QatarDebate to Host Meet on Argument and Pedagogy

Doha, May 20 (QNA) - QatarDebate will host the fourth 'International Conference on Argumentation, Rhetoric, Debate and the Pedagogy of Empowerment' from January 11 to 13 next year. This is the first time the empowerment conference will be held in the MENA region and outside Europe. All the previous conferences were held in Slovenia. The details were announced at a press conference on Thursday. The conference will have three major themes which will focus on argumentation and rhetoric, debate and critical thinking or pedagogy. Many local scholars will be part of the discussions and will provide keynote addresses on various topics at the conference which will be in both English and Arabic. Executive Director of QatarDebate Dr Hayat Maraafi said that the conference would pave the way for momentum in debating in Qatar and the region. "The conference will unite scholars of argumentation and rhetoric, teachers and organisers of local, regional and international debating networks to discuss critical thinking and advocacy discourses through pedagogy. Through this conference we welcome all those who are involved in public discussions and debates about different issues," she said. Dr Abdellatif Sellami, educational programme manager of QatarDebate, Ali S al Muftah, communications manager, Jamal al Baker, events manger, Kelley Bieringer, head of English programmes, and Dr Abed Naji al Sameai, head of Arabic programme, were present at the briefing. Sellami said that the conference was timely. He said: "Any global information society which seeks reasoned solutions to problems through broad citizen involvement needs to develop and refine techniques for criticising and validating ideas through discourse and then impart these to new generations of citizens if we are to create a better future and avoid looming crises. This conference provides a unique opportunity to share ideas, network and cross-fertilise with global critical thinkers." Ibrahim Alnaimi, professor of organo-metalic chemistry at Qatar University, will present the keynote address in Arabic on argumentation and rhetoric while Dr Aisha al Mannai, dean of Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, will deliver the keynote address on debate. Dr. Othmane ba Othamane, from Saudi Arabia, a member of the World Federation of Management Mind Trainers, will speak on critical thinking and pedagogy. The keynote speakers in English will be Fans Van Eemeren from the Netherlands, Gordon Mