Why Debate Matters in 2025: Skills for Life and Democracy
In today’s world, young people are growing up in a landscape filled with information, challenges, and constant change. Social media creates echo chambers, fake news spreads faster than facts, and public discussions often turn into polarized shouting matches. Against this backdrop, the art of debate has never been more important.
That is why the Debating for Diversity project believes debate is not just an extracurricular activity—it is a skill for life, and a tool for democracy.
Beyond Winning Arguments
For many, “debate” sounds like a competition where the goal is to win. But within our project, debate is something deeper:
-
A way to think critically, by questioning assumptions and checking facts.
-
A way to communicate clearly, learning to speak with confidence and structure.
-
A way to listen respectfully, even to views you strongly disagree with.
These are not just debating skills—they are life skills.
Facing the Challenges of 2025
Why do these skills matter so much today? Because the challenges facing young people in 2025 are complex:
-
Climate change, where solutions require international cooperation.
-
Minority rights and inclusion, where societies must learn to balance unity with diversity.
-
The digital world, where misinformation can threaten democracy itself.
Debate provides a safe space to explore these questions. It allows students to test ideas, to disagree constructively, and to imagine better solutions—long before they step into the voting booth or take on leadership roles.
From Fear to Confidence
For many of our students, the first debate is an intimidating experience. Standing in front of peers, presenting arguments, responding to challenges—it feels overwhelming. But something magical happens: once the first words are spoken, fear turns into focus.
As one Romanian student shared: “At first I was nervous. Then I realized debate isn’t about being perfect—it’s about daring to speak and learning from others.”
That moment—when a shy student discovers the courage to raise their voice—is the true victory of debate.
Building a Culture of Dialogue
In Romania, Slovenia, and Serbia, debate is still in its early stages as an educational practice. But thanks to international cooperation, this culture of dialogue is growing. Our Slovenian partners learn from Italian schools, where debate is already institutionalized. Our Serbian partners connect debate with democratic participation. Our Romanian team integrates debates in three languages, reflecting the diversity of their community.
Together, these efforts are shaping a generation that is not afraid to speak up, listen, and build bridges across differences.
Debate as a Tool for Democracy
At its core, debate teaches us that disagreement is not a threat—it is an opportunity. In an era when societies are often divided, young people are showing us another way: respectful dialogue, critical thinking, and the courage to imagine solutions.
That is why debate matters in 2025. Not because it creates future champions, but because it creates future citizens.
From Learner to Mentor: University Student Brings Debate to High Schoolers at Cluj Hungarian Days
Although the Debating for Diversity project is designed primarily for university students, its impact is already reaching beyond campus walls. At this year’s Cluj Hungarian Days, an MCC student who has been training within the Erasmus+ project turned from participant into mentor—bringing the art of debate to curious high school students.
A Workshop for Young Voices
On a late afternoon, from 16:30 to 18:00, a classroom filled with anticipation as the event “Let’s Debate!” welcomed high schoolers eager to test their skills in argumentation. The session began with an introduction to the basics: how to structure arguments, how to respond to counterpoints, and how to speak with confidence even when nerves strike.
The workshop promised exactly what its title suggested: a space to learn, practice, and most importantly, to be heard. With only ten active participants allowed due to space, others followed attentively from the audience—proving that debate has the power to capture attention even from the sidelines.
From Student to Teacher
The session was led by Simon Krisztián, a law student and participant in MCC’s University Program. Just months earlier, he himself had been on the receiving end of debate training through Debating for Diversity. Now, he was guiding younger students through the same journey.
“It was surreal,” Krisztián shared afterwards.
I remember how nervous I was during my first debate. Today, I was the one encouraging high school students to overcome that same fear.
This moment highlighted the multiplier effect of the project: skills gained at university level are not confined there—they spread, inspire, and take root in new communities.
A First Step Into Public Speaking
For the high school participants, the experience was both challenging and exhilarating. They were asked to defend their viewpoints, to think on their feet, and to convince not only their peers but also an attentive audience.
One high school student commented:
I never thought I could speak in front of so many people. But once I started, I realized it wasn’t scary—it was empowering.
Building a Culture of Dialogue
This small but impactful event demonstrated the broader vision of the Debating for Diversity project: to build a culture where dialogue and critical thinking are not luxuries, but everyday tools. By giving young people the chance to debate in a safe, supportive environment, the project is helping to plant the seeds of civic engagement long before university life begins.
As the Cluj Hungarian Days audience applauded the young debaters, it was clear: debate has the power to transform not only individuals, but entire communities.
Voices Across Borders: Young Europeans Debate Diversity, Democracy, and the Future
Between January and June, students in Romania, Slovenia, and Serbia stepped onto an unusual stage—not one of theater or sport, but one of words, ideas, and conviction. As part of the Erasmus+ project Debating for Diversity, three organizations joined forces to nurture a culture of dialogue among young people. What they discovered was more than skill-building: it was a transformation of confidence, empathy, and civic spirit.
Romania: MCC Students Tackle Social Media, Education, and Freedom
At the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) in Cluj-Napoca, debate sessions unfolded in three languages—Hungarian, Romanian, and English. This multilingual setting wasn’t just a practical necessity; it became a symbol of inclusion.
