It depends on different individuals’ interpretation of the purpose of debate, while our Wellington College International Tianjin debate team expressed their own interpretation of the question during the internationally renowned COBIS X Debate Mate Competition.

The team members were elected from the debate club that had just been established by Mr Siddiq, providing pupils with a platform to develop their debate skills, engage in deep talks regarding the issues around society, and help pupils develop a habit of thoughtful talks.

The COBIS X Debate Mate competition is an annual event that brings together pupils from COBIS (Council of British International Schools) member schools worldwide to compete in a highly challenging and intellectually stimulating debate format.

These experiences have benefitted us substantially but have also enhanced our views and perspectives as global citizens. The competition made us more skilled through the development of teamwork, critical thinking, and logical inference. All of us involved in the competition also experienced growth on a more personal level, and we gained a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives, learned to respectfully challenge beliefs, and further developed our ability to construct compelling arguments backed by research and evidence.