Partnering Us

How can debating help your organisation?

Debates are an extremely powerful way to educate an audience, and to prompt people to think more deeply about the complexities of a controversial issue.

An audience that listens to a debate will be exposed to all the opposing arguments, and they will be prompted to form their own opinions based on what they have heard. They may align themselves entirely with one side or the other, or they may form their own opinions from a hybrid of all the arguments raised during the debate. This process is known as the “Hegelian Dialectic” (after German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel), where one side expresses their thesis in the form of an argument, the opposing side presents the antithesis in the form of counter-arguments, and the audience forms a their own opinion (the synthesis) by resolving the conflict between the two sides with their own proposition. This thesis-antithesis-synthesis process is one of the educational outcomes of debating in front of an audience.

If you have a controversial or important issue that you want an audience to think about, consider using a debate as the way to educate (and sometimes entertain) them.

Why should you partner with the Debate Association (Singapore)?

We have worked with major local companies and organisations to create programs, competitions, and outreach events that suit the client’s needs. Some of our partners in the past include:

• We worked closely with Mediacorp to develop the Emmy-nominated TV show, The Arena, and remain involved as debate consultants.

• Ministry of Education: We have assisted MOE in the coaching of the Singapore National Debate team for the 2003 (Peru) and 2007 (South Korea) World Schools Debating Championships – both teams are the only teams to have made it to the Grand Finals.
• Schools: We have organised short training programs for teachers and students from local and international schools, and are working with NIE to develop a teacher debate-training program.

• DA(S) organised the debate component of the inaugural “Singapore Youth Mediation Week” in Aug 2009 for the Community Mediation Centre (an agency of the Ministry of Law), including selection of topics and adjudicators.

• DA(S) helped MOF create and run the Inter-School Budget Debate Challenge in 2009 and 2010. The competition is a mock parliamentary debate covering policy issues relevant to the Singapore Budget for each year. Each team represents a specific segment of society who are impacted by the motion/topic, allowing for a very unique and engaging debate experience. The format was specially customised to meet MOF’s needs.

• Google, British Council, National Kidney Fund, World Bank, Red Cross, National Library Board and many other organisations: We organise thematic debate competitions or public exhibition debates to promote their organisations message and spread awareness of an issue.

If you would like to work with us for your program, please contact us using the form or email any one of us directly.

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