Last weekend, the Learning Institute in Szeged held its Autumn Academy for university students participating in the MCC training program, which coincided with the start of the MCC academic year. As is customary, the weekend began on Friday evening with icebreaker games, allowing the students to get to know one another and for us to become acquainted with them as well.
On Saturday, the professional program commenced under the title "Debate as a 21st Century Survival Skill." The first presentation was delivered in English by Thibaud Gubelin, MCC’s French Fellow, who explored the topic "How can a culture of debate be defined?" Following a coffee break, Katalin Sándorné Dinnyés, a teaching assistant researcher at the University of Szeged and head of the Doctoral Students’ National Association, gave an interactive presentation on "Arguments, Argument Chains, and an Introduction to the British Parliamentary Debate Format." To conclude the professional segment, two researchers from the Learning Research Institute, Áron Fekete and Benedek Alpár, led a joint historical workshop titled "Controversial Historical Events and the Role of Debates in History Education," during which students engaged in debates on divisive historical topics, putting their debating skills to the test.
After a hearty lunch break, the group took a historical city tour, followed by a guided visit to the exhibitions at the Móra Ferenc Museum in Szeged. The day ended with a communal dinner and a board game night.
On Sunday morning, the weekend concluded with a joint reflection and evaluation of the events over breakfast, marking a successful and enriching Autumn Academy.
