HTU Concludes the Second National Universities Debate Championship in Collaboration with the Foundation for Debates and Thought

The Second National Universities Debate Championship concluded today at Al Hussein Technical University (HTU), organized in collaboration with the Foundation for Debates and Thought. The championship brought together 120 debaters from 30 public and private Jordanian universities, and was overseen by 81 specialized adjudicators.

The final round featured a debate between HTU’s team, representing the opposition side, and Tafila Technical University, representing the proposition. The motion debated was “This House believes that social media has weakened freedom of expression.” After a compelling final round, Tafila Technical University was declared the winner.

The closing ceremony was attended by a large audience of representatives from various ministries, university presidents, participating students, faculty members, academic and administrative staff, as well as members of the Foundation for Debates and Thought.

In her opening remarks, Hadeel Al-Jabbar, Chair of the Council, expressed her appreciation to HTU for hosting the event, commending the enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and strong debating skills demonstrated throughout this year’s championship.

Abdulrahman Al-Fityani, President of the Foundation for Debates and Thought, reflected on his own early experiences as a debater, emphasizing the remarkable talent and discipline Jordanian youth demonstrate in the art of public speaking and constructive dialogue. He praised HTU as a “young university of great potential,” applauding its ability to host such a large and diverse national event and its growing reputation among Jordanian higher education institutions, both public and private.

In his address, Prof. Ismael Al-Hinti, President of Al Hussein Technical University, emphasized the vital role of such events in empowering Jordanian youth and advancing His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II’s vision to strengthen youth engagement and participation in shaping the nation’s future. He expressed his appreciation for the strong turnout and commended all participating teams representing universities from across Jordan, north to south.

During the ceremony, the top ten speakers of the championship were honored, and the universities placing third and fourth were announced—Middle East University and Yarmouk University, respectively.

It is worth noting that Al Hussein Technical University, an initiative of the Crown Prince Foundation, is a national, non-profit private university offering a unique applied education model that develops essential and technical skills in engineering and technology. HTU aims to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical application, foster innovation and entrepreneurship, and serve the community through training programs that empower youth and job seekers across the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Foundation for Debates and Thought, established in 2016, is a Jordanian institution dedicated to cultivating a culture of constructive dialogue and public speaking. It works to provide environments in which debating and critical thinking skills can flourish across various sectors, including academia, professional institutions, corporations, and the wider community.