NUDC 2014: All-Java Semifinal Again. Can Binus Win Four Titles in a Row?

The 8 teams in the semifinals of the 2014 National Universities Debating Championships are all from Java-based institutions, including Binus University Jakarta that has held the title for the last three years. The geographical hegemony has stood although the education ministry this year expanded the number of participation to 112 from 96 that gave 16 more slots to non-Java institutions. 

In the first semifinal, reigning champion #2 Binus University (Rivera Kathrin & Marchella Febriyanti) must overcome challenges from #7 Universitas Sanata Dharma (Sekartiyasa Kusumastuti & Tethy Pesoa), #3 Universitas Pelita Harapan (Saagar Teckchandani & Dharma Dwitama Harja) and #14 Universitas Padjadjaran (Erfan Supradhono & Omar Azfar) if they want to secure their fourth title in as many years. The two last teams eliminated one of the tournament's favourite, NUDC 2009 champion #6 Institut Teknologi Bandung.

In the second semifinal the country's two top powerhouses, #1 Universitas Indonesia (Aulia Anggita & Dennys Kapa) and #4 Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indriani Pratiwi & Wida Wahyuni), will clash along with #12 Universitas Brawijaya (Zelly Sidi Zamzami & Fahri Akbar) and #16 Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (Muhammad Iqwan & Karjongko). The semifinal motion reads "This House Believes That People Have the Right to be Forgotten".

UI debaters have secured the right to receive state financing for their participation in the 2015 World Universities Debating Championship after they broke first into the knockouts. More WUDC funding packages will go to three NUDC 2014 finalists. The ongoing national BP tournament is taking place at Universitas Batam in the Riau Islands.    

Non-Java squads Universitas Syiah Kuala from Aceh and Bali's Universitas Udayana gave spirited challenges in the quarterfinals but came short from becoming the first from outside of the main island to reach the top 8. Aceh and Bali, provinces that have won the national high school championship before, have strong squads at the pre-varsity level but their universities need to attract those talented debaters to stay home to extend success into varsity level. Some debaters from those provinces are now debating for UI.

However, it was also refreshing to see there was a team from far eastern Indonesia, Universitas Pattimura from Ambon, in the octofinal although they could not advance into the top 16. That shows serious training, including from organizations like On That Point that try to empower disadvantaged regions, can make a difference. This issue has nothing to do with race, ethnicity or any other personal background. The best Indonesian debaters are hard working individuals who come from all kinds of social groups. The matter is institutional. It is about how institutions and institutionalized training can provide the right exercise, materials and environment for eager debaters to enhance their skills and knowledge. Without them, even the most talented with the gift of the gab would never shine on the debating stage. 

UGM Teams Break First in This Year's NNDC, E-Fiesta

Teams from Universitas Gadjah Mada progressed first in two nationwide debating tournaments that reached their breaking announcement today -- the 3rd National Newbie Debating Competition in Yogyakarta and the English Fiesta in Malang. There is also a third championship going on this weekend in Tangerang, the 2014 International Humanitarian Law National Debate Competition, but it will only have its last preliminary round tomorrow morning. 

At NNDC, UGM A (Aryanda Putra Tony & Nalaputi Basoeki) led the list in the British Parliamentary style contest exclusively for novices. Three teams from rival Universitas Indonesia followed straight after. UI won all two of the past editions of NNDC. Here is the complete list.

1. Universitas Gadjah Mada A
2. Universitas Indonesia B
3. Universitas Indonesia C
4. Universitas Indonesia A
5. Universitas Diponegoro A
6. Politeknik Negeri Malang B
7. Universitas Brawijaya A
8. Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta A
9. Universitas Diponegoro C
10. Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta C
11. STMIK Amikom A
12. Universitas Negeri Surabaya B
13. Universitas Gadjah Mada B
14. Universitas Sanata Dharma A
15. Universitas Negeri Surabaya A
16. Universitas Diponegoro B  

In Malang, another UGM A (Noel Hasintongan, Ganjar Dennis, Aufia Espressivo) won all of their preliminary debates and cruised into the elimination round of the 3-on-3 EF before the rest. The eight teams that advanced into the quarterfinals are:

1. Universitas Gadjah Mada A
2. Universitas Brawijaya Formasi
3. Universitas Indonesia A
4. Universitas Indonesia B
5. Universitas Ahmad Dahlan A
6. Universitas Ahmad Dahlan B
7. Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang A
8. Universitas Brawijaya ESP-FTP 

NUDC 2013: Yogyakarta Region Title Goes to UGM Again

Universitas Gadjah Mada (Amir Abdul Aziz & Nabila Aghniarizqa) proved to be the king of Yogyakarta debating again after winning the Region VII selection of the 2013 National Universities Debating Championships for the third time in a row. In the final, they outclassed cross-town opponents Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan and Universitas Sanata Dharma.

The division of the regions follows the Kopertis system, which is the way private Indonesian universities are regionally monitored. Each of the 12 regions can send the best 8 teams to the nationals, which will have 96 squads -- 192 debaters and 96 N1 adjudicators. All schools that reach the regional semifinals are eligible to advance to the main championship next month. Besides the 4 schools above, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Sekolah Tinggi Bahasa Asing LIA and Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta will also go to the nationals representing the small but university-packed region.

NUEDC 2012: UGM Triumphs in Last Regional Qualifier

Universitas Gadjah Mada (Erwina Salsabila & Thoriq Murtadho) won the Region VII (Yogyakarta) qualifiers of the 2012 National Universities English Debating Championship, concluding the regional stage of this nationwide competition. All 12 regions now have 8 teams that they will send to the national round. From the position of Opening Government, UGM defeated cross-city rivals Universitas Islam Indonesia, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan in the regional final. Besides the finalists, 4 other universities that reached the semifinals are also heading for the main tournament. They are Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional and STMIK Amikom.

Unhas MUN Wins First BP Debate in Indonesia's East

Universitas Hasanuddin's Model United Nations Club (Biondi Sima & Aca Cangara) today grabbed the title in the Hasanuddin BP Debates, the first debating competition using the British Parliamentary format in eastern Indonesia. The pair in the grandfinal beat squads from Universitas Ahmad Dahlan and Politeknik Negeri Ujung Pandang and a team called Bad Boys. A debater from the last team, Bama Andika, who reached the quarterfinals of the National Universities English Debating Championships last week representing Unhas, took home the best speaker prize.

The Hasanuddin BP previously had registered participants from outside eastern Indonesia, even from outside the country, but two delays, including a postponement due to a clash with the NUEDC dates, triggered a wave of pull-outs. In the end, only Yogyakarta-based UAD crossed the sea to head for Sulawesi island and debated in its biggest city Makassar with teams from the surrounding area.