ADU Students Won Inter-University Public Speaking Competition
27 students from different universities across the UAE came together for a turncoat debate in the Third Inter-University Public Speaking Competition. It was hosted by the Speakers Society supported by University College to mark the ‘Year of Zayed.’
27 students from different universities across the UAE came together for a turncoat debate in the Third Inter-University Public Speaking Competition. It was hosted by the Speakers Society supported by University College to mark the ‘Year of Zayed.’
The event took place in the ADU auditorium. The contestants were given a topic on the spot for which they had to come up with arguments both in support of and against. This gave them an opportunity to get creative as they tried to convince the audience of two opposing opinions simultaneously. In addition, it required the contestant to not only understand the topic, arrange facts logically, think critically, structure and organize thoughts but also present them with poise and conviction under a time-pressured situation. One of the prime objectives of this competition is to develop in the speakers the characteristics that they will require as they enter the job market and interact with people from different backgrounds.
All the topics were compelling and varied, and the students demonstrated great skill not only in public speaking but also in their use of clear logic. The participants had a very exciting day and the panel of judges, which included renowned toastmasters and media personnel, was highly impressed by the level of participation and excellent standards. First, second and third places were awarded to Zeeshan Masood Nabi from Abu Dhabi University, Olivia Bray from New York University, and Waad Ahmed Ali from the University of Sharjah. The Speakers Society continues to make its mark producing talented debaters and is steadily stepping away from its fledgling status.