KUCHING – Swinburne Debaters’ Club, a student club at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, hosted an engaging one-day English Language Debaters’ Workshop for 14 enthusiastic young debaters from SMK Sungai Tapang on 13 February 2025.
Supervised by club advisor Dr James ChunHan Loi and club president Adrian Kamarn, the event was designed to nurture and develop debate skills in the next generation of debaters.
The workshop began with a Debate 101 session led by Adrian, which covered the fundamentals of debating and how to effectively engage with opponents.
The students listen attentively during the workshop.
Participants then took part in three rounds of practice debate, each focusing on important themes: Youth, Human Rights and Relationships. Members of the Swinburne Debaters’ Club, acting as adjudicators to the practices, provided valuable feedback to help participants improve their performance throughout the event.
A highlight of the session was a demonstrative debate featuring Swinburne Debaters’ Club members Muhammad Adib Rusydan Bin Suharman, Adrian Kamarn, Mohamad Faridz Faizal Bin Mohamad Isham and Ewen Elisha Khoo Kim Suan. The debate was intense and showcased the skills that the participants were striving to master.
A student in action during a practice debate.
As head coach of the workshop, Adrian expressed his appreciation for the participants and the team that made the workshop a success.
“I want to extend my thanks to SMK Sungai Tapang for reaching out to us to organise this workshop. Despite being new to debating, the participants were eager to learn, reminding me of my own early days in debate,” he said.
“A big thank you as well to the members of Swinburne Debaters’ Club and our photographer for their dedication to making this event enjoyable and impactful for all involved,” he added.
The students participate in a practice debate session.
Swinburne Debaters’ Club emphasises the value of debating, not just as a career skill but also for its ability to foster cultural understanding and social connections. The club hopes to expand these workshops beyond Kuching, reaching other districts and schools in the future.
Swinburne Sarawak’s student clubs and societies provide valuable opportunities for personal growth, skill development and networking that extend beyond the classroom. These clubs play a vital role in cultivating leadership, critical thinking and teamwork, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their academic and professional futures.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).