In the Inter-Faculty Debate at Vilnius University, Students Will Compete for the Title of the Best Team

Once again, the Faculty of Philology of Vilnius University (VU) is organising an inter-faculty academic debate in English. The topic of this year’s debate is “Hype and Its Effects on Society”.

The debate will bring together 10 student teams to compete for the title of the best debate team of 2023. This debate is unique in that students’ teams represent various units of Vilnius University and must prepare their arguments based on research that most reflects the discipline they represent and their future profession.

“The format of academic debates is applied by prestigious European universities, and VU academic community has joined them. This is a great opportunity for students to discuss the effect that hype has on society, whereas the team with the strongest arguments to convince the honourable commission will be able to win the Debates Cup 2023. This event cherishes the traditions of public speaking and emphasises the relationship of language with other disciplines,” says the ambassador of the debate Prof. Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, Dean of the Faculty of Philology of Vilnius University.

This year, students’ teams will represent the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, the Faculties of Mathematics and Informatics, Communication, Medicine, Economics and Business Administration, and Philology of Vilnius University.

The participants of the debate will be evaluated by a commission of five experts – leaders who actively represent their areas of activity: VU Pro-Rector for Organisation Development and Community Affairs Prof. Vilmantė Pakalniškienė, diplomat Emily J. Hicks (U.S. Embassy), paediatric nephrologist Assoc. Prof. Karolis Ažukaitis (VU Faculty of Medicine), 15min.lt deputy editor-in-chief, book reviewer and literature expert Audrius Ožalas, and diplomat Mark Pass (British Embassy).

During the event, students of the Pianoforte Division of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art Emilija Šoriūtė and Vasarė Vaičiulytė, together with their teacher, art expert Dr Gabrielė Kondrotaitė, will perform works by Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert.

VU academic debate “Hype and Its Effects on Society” will take place on 14 December at 17:00 at the Faculty of Philology of Vilnius University, in V. Krėvė auditorium.

The debate will be moderated by Assoc. Prof. Liudmila Arcimavičienė. The event will be held in English.