Romanian students explored questions such as:
- Should schools ban the use of mobile phones during classes?
- Is social media more harmful than beneficial for young people?
- Should voting become compulsory in every democracy?
For many, these debates were the first time they had defended their ideas before peers. One participant admitted:
At first I was terrified. But then I realized debate isn’t about being perfect—it’s about thinking clearly and daring to speak.
The impact was visible: students who had never spoken up in class before were now defending positions passionately, sometimes even in a second or third language. Teachers described it as “a breakthrough in confidence.”
Slovenia: Debating Minority Rights and Civic Inclusion
In Ljubljana, Za in proti – Pro et contra (ZIP) brought together students from their wide network of debate clubs. Here, the emphasis was not just on argumentation, but also on the sensitive and often difficult issues of minority rights, civic inclusion, and the future of democracy in multicultural Europe.
The Slovenian debate motions included questions such as:
Should minority languages be mandatory in public education where minority communities live?
- Does positive discrimination help or harm minority groups?
- Should voting rights be extended to non-citizen residents in local elections?
- Is multiculturalism the future of Europe, or an impossible ideal?
These topics touched a nerve. Slovenia, with its Italian, Hungarian, and Roma minorities, provided a real-life backdrop for debates that were anything but abstract. One student shared after a heated round: “I had to argue against giving more rights to minorities. At first, it felt wrong. But then I realized the exercise helped me understand how some people think—and how important it is to be able to respond.”
By the end of the semester, the students didn’t just learn how to win arguments. They learned how to listen, how to empathize, and how to stand up for the values of inclusion and diversity. Debate here became a school of democracy itself.
Serbia: Dialogue in the Midst of Turbulence
In Belgrade, Otvorena Komunikacija (OK) led sessions that were as lively as they were meaningful. Serbian students engaged with socially charged issues, including:
- Should hate speech be banned even at the cost of limiting freedom of expression?
- Is democracy always the best form of government?
- Should human rights sometimes be restricted for the sake of national security?
For young people in Serbia, where democratic participation often feels fragile, the experience carried extra weight. One participant said: “When we debated democracy, it wasn’t abstract. It was about our lives, our country, our future.”
Despite political unrest in their environment, students found in debate a safe channel for energy and ideas. The sessions didn’t just teach them to argue—they taught them to believe in dialogue as a tool for change.
Shared Lessons, Shared Inspiration
Though the contexts differed, one truth emerged across all three countries: debating is still a new and fragile practice in this region, but it carries enormous potential. The students’ enthusiasm confirmed that they are hungry for spaces where they can question, challenge, and connect.
By June, over a hundred young people had gained not only technical skills in argumentation and public speaking, but also the deeper, harder-to-measure qualities of courage, openness, and civic responsibility.
As one Romanian student summed it up after a heated discussion:
I realized I don’t just have opinions—I have a voice. And if I use it, I can make a difference.
This is the heart of Debating for Diversity: to show that debate is not just about winning arguments, but about building bridges across cultures, strengthening democracy, and empowering young voices for the future of Europe.
Building Bridges in May: Partners Meet to Shape the Future of Debate
In May, the partners of the Debating for Diversity project came together—both in person and online—for a working meeting that proved to be as inspiring as it was productive. Hosted in Cluj-Napoca, the gathering once again showed how international cooperation can flourish even in the face of challenges.
From Slovenia, Rok travelled to Cluj and joined the team on site, while Katarina, representing our Serbian partner, had to remain at home due to the ongoing unrest in Serbia. Yet distance was no barrier: she joined online, fully engaged in discussions and bringing her perspective into every decision.
Planning Ahead: The Forum and the Handbook
The meeting focused on the exciting months ahead. Together, the partners discussed the details of the upcoming International Debate Forum in Slovenia—from the structure of workshops to the selection of topics that will resonate most with young debaters.
Another key point was the Handbook on Organizing Debate Sessions, a publication designed to serve as a practical guide for schools, universities, and youth organizations that want to introduce debating into their activities. Every partner contributed insights from their own national experiences, making sure the handbook reflects diverse approaches while staying useful and accessible.
Experiencing Debate First-Hand
During his visit, Rok also had the chance to take part in a debate organized at MCC. Seeing the Romanian students in action was a moment of shared pride for the team. It confirmed that the project’s goals are truly taking root: students are learning to express themselves, challenge each other respectfully, and engage with complex issues in a thoughtful way.
As the partners shared updates on their local debate sessions, one discovery stood out. While debating as an educational tool is still in its early stages in all three participating countries, the Slovenian team highlighted their valuable connections with Italy, where debate has already been institutionalized in schools.
This cross-border knowledge is more than just inspiring—it is practical. By learning from Italy’s example, the partners are beginning to imagine how debating could one day become a regular part of school life in Romania, Slovenia, and Serbia too.
More Than a Meeting
What might have looked like just another project coordination session turned into something much more: a moment of genuine exchange, encouragement, and vision. Despite political unrest, despite cultural and linguistic differences, the partners once again proved that they share a common mission—to empower young people through the art of debate.
As the group left the meeting—some logging off from their laptops, others walking out into the streets of Cluj—one thing was certain: the work ahead is ambitious, but together, they are building the foundations of a culture where every young voice matters.