The teams “Las Filípicas” and “Metanoia” disputed the final of the 7th Debate League of the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO).
It has been a very intense edition, with learning from the 7th public speaking course and a development in the communication skills of all the participants of the League. It is worth mentioning the important participation of the “Oradores Natos” team, who won third place, and “Luchoneta,” who finished the competition in fourth place.
Throughout all the meetings, students from different grades of UNEATLANTICO have had to defend arguments both for and against the main topic: “Does the use of artificial intelligence in academia, as a tool, benefit student development?”
In this last meeting, through a draw, the team “Las Filípicas,” formed by Marcelo Solís, Mario Villoria, and Génesis Roquel, students of the degree in Business Administration and Management (ADE), have positioned themselves against, while the team “Metanoia” formed by Paula Díaz-Velarde, Lia Marzo, Javier Gutiérrez, and Emilio García, have positioned themselves in favor. After a hard-fought debate, the opposing team was victorious. Likewise, the captain of the winning team (“Las Filípicas”), Marcelo Solís, was awarded the prize for best speaker for his good performance throughout the competition.
The jury that assessed the interventions of each of the teams was formed by Ana Visiers, director of the Communication degrees; Olga Agüero, Dean of the College of Journalists of Cantabria; and Loyda Alas, professor at the Higher Polytechnic School, who have valued the communication techniques used, the arguments given, and the talent of the students, with their experience.
The awards ceremony was presided over by the Dean of the College of Journalists of Cantabria and teacher of UNEATLANTICO, Olga Agüero, who encouraged the students to continue their training in public speaking. Subsequently, Agüero presented the award to the runner-up team and finally to the winning team of the 7th edition of the Debate League UNEATLANTICO.
“The experience has been very satisfying, chaotic, and full of challenges,” said the captain of the winning team. He also added that the key to obtaining the title was the feedback from the audience and experts in the field, trying to improve to reach the level of other teams. “We must always seek the truth that is closest to reality for optimal progress,” he concluded.
Finally, the Organizing Committee of the Debate League congratulates all the students who have participated in this edition in which they have demonstrated their oratory, competitiveness, and argumentation skills.