiastic students, coached by Louisa Dăscălescu, History and English teacher and the main organiser of the competition.
The stage consisted of three rounds of debates in the British Parliamentary format, and the best two teams qualified for the final in March, hosted by the University of Oxford.
Congratulations to the Avenor team, consisting of Teodora (11 Alfa) and Sonia (11 Omega), who won this round of the competition and will represent our school in the final stage in England!
Just like in the first edition, we were joined by two students from the University of Oxford – Nicole Wong and Alex Chan, from Hong Kong, who study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). They explained the rules, judged the competition, and provided valuable feedback to the participants.
Debates and Critical Thinking
In an interview after the competition, Nicole and Alex spoke about the importance of debating, their impressions of the regional stage organised at Avenor, and offered advice to students preparing for university admission.
Nicole: Debating helps students analyse issues from multiple perspectives, think quickly, and express their ideas clearly. These competitions offer them the opportunity to tackle complex topics and develop critical thinking.
Debate Motion
The competition challenged participants with engaging motions on education, representation, and language policy. One motion explored the role of generative artificial intelligence in secondary and higher education, questioning whether it should be integrated as a learning tool or discouraged. Another motion discussed the portrayal of people with disabilities, debating whether presenting their lives as inspirational is beneficial or problematic. The third motion focused on education and language, analysing whether developing countries should adopt a global language instead of their local languages as the main language of instruction.
Alex: Debating helps students to clearly structure their thoughts, even when they have to argue for ideas they don’t necessarily believe in, and it helps them develop their communication skills. Additionally, it raises their awareness of current events, challenging them to reflect on complex issues in today’s world.
Impressions from the Regional Stage at Avenor
Alex: The students at Avenor and in Romania, in general, presented solid arguments and were actively involved in the debates. The level of competition was high, and their critical thinking impressed me.
Nicole: Judging in Romania was an interesting experience, as it gave me a different perspective on how students approach arguments. The unique cultural and educational context made the competition even more captivating.
How Debating Contributes to Personal Development
Nicole: Participating in debate competitions teaches students how to cope with both success and failure, developing their resilience and self-confidence. In debates, you can win or lose, but what matters is your ability to learn from each experience.
Moreover, the competition challenged participants to quickly tackle unfamiliar topics and formulate their arguments on the spot, a crucial skill both in debates and in life.
Conclusions
Reflecting on their experience at Avenor, Alex and Nicole appreciated the dedication and talent of the students, encouraging them to further refine their debate skills. Critical thinking and the ability to present compelling ideas are valuable skills in both academia and students’ future careers. They also offered several pieces of advice for choosing a career path:
🔹 Choose carefully what you want to study – Nicole emphasised the importance of clarifying academic interests. Whether you want a stable career or are passionate about a specific field, choosing a university and programme should align with your objectives. It is also useful to analyse the differences between educational systems, such as the broad curriculum in the USA versus the specialised approach in the UK.
🔹 Constant work and preparation – Alex highlighted the importance of sustained learning, whether for A-Levels, standardised tests, or admission interviews. “Hard work always pays off. Practice helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses, giving you more confidence in the admission process,” he said.
🔹 Time management and avoiding procrastination – Balancing study and leisure time is essential. Alex recommends setting a clear study schedule to avoid procrastination and maintain high-quality work.
🔹 A solid support system – Nicole emphasised the importance of friends and mentors who can provide guidance and motivation. “A good support network helps you manage stress and stay focused on your goals,” she noted.
