IDEA: International Debate Education Association - Debate Resources & Debate Tools

About IDEA: Programs and Events

IDEA implements a range of programs to promote active citizenship globally, those programs include:

	Youth Forum The IDEA Youth Forum, IDEA's premier event, happens annually and is hosted by an IDEA member country partner. The Youth Forum brings together youth from over 30 countries for debate, discussion, and intercultural activities. The Youth Forum consists of a "mixed-team" Karl Popper-format debate tournament wherein students from different countries are placed together on a three-person team to debate other mixed teams. Students can also compete in the Karl Popper Debate Championship, which allows teams from different countries to train and compete against one another in Karl Popper debate. When students aren't debating, they're in training sessions with IDEA trainers and coaches. In these sessions participants learn more about the debate topics and develop methods for approaching issues thoughtfully and critically. The Forum presents an ideal environment for students throughout the world to meet, discuss, problem-solve, and learn about other regions and cultures. The IDEA Youth Forum takes place from July 23rd-August 5th annually. Visit the Forum website.
	Youth Leadership Program with Bosnia and Herzegovina Salem, Oregon and Washington, DC, U.S. Each April, 18 students and three teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina travel nine time zones to Oregon, U.S. While in the town of Salem and its surrounds, these teachers and youth leaders form a common bond despite the boundaries set within their country. At Willamette University, students and teachers explore what it means to be active citizens in a democracy. They work with professors, American peers, community groups, and each other, returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina with leadership and advocacy skills. This program is a partnership of Willamette University, the U.S. Department of State, and the International Debate Education Association. Visit the website for more information.
	Debate in the Neighbourhood Netherlands From September-December 2009, several activities focusing on debate are happening in the Netherlands. All part of the "Debate in the Neighborhood Program" organized by IDEA-Netherlands, these activities will take place in the cities of Zeeland, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.Visit the site for more information.
	Exchange The Exchange, an annual event that brings together IDEA members for an exchange of views and information, focuses on the role of new media in promoting debate and social change. New media encompasses digital, computerized or networked information and communication technologies. The Exchange provides an opportunity to explore a variety of topics related to the use of Internet and digital technologies to engage young people as well as different segments of the population in the process of communication, debate, and dialogue as well as participation in change. Visit the Exchange site.
	The People Speak Global Debates Global/Virtual Speak up. Change the world. The People Speak Global Debates, an initiative of the United Nations Foundation and IDEA, challenges students around the world to hold debate events that help raise public awareness about environmental and human rights issues. As part of the Global Debates, students participate in a variety of activities in addition to their debate, including writing blogs and editorials, creating public service announcements, and meeting with community and government leaders. Students complete as many activities as possible in order to win a trip to the IDEA Youth Forum (see above). So far, students from more than 90 countries have held public debates for incredible prizes. For more information, visit ThePeopleSpeak.org.
	IDEA-BFSU Tournament Beijing, People's Republic of China This annual international university tournament takes place each December at Beijing Foreign Studies University in the heart of China's capital city. The event is in the four-team Worlds-style parliamentary format, and features English and Mandarin divisions, as well as an International Moot Court division. Training sessions for judges and debaters are available immediately before the tournament. Visit the events page for more information about this year's tournament.
	IDEA-FLTRP Cup Debate Training Beijing, People's Republic of China IDEA partners with the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press to lead an American Parliamentary Debate training each May. The training is part of the FLTRP Cup, held each year in Beijing. Up to 130 teams from universities across China participate in this prestigious tournament, sponsored in part by IDEA. For more information, click here.
	International Tournament of Champions Salem, Oregon, U.S. The ITOC is for high school students who want to sharpen their Worlds skills while interacting with students from other states and countries. This event happens at Willamette University each May and has attracted high school students from the U.S., Kazakhstan, Canada, Korea, India, and the Philippines. In addition to the debate tournament where students have the opportunity to exchange dialogue about a variety of global issues, IDEA offers a workshop to help debaters prepare for interaction and discussion in the Worlds style. For more information, click here.
	IDEA-NFL Guest Qualifier Tournament Series South Korea and Singapore IDEA has partnered with the National Forensic League to facilitate the IDEA-NFL Guest Qualifier Series. These tournaments give international students a unique opportunity to qualify for the prestigious NFL National Tournament held each summer. Thus far, IDEA and the NFL have held such tournaments in South Korea and Singapore. The tournaments give high school students a chance to not only debate, but also participate in a variety of individual and team public speaking events, including literary interpretation, extemporaneous speaking and oratory. For more information about upcoming qualifiers, visit the events page.
	National Junior Forensic League National Tournament United States The annual NJFL National Tournament is a debate tournament within the U.S. that aims to give middle school students throughout the country a chance to debate their peers. As middle school debate is not as established as high school debate in the U.S., this event gives the opportunity for middle school debaters to meet and compete with other enthusiasts their age. The event is co-sponsored by the National Forensic League in the U.S. and happens every June. The location changes annually. Click here to find out more.
	World Online Debate Championships Global/Virtual Hosted by Debatewise in association with IDEA, the competition invites national teams from every corner of the globe to debate against each other about important issues facing the world today. These debates are a unique opportunity for any debater with an Internet connection to gain different world perspectives. To learn more, visit Debatewise.com.