A refreshing shower in late summer: The Open Society Foundation (OSF) is supporting the World Universitites Debating Championship (WUDC) Berlin 2013. The OSF is actually a group of foundations of the US-American billionaire George Soros which fosters the idea of an open society – hence the name. They support initiatives of the civil society to spread the idea. Patrick Ehmann, convener of WUDC Berlin 2013, appreciates the OSF as a partner since both the foundation and the WUDC aim at make debating relevant to a broader public, as Patrick explains. “We’ve had the idea at Worlds in Botswana where there were as many delegates from African countries as never before. We’re convinced that it is important to institutionalize the positive strength of debating particularly in countries in tense situations.”

So the focus lies on facilitating participation of debaters and judges from traditionally underrepresented countries. Full scholarships are provided for 30 teams and 50 judges. Female debaters are encouraged to apply. Included are registration fees, visa fees and a fully funded two-day training event before the WUDC Berlin 2013, on December 26th and 27th. Travel costs will be covered partially. More detailed info is available from the blog WUDC Berlin 2013 and the Google Document. Make sure you apply before September 14!

Since 1981, debaters from all over the world have been competing at the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC or Worlds) at alternating locations across the planet. It was not before 1996 that the British Parliamentary Style became the mandatory format for this annual tournament. From 27 December 2012 to 4 January 2013, the international debating community will assemble in Germany to compete in Berlin for the first time at WUDC. Language of debate is English and there are three categories: “Open” for native level speakers, “ESL” (English as a Second Language) and “EFL” (English as a Foreign Language). Current champions are The Monash Association of Debaters from Australia (Amit Golder und Kiran Iyer) who won WUDC for the second time in a row, the other titles (ESL) went to Sella Nevo und Omer Nevo from Tel Aviv (Israel) and to the girls from Ewah Womens’ University, Seoul, Korea (EFL).

Text: Annette Kirste /apf