Embedded Files
Why Student Debate?
Why Student Debate?
Vision
Regardless of origin, individual traits, or social context, all youth voices matter.
By helping young people to value their voice, the voice of others, and meaningfully speak out, debate strengthens Democracy; By igniting young people to positively address current challenges and shape a better future for all, debate strengthens Citizenship.
Mission
Mission
To promote debate as an educational tool that enables the confidence to speak up, empathy, critical thinking, and creative thinking, thus empowering upper-secondary students and strengthening democracy and citizenship.
A project with three phases
A project with three phases
1st - Partners
1st - Partners
To identify partners in different countries that may connect schools and teams at a national/ regional level.
2nd - Training
2nd - Training
To support schools' and teachers' debating activities through a common rulebook, training, local events and a helpdesk.
3rd - European Event
3rd - European Event
To promote a debate event, with one team of upper-secondary students per country selected by the national/ regional partner.
How to participate?
How to participate?
Project Partners - EFEE Members can become partners of the project, supporting the relation with schools, promoting a debate event, and selecting the national team for the European debate event.
Schools and teachers - The project partners will act as liaison between the project coordination and school and teachers. Schools and teachers will participate in online or face-to-face training on student debate. The project offers a tested rulebook and concrete resources to begin using debate in upper secondary education.
Students - Students will participate through their schools.
Judges training in Lisbon
European Debate Event
European Debate Event
The third phase of this project is a European student debate event. One team from each country will participate. This will be an opportunity for students to engage with others using an age appropriate rulebook.
In 2025 the event took place in Brussels (April 2025), with support for travel and lodging.
It is an exciting and significant moment of meeting, as well as a catalyst for personal and social growth, for students and teachers.
Coordination team
Coordination team
Rodrigo Queiroz e Melo
Project Manager
Vice-president of CEPCEP – Research Center from the Portuguese Catholique University and of EFEE, Rodrigo brought together the different institutions to build the present project with a higher focus on inclusion. With experience in international project management, Rodrigo will drive “Debating skills” until 2025.
Nuno Archer de Carvalho
Pedagogy & Training
Is an educator and researcher with experience in personal and social development projects, including debate projects and teacher training. Nuno works at Colégio Pedro Arrupe and has coordinated the previous European student debate project. He will support the educational potential of “Debating Skills”.
Initial promotion and support
Initial promotion and support
Page updated
Report abuse