International training program for volunteer debate judges

Twenty volunteers from ten countries gathered in Belgrade to participate in a training program for volunteer judges in debating organizations, organized by the Croatian Debate Society (HDD), the International Debate Education Association (IDEA), and Open Communication. This ten-day event, held alongside the World Schools Debating Championship, combined training sessions, job shadowing, and practical experience, providing a unique opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experiences among participants, with a focus on improving their skills in debate education.

During the workshops, participants shared their methods and approaches to giving feedback, with the entire training designed to enhance the quality of feedback and learning assessment for young participants in debate programs. The volunteers had the opportunity to learn from each other, as well as from other international judges, through practical experience. This approach enabled them to improve their abilities in evaluating and conducting debate education. The training sessions were intense and interactive, with a particular emphasis on the practical application of learned techniques in monitoring and analyzing debates taking place at the championship.

In addition to the training sessions, the volunteers participated in job shadowing activities, observing the work of experienced volunteer judges during debate competitions. This allowed them to identify positive and negative practices in debate education firsthand. The volunteers also worked on developing plans and models for working with young people in their communities, based on the experiences and knowledge gained. With the support of mentors, they crafted strategies to help improve debate education in their local settings.

The overall goal of IDEAs international activities is to encourage young people to think critically, engage actively in society, and develop the skills necessary to face the challenges of the modern world. This training, funded through the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, has proven to be a significant step towards achieving that goal.