For centuries, debating has been a centre piece of the extra-curricular and university culture at many prestigious institutions. Many of its participants thrived to be world leaders. In the recent past, it has made its way to the broader audience of Asia, continental Europe and Africa – ending its century-long limitations to those creme-de-la-creme group of academics. This has offered the opportunity for many institutions to join the vibrant and competitive activity. Debate also serves as an excellent mean to educating and improving various skills in young people; whether it be public-speaking, critical thinking, engagement in citizenship, or language proficiency. In-addition to the academic skills, debate also fosters the group of scholars from all parts of the world, who gather at various competitions all year round to exchange ideas, engage in diversity and aspire to the greater understanding in global and local issues.

To develop a strong community of debaters, Assumption University has held the World Universities Debating Championship in 2007 – dubbed as Assumption Worlds. The competition has brought to Thailand the finest and most interesting event the academic debating arena has to offer. Assumption Worlds was the largest Worlds ever with over 400 participating teams from all corners of the world, which offered an opportunity for school and University students as well as the general public to observe the highly-competitive debates.

To further continue the University’s commitment to the social service, a branch of debate programme was stemmed from the World Universities Debating Championship project. Reaching out to the secondary-level schools, the Thailand High-School National Debating Championship first commenced in 2006, with the Organising Committee of Assumption Worlds (28th WUDC) initiating the annual project to bring together the group of young scholars who are ready to take on the commitment to develop their skills through debating, and attract them to join tertiary-level debating. Ever since established, the young community has seen the rapid growth, with the number of participating schools and teams multiplying over the previous two years, and the ever growing attention from the public.

After 3rd Thailand High-School National Debating Championship, 4 top speakers of the tournament were selected to represent Thailand – for the very first time – in the recent World High-Schools Debating Championship hosted in Greece. Thai debaters stunned the world high-school debate community by being awarded the best rookie team of this tournament. Also the same with 4th Thailand High-School National Debating Championship, top speakers of the tournament were selected to represent Thailand in World High-Schools Debatin Championship hosted in Qatar.

Assumption University and the Organising Committee see the importance and benefits in continuing and further developing the debating community in Thailand. Having the World Universities Debating Championship laying the foundation to further promote the debate in an international development-in-partnership with many renown institutions and foundations with the common goal. With the support from the University and other sponsors, the Organising Committee is now ready to take on the commitment to steer Thailand and Assumption University towards being the centre of debating and public-speaking in the region.

Objectives :

1. To promote better understanding both in the youths and school teachers in debating as a demanding extra-curricular to educate the youth in public-speaking, citizenship, critical thinking and English proficiency.
2. To further develop debating at secondary schools, both Thai and international schools in order to match World School’s Debating standard.
3. To form a community of high-school debaters where debate is continued on a frequent basis, in-between each year’s competition.
4. To provide an opportunity for interaction and cross-cultural exchange in an inter-collegiate setting.

5th THSDC Overview :

Each participating team is allowed three debaters and one judge. The debaters must be a student at their representing school. The judge may be a student or a teacher from their representing school. Observers are allowed with no food or accommodation provided.

The competition will be held for 4 days:

22nd August

• Official Training

8th September

• Press Conference

8th – 30th September

• Registration Phase 1

1st – 25th October

• Registration Phase 2

6th October

• Motion Release

6th – 7th November

• 6 preliminary rounds (all teams are required to participate)

8th November

• Octo-final round with 16 breaking teams
• Quarter-final round with 8 teams
• Semi-final round with 4 teams

9th November

• Grand-final round
• Rookie-Final for inexperienced debaters

For preliminary rounds, the motion for 3 rounds will be released one month prior to the competition and other 3 will be released 30 minutes before the round starts. In each round the motion will be released randomly from the list.

The campus rules will be observed with discretion, applying to the participants and staffs alike.