Debate programs to be supported

[from Philanthropy News Digest]

Open Society Foundations Award $20 Million to Strengthen Debate Programs

The Open Society Foundations have announced the launch of Global Debate, a $20 million initiative designed to strengthen debate programs on campuses around the world.

As part of the foundation's ongoing efforts to engage young people in important policy issues, the program will provide up to three years of funding to colleges, universities, and other educational institutions looking to integrate debate across multiple disciplines. In partnership with theInternational Debate Education Association, the program will be available to institutions that either have small debate programs or none at all, as well as institutions attempting to promote public debate within the broader communities they serve.

The funding will also support an online debate mentorship program, the creation of educational materials, international debate tournaments and competitions, a series of Open Society Debates on issues of global concern, and a Global Debate and Public Policy Challenge that will host a debate between the world's leading university debaters, policy makers, and academics.

"Debate helps students develop critical thinking and public speaking skills and challenges them to consider global issues from a perspective other than their own," said Open Society Foundations Youth Initiativedirector Noel Selegzi. "Debate is a key component to an open society and encourages new ideas, reasoned arguments, and open minds. Debate helps us recognize that public policy is best developed when the force of an argument, and not the argument of force, is most potent."

“Debate Programs Get $20 Million Boost on Campuses Worldwide.”Open Society Foundations Press Release 9/14/11.