ECONOMIC DEBATE CHALLENGE-SHIP 2019 REPORT

I. BACKGROUND

The Government of Rwanda hails the importance and relevance of early building the capacities of young people as future flag bearers. Currently, Rwandan youth constitutes more than 60% of Rwanda’s entire population. Connected to that, youth especially intellectuals from universities are not only viewed as future business leaders, but also future economic policy practitioners and beneficiaries of the today’s economical space. In the same vein, they are the cornerstone of the next generation of leaders that will sustain and may be improve on what has been achieved so far by their giants.

In line with the above expectations, EPRN Rwanda in partnership with Aspire Debate Rwanda organized a mini youth policy debate competition that brought together seven (7) universities in Kigali for a period of two days, 12th and 28th June 2019. This forum aimed at empowering students to shape their own education as well as embracing motivations, creativity and ambitions of their ideas or contributions towards economic development.

II. INTRODUCTION

The Economic Policy Research Network (EPRN) was established in 2008 to contribute and address the existing capacity gaps in economic policy analysis in Rwanda. Despite having a network of more than 1600 members. EPRN has redefined its vision “To become an international leader in economic policy research and analysis” as well as its mission and core values to accurately position the network in its pivotal role of leading economic policy analysis in the country.

WHERE AS
Aspire Debate Rwanda (ADR) is a registered non-profit making NGO established in Kigali-Rwanda in 2014, with zeal to promote public speaking through debate education and other forms of public speeches, empowers youth on leadership and communication skills to nurture their critical thinking. The mission of ADR is to prepare youth to be intellectually vibrant, be self-resilient and self-reliant.

ADR aspires to put youth at the center of all national programs through engaging them in advocacy, awareness and implementation of various categories of the proved agendas. And also believes that using debate as an art promotes mutual understanding and informed citizenship around the world which leads to increased critical thinking, analysis and tolerance, enhanced cultural exchange and greater academic excellence. The organization empowers both in school and out of school youth through its three major programs namely, Education, Governance and Leadership, and youth and women empowerment respectively.

III. RATIONALE

It is imperative to train youth earlier to become better open minded, critical thinkers and good economic policy analyst and thus using debate as the best tool to advance analysis we hope for.

IV. OBJECTIVES

  • Strengthening students capacities to actively conduct economic policy research and analysis to inform economic policy making in Rwanda
  • Ensuring active involvement of students in EPRN policy dialogue projects
  • Debate on most contemporary and economic pressing issues

V. COMPETITION METHODOLOGY

The debate competition ran under the world school format where each team was represented by three (3) speakers speaking for five (5) minutes each speaker. All selected university debate teams had 3 preliminary rounds on day 1 where at the end 4 best teams qualified for the final series (2nd day). All qualified team competed on the knockout basis until the champion was announced.

PARTICIPATED INSTITUTIONS IN DEBATE COMPETITION
1. ULK-Kigali
2. Kepler University
3. UNILAK Kigali
4. Mount Kenya University
5. University of Kigali
6. AUCA
7. KIM University

VI. AWARD

Debate competition
1. The champion : 70.000 Rwf
2. 1st run up : 50.000 Rwf
3. 2nd run up : 40.000 Rwf

ADJUDICATION

The economic debate challenge-ship was held at the Independent University of Kigali (ULK-KIGALI) on the 13 th and 28th June 2019 and brought together seven (7) universities in eight (8) universities expected but University of Rwanda-College of Business and Economics did not show up due to the exam schedule.

Thanks to the team adjudicators who made sure the competition was fair ;
1. TWAGIRAYEZU Amani
2. NTAMBIYE David and
3. NEMEYE Donath
4. MWIZERWA Annet
5. UZADUKIZA J. Bosco

The competition started late as some teams arrived late. However, it was not too late to start and finish the debates on time as provided by the hosting institution.
The debates started with a fair toss of all available teams to get their corresponding letters which were ranging from letter A to letter H to ensure that there is no bias in adjudication. i.e. adjudicators did not know the universities debating but at the end of the debate the chief adjudicator had to look into the records and match the letter with the university which finally gave status of the team scores and total team scores in general.

After the toss, it was the time for the first round out of the three rounds debated. the chief adjudicator announces the rooms to be used (room 1 to room 3) and how teams (using letters) will debate against another until the third-round ends.

After every single round the teams had to go back to a briefing room for the reminder of which team takes on another for the next round. For every round the lead judge had to announce the marks except for the second round which was blind (no announcing of marks but only comments).

In this debate here are the motions that were debated on ;
1. This house would give a four-year grace period to SME’s
2. This would establish minimum wage policy
3. This affirms that benefits from AFCFTA outweighs the cost

Main ideas from the proposition

On the first motion the proposition was basing its ideas on limited capital and high taxes while the opposition insisted on the revenues to raise economy

On the second motion the proposition based the arguments on the cost of products on the market vis a vis the employees wages while the opposition based the arguments on diversity in institutions income/profit in relation to employees’ payments

On the third motion the proposition argued that AFCFTA has increased the investment and accessibility to variety of products while the opposition argued that there is no interest since national policies did not change and export to some countries costs high.

WINNING UNIVERSITIES/ TEAMS

  • The champion : ULK
  • 1st run up : Mount Kenya University
  • 2nd run up : University of Kigali

REMARKS AND NOTES FROM ULK’S DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR ACADEMIC

“ Many studies show marked improvement in a wide variety of academic skills as a result of participation in competitive debate. Debate students in written and oral communication and greatly improve their research skills (sometimes 25% more than their peers). Students become comfortable with new concepts and gain access to new publications or policies. I am happy to see students debating on economic matters, public policy and proposing government new ideas. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank EPRN and ADR to organize this important debate and ULK will always be glad to host EPRN for such important events.”

REMARKS AND NOTES FROM EPRN’S REPRESENTATIVE

“The core of competitive university debate is to examine every side of important and controversial issues in an atmosphere of reasoned argument and respectful discourse. The enormous efforts that students put forth on this intellectually economic debate is truly inspiring. They devoted a huge number of hours to research, discussion, Case writing and practicing for competition. They spent countless evenings and weekends in preparations for this debate. EPRN will continue to support students research, conferences and competition to strengthen their capacities in research. EPRN is open and accessible to its members a resource center for any economic related topic, Also allow me to take this opportunity to announce our students conference to take place in october 25th ; we encourage all of you to send your research papers and register your debate groups to compete on economics related topics.”

CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Since most of economics pressing topics are not in university modules, there is a need of supporting extracurricular activities through public lectures, debate competitions, research paper competition and others to disseminate important information to students.
  • To maintain this debate competition as a quarterly event and fit it universities academic calendar for economics research and dialogues for university students,
  • Debaters do not provide enough content and substantive argumentation thus it is recommended that there should be more public lectures at universities
  • Some debaters lack confidence during their presentations thus it is recommended that debate trainings should be offered to debaters prior to competition.
  • Time management was an issue, starting late also reduces the presentation time to debaters hence limits the content delivered.
  • Here are set debate rules and adjudication rules which also determines the number of adjudicators on a panel. Thus, it is recommended that organizers should always consider this before the debates.
  • THANK YOU !

The organizing team of EPRN and ADR, wishes to extend its profound gratitude to participated Universities, GIZ and students for the support and encouragement during the competition. We believe these 2 days have been the time of brave Actions and Purposeful Collaborations towards creating the generation of future economists.