Team Pasifika wins FNU Debate

Press Release Posted On: June 5, 2023

Team Pasifika – winners of the FNU Debate competition.

Team Pasifika was crowned the winner of the Fiji National University (FNU) 2023 Debate Competition after beating the defending champions, Team Natabua.

The annual competition is organised by the University’s Office of the Registrar, Department of Student Support Services and this year Dialogue Fiji came on board to support the competition.

Debate is the activity that brings the art of reading, thinking and speaking together in one place. Debate programs are transformational experiences for students. In a debate program, students engage voluntarily in a social activity that reaps significant intellectual benefits, and rewards academic skills: quick thinking, sound argument, and confident speaking.

Team Pasifika members, Fatima Ahmed, Ravneel Singh, and Isabella Raidriwa argued on the affirmative side of the topic Should Voting Be Mandatory in Fiji.

“We did not expect to win, but we did win the national competition, and we are thankful to the team members for their hard work,” Raidriwa said.

Ahmed highlighted that given the limited preparation timeframe before debates, teamwork played a crucial role in overcoming the previous winners.

“Our arguments were based on the political landscape of Fiji, highlighting the fact that compulsory voting can help sustain democracy, especially when there is political instability. A quote used during the debate by the team was ‘Bad officials are chosen by good citizens who do not vote.” Ahmed said.

“We performed exceptionally well, considering the hectic schedules of exams, assignment deadlines, and other commitments. The synergy among our team members and our ability to work together really helped us achieve this far.”

Singh added that the team divided the tasks required and shared their research pieces with one another.

“We approached the competition with a strong mindset and executed our arguments really well,” Singh stated.

As a result of their win, Team Pasifika received a cash prize of $500 a trophy while Team Natabua settled for $300 and a trophy. The participants underwent the Debate Coaching Workshop and Mock Debate Session prior to the competition.

The teams have competed at the divisional level and the top teams made it to the final. The Debate coaching workshop was organised for all registered teams at the Central, Western, and Northern divisions.

Under the FNU 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, FNU is committed to enhancing the student experience at the University by providing students with the best possible experience through debates and other activities that allows them to develop personally, morally, and spiritually, as well as intellectually and to thrive, learn, question and succeed as global citizens.

Semester 2, 2023 studies

Interested students can Apply Now for Semester 2 studies via the FNU website on https://www.fnu.ac.fj/student/ or email to admission@fnu.ac.fj

For further information or queries, students can also Text (Toll-Free) to 857 for Vodafone and Inkk users.

Alternatively, applicants can visit any of the FNU campuses to submit applications.

Classes for Semester 2 begin in July 2023.