RSU students represent Latvia at prestigious European debating championship in Copenhagen

Alans Baguzins and Aleksandrs Škiļs, third-year students in the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Faculty of Social Sciences bachelor’s programme International Relations – European Studies, took part in the European Universities Debating Championship (EUDC 2025) in Copenhagen. The championships are one of the largest and most prestigious academic argumentation and public speaking events in the world.

This year the EUDC brought together 180 teams – a total of 360 participants – from leading European universities, including the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Amsterdam, and Tel Aviv. The RSU representatives were the only participants from Latvia, and both competed at such a high level for the very first time. Over the course of a week, the two students took part in nine intense rounds, earning a total of six points while debating against teams from England, Wales, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, Greece, and Estonia.

The European Universities Debating Championship is unique in its format – the use of the internet during preparation is strictly prohibited, meaning that participants must rely solely on their own knowledge base, logical reasoning, and argumentation skills. Debate topics covered a wide range of issues from global politics, international relations, and healthcare to military affairs, technological development, and current social security challenges.

Participation in the championship provided the students not only with an opportunity to test themselves on an international stage but also to enhance their critical thinking, the structure of their arguments, and their ability to perform in a highly competitive intellectual environment. ‘This week became a true school of international communication for us – we gained valuable professional experience, new contacts, and ideas that we will apply in our future studies and professional careers,’ the students said.

‘Our students’ participation in the Championship is an excellent example of how academic knowledge can be combined with practical international experience. It is essential to create and support such initiatives, as they help young people develop leadership skills, broaden their professional horizons, and become strong representatives of Latvia on the global stage. The role of the programme director in making such opportunities part of student life is crucial, and I would like to extend special thanks to programme director Lelde Metla-Rozentāle for her support of the students and for strengthening the importance of international relations in today’s geopolitical context,’ emphasised the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Karina Palkova.

The RSU students’ participation in EUDC underscores the University’s capacity to compete with Europe’s top institutions in the social sciences and reaffirms its dedication to fostering young professionals’ growth and advancing international collaboration.