Details

On May 27 - 29, the participants of the KAS-Martens Centre Discussion Club will attend a 2-day long debate training which will revolve around the techniques of argumentation, teach the participants how to construct a full-length speech and train them how to take different roles in a debate. In order to put the obtained knowledge into practice, the participants will be challenged with taking part in a competitive debate which will be evaluated and summarized by providing tips for further self-improvement in debates and public speaking situations. In addition to the intensive training, lectures and seminars on the concepts of state and sovereignty in the framework of International Public Law and European Law will be held. The participants will engage themselves not only as a listeners, but will also make individual presentations and receive feedback from their colleagues and an expert for legal science Dr Christoph Schewe.

Background

In 2016 the Belarus Country Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, in cooperation with the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies (Brussels), is carrying out a new project: the “KAS-Martens Centre Discussion Club”.

It is an excellence initiative for qualified Belarusian students and graduates from different social and cultural study fields, which aims at learning, professionalization, discussing, exchange of ideas and networking. From April to November 2016, a group of young Belarusians is attending a series of monthly workshops in Vilnius, consisting of content-input and practical training units, given by scholars and experts from the EU member states as well as from Belarus. Through group seminars and individual assignments, the participants deepen their knowledge and formulate their own insights in such fields as European politico-ideological spectrum, European Union’s legal framework and European party systems, the principles and implementation of economic policy according to the concept of social market economy and other issues which are relevant for a comprehensive understanding of the political, ideological, legal, social and economic dimensions of Europe. The workshop series also pays explicit attention to the topic of Eastern Partnership and the perception of EU-Belarusian relations in both EU member states and in Belarus.

In addition to the content-oriented lectures and seminars, a set of intensive training units allows the participants to strengthen their writing, speaking, organizational skills and other capacities related to project management and public communication, which are crucial for their current and future work in political or nongovernmental sphere. A great significance is attributed to the development of argumentation and debating abilities, which are challenged and tested through participation in the publicly open discussion evenings, organized in cooperation with the European Humanities University. As the responsibility for the conceptual and organizational preparation of the discussion evenings lies in the hands of participants themselves, it is a tool for refining their conceptual thinking abilities and enhancing young Belarusians' initiative and innovation potential.

The seminar receives financial support from the European Parliament. Sole liability rests with the organizer, the European Parliament is not responsible for the activity.