5th “For Not For” Interschool Debate Hosted by Vijaybhoomi University

Maharashtra: India’s first liberal professional university, Vijaybhoomi University hosted the fifth edition of the For Not For 2024 International Interschool Debate competition after the humongous success of the previous four editions. The aim of Vijaybhoomi for organizing this competition was to cultivate an open-minded attitude and encourage young minds to express themselves with confidence freely. FOR NOT FOR is an annual event designed on an international framework to get the youth across an international forum to ponder, seek, discuss, and debate issues of international interest.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 50 teams representing top international and CBSE schools across cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kolhapur, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Noida, and Pilani, showcasing a rich diversity of perspectives and eloquence. The semi-finals and finals were held on the university’s scenic campus attracting 30+ finalists and their supporters. This landmark event served as a platform for young debaters to exchange ideas, cultivate critical thinking, and exhibit exceptional oratory skills.

The competition culminated in outstanding performances by the students, with Cambridge Court World School, Jaipur, emerging as the overall winner in both the Senior and Junior categories.

Seniors

1st Prize: Nancy Uppal and Bhavini Khandelwal (Cambridge Court World School, Jaipur)

1st Runner-Up: Adit Upadhyay and Yahswant Singh (Birla School, Pilani)

Juniors

1st Prize: Saanvi Prakash and Meemansa Jaiman (Cambridge Court World School, Jaipur)

1st Runner-Up: Pranaya Jain and Khushi Raste (JBCN International School, Borivali, Mumbai)

Dr. A Parasuraman Pro-Chancellor and Dr. Ravikesh Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, Vijaybhoomi University were present during the event and presented awards to the winners. The winners received an amount of ₹85,000, and the runners-up received ₹45,000 in both the senior and junior categories.

Highlighting the importance of For Not For Debate Competition, Mrs. Kalpana Padode, Board Member, Vijaybhoomi University, said, “The idea of holding FNF is to allow young minds to understand others’ arguments, no matter how divergent their views may seem. FNF is a platform to debate contemporary topics freely, without any biases, and propagate their views among their peer group.”

Expressing her views Ms. Ujjwala, Community Engagement Manager said, “The For Not For International Interschool Debate Competition was an experience that left a lasting impression not just on the winners, but on every participant who joined us at Vijaybhoomi University. The students were thrilled to be part of an event that combined intense intellectual engagement with the serene beauty of our campus. The opportunity to engage with seasoned judges who provided detailed, constructive feedback was highly appreciated by all participants. They emphasized how FNF was not just a competition, but a platform for learning, sharing perspectives, and building confidence.”