CSDL hosts intra-university debate competition to cultivate student leadership and critical citizenship
In an era defined by increasing complexity, where the ability to construct a reasoned argument, hold an opposing view with intellectual honesty, and communicate with clarity and conviction has never been more consequential, the cultivation of deliberative skill in young people represents one of the more enduring investments an institution can make. The debating tradition, long embedded in the culture of great universities, is not merely an exercise in rhetoric. It is a rehearsal for the engaged, critical citizenship that societies depend upon.
It was with this understanding that the Centre for Skill Development and Leadership (CSDL) at The University of Lahore (UOL) marked a notable institutional milestone by hosting its first-ever “Intra-University Debate Competition”. This event was the outcome of a semester-long endeavour to recognise and develop student debating ability, elevating performers from individual classrooms to a competitive university forum.
The journey to this competition began well before the event itself. Throughout the semester, CSDL conducted debate competitions at the classroom level, engaging hundreds of students across the university in exercises designed to build confidence, sharpen argumentation, and develop the habits of persuasive, evidence-based speaking. From this broad and competitive pool, seventeen outstanding students were selected to represent their respective classes at the university-level competition. This process lent the final event both depth and meaning.
The debate centred on the motion “Young Leaders can Revamp a Positive Image of Pakistan at a Global Level”. Divided into teams arguing for and against the motion, participants brought to bear research spanning an impressive range of domains, including politics, diplomacy, education, entrepreneurship, sports, social media, and the entertainment industry. The breadth of examples drawn upon spoke to the seriousness with which the students approached their task, and to the genuine intellectual engagement the motion inspired.
The showdown was graced by a distinguished panel of judges comprising Ms Afifa Firdous (Lecturer, CSDL), Mr Jawad Khan Niyazi (Lecturer, CSDL), and Ms Nayyar Hassan (Lecturer, CSDL). The event was accorded further prestige by the presence of Dr Afia Khalid (Head of Department, CSDL), whose patronage underscored the university's commitment to encouraging co-curricular excellence. After a rigorous and closely contested deliberation, the winning team, which presented against the given notion, was declared champion. Mr Ameer Taimoor Ashiq (6th semester student, Department of English Language and Literature) emerged as the individual victor of the competition. He demonstrated exceptional linguistic skill and analytical depth. The runner-up position was secured by Ms Ashna (Student, School of Creative Arts (SOCA)) from the opposing team, who had argued in favour of the motion. She displayed remarkable poise and intellectual honesty in defending her stance. Both finalists, representing different disciplines and academic stages, exemplified the very spirit of reasoned discourse that the competition sought to cultivate.
