The UNY English Debate Competition (UNITE) is a prestigious national-level debate tournament organized by the Student Activity Forum of Foreign Languages (SAFEL) and English Debating Society (EDS) of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta. As one of the flagship programs, UNITE has consistently provided a platform for young debaters across Indonesia to challenge their reasoning, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their public speaking abilities through competitive English debate. Carrying the spirit of “Frame the Words, Change the Worlds,” UNITE 2025 aimed to nurture the next generation of thinkers who are not only eloquent in words but also impactful in ideas.
Held on October 18–19, 2025, UNITE 2025 took place entirely online via the Zoom platform. The event maintained its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that participants from diverse regions could engage without geographical limitations. This year’s competition drew numerous teams from universities across Indonesia, creating an intellectually vibrant environment where students debated pressing contemporary issues, ranging from economics and politics to social justice and technology. This year UNITE competition succeeded in bringing in 20 teams and 11 independent adjudicators from 11 provinces in Indonesia. The Chief Adjudicator of UNITE is The, Jessica Verdinado with I Kadek Dwi Arya Divananda as Deputy Chief Adjudicator. The CA and DCA were also accompanied by the adjudicators’ team who worked to complete the single peak day. Then, for UNITE implementers, the committee is chaired by Nurul Fauziyyah. Despite being conducted virtually, the atmosphere of enthusiasm and competitive spirit remained palpable throughout the event.
UNITE 2025 adopted the British Parliamentary (BP) debate format, a globally recognized system featuring four teams in one room: Opening Government, Opening Opposition, Closing Government, and Closing Opposition, each represented by two speakers. The competition spanned two intense days. The first day featured three preliminary rounds and semifinal round, where all participating teams competed to secure their standings. On the second day, the excitement escalated with grand final, which tested not only participants’ argumentative depth but also their teamwork and adaptability. The adjudication core, led by experienced Chief and Deputy Chief Adjudicators, ensured fair and professional evaluation standards, while the organizing committee worked diligently to maintain the smooth flow of every round.
The grand final marked the peak of UNITE 2025, featuring four exceptional teams who presented thought-provoking arguments in an atmosphere filled with both tension and admiration. The winners were officially announced shortly after the final round through the Zoom platform, recognizing not only the Champion Team, Runner-ups, and Best Speakers, but also appreciating every participant’s dedication and hard work. The first winner or champion of UNITE 2025 was taken by Ilham Akbar Ady and Raziq Othman Ali from Universitas Diponegoro, followed respectively as first runner-up by Azizah Nur Aulia and Cathelea Regita Iena from Universitas Diponegoro, second runner-up by Tri Nathania Saidah and Fatia Filaisil Aghniya from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, third runner-up by Aisyi Fitri Ghaissani and Indira Emilia Anjani from Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, overall best speaker by Raziq Othman Ali from Universitas Diponegoro, and overall best independent adjudicator by Finda David from Universitas Diponegoro.
– EDS –
