Opinions: Developing soft skills at university
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2024 4:58 am
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FUNIBER sponsors the IV Debate League , an initiative organized by the European University of the Atlantic, which this year is also open to students from the international university network in which FUNIBER participates.
The IV UNEATLANTICO-FUNIBER Debate League instagram database begins on October 26 , a virtual meeting in which participants will be able to develop their oratory, argumentation and dialogue skills.
To prepare for the League, UNEATLANTICO is organizing a training course that will take place next week, from October 19 to 23. The course is mandatory for students who enroll in the Debate League, and is also open to all members of the university network of which FUNIBER is a part, who are interested in receiving this training, even if they do not form part of the Debate League.
We interviewed the Director of the Chair of Entrepreneurial Culture and Employability at UNEATLANTICO, Inna Alexeeva, and professors Dr. Manuel Cristóbal Rodríguez Martínez and Dr. Maria Araceli Alonso Campo, who are part of the coordinating team of the IV Debate League, to learn about the challenges and advantages of participating in this initiative.
Dr. Maria Araceli Alonso Campo, the Director of the Chair of Entrepreneurial Culture and Employability of UNEATLANTICO, Inna Alexeeva, and Dr. Manuel Cristóbal Rodríguez Martínez, coordinators of the IV Debate League
Dr. Maria Araceli Alonso Campo, the Director of the Chair of Entrepreneurial Culture and Employability of UNEATLANTICO, Inna Alexeeva, and Dr. Manuel Cristóbal Rodríguez Martínez, coordinators of the IV Debate League
Debate and public speaking are important tools for the construction of knowledge. What is the role of the university in training professionals capable of speaking and arguing publicly?
The role of the university is critical in this regard. It is where these skills must be trained. Studying a university degree involves acquiring not only the technical and specific knowledge of each profession but also developing the soft skills that allow one to be in society, to be a responsible citizen and to know how to make decisions. Among these skills, for example, those of knowing how to argue, based on relevant information, knowing how to listen and dialogue, making use of effective communication techniques, and knowing how to reach a consensus, which is so necessary today, stand out.
With social media, debates have become virtual. How do you think the Internet influences public debates?
The Internet is a powerful tool that undoubtedly influences our lives and the decisions we make. Now, in times of the pandemic, it is a solution to stay informed and connected with each other. Social media presence is an extension of our lives, so it is not surprising that debates of all kinds, including political ones, are also present in this virtual extension. In this sense, politicians take advantage of the use of the Internet to be more visible, but I am not sure if the Internet makes it easier to be closer to citizens. Communication can reach all corners, there is no doubt about this, but what is ensured is one-way communication. Although digital solutions provide some interaction options (comments, forums, and the like), the experience generated is not the same as during a live intervention, where the closeness of the audience is felt, where there is more immediate interaction and where many emotions are generated.
We have discovered, both in the UNEATLANTICO Debate League and in the Pre-University Debate League, great oratory and argumentation skills among the participants. Thanks to the selected topics, among which euthanasia, obtaining truthful information in today's society or sustainable development stand out, the students have put into practice the techniques learned in initial training and in previous leagues to evolve as efficient speakers, demonstrating great serenity, body language appropriate to the circumstances, well-structured argumentation and a speech constructed to persuade. In addition, a pleasant atmosphere is created where participation and the acquisition of new skills becomes more important than winning.
FUNIBER sponsors the IV Debate League , an initiative organized by the European University of the Atlantic, which this year is also open to students from the international university network in which FUNIBER participates.
The IV UNEATLANTICO-FUNIBER Debate League instagram database begins on October 26 , a virtual meeting in which participants will be able to develop their oratory, argumentation and dialogue skills.
To prepare for the League, UNEATLANTICO is organizing a training course that will take place next week, from October 19 to 23. The course is mandatory for students who enroll in the Debate League, and is also open to all members of the university network of which FUNIBER is a part, who are interested in receiving this training, even if they do not form part of the Debate League.
We interviewed the Director of the Chair of Entrepreneurial Culture and Employability at UNEATLANTICO, Inna Alexeeva, and professors Dr. Manuel Cristóbal Rodríguez Martínez and Dr. Maria Araceli Alonso Campo, who are part of the coordinating team of the IV Debate League, to learn about the challenges and advantages of participating in this initiative.
Dr. Maria Araceli Alonso Campo, the Director of the Chair of Entrepreneurial Culture and Employability of UNEATLANTICO, Inna Alexeeva, and Dr. Manuel Cristóbal Rodríguez Martínez, coordinators of the IV Debate League
Dr. Maria Araceli Alonso Campo, the Director of the Chair of Entrepreneurial Culture and Employability of UNEATLANTICO, Inna Alexeeva, and Dr. Manuel Cristóbal Rodríguez Martínez, coordinators of the IV Debate League
Debate and public speaking are important tools for the construction of knowledge. What is the role of the university in training professionals capable of speaking and arguing publicly?
The role of the university is critical in this regard. It is where these skills must be trained. Studying a university degree involves acquiring not only the technical and specific knowledge of each profession but also developing the soft skills that allow one to be in society, to be a responsible citizen and to know how to make decisions. Among these skills, for example, those of knowing how to argue, based on relevant information, knowing how to listen and dialogue, making use of effective communication techniques, and knowing how to reach a consensus, which is so necessary today, stand out.
With social media, debates have become virtual. How do you think the Internet influences public debates?
The Internet is a powerful tool that undoubtedly influences our lives and the decisions we make. Now, in times of the pandemic, it is a solution to stay informed and connected with each other. Social media presence is an extension of our lives, so it is not surprising that debates of all kinds, including political ones, are also present in this virtual extension. In this sense, politicians take advantage of the use of the Internet to be more visible, but I am not sure if the Internet makes it easier to be closer to citizens. Communication can reach all corners, there is no doubt about this, but what is ensured is one-way communication. Although digital solutions provide some interaction options (comments, forums, and the like), the experience generated is not the same as during a live intervention, where the closeness of the audience is felt, where there is more immediate interaction and where many emotions are generated.
We have discovered, both in the UNEATLANTICO Debate League and in the Pre-University Debate League, great oratory and argumentation skills among the participants. Thanks to the selected topics, among which euthanasia, obtaining truthful information in today's society or sustainable development stand out, the students have put into practice the techniques learned in initial training and in previous leagues to evolve as efficient speakers, demonstrating great serenity, body language appropriate to the circumstances, well-structured argumentation and a speech constructed to persuade. In addition, a pleasant atmosphere is created where participation and the acquisition of new skills becomes more important than winning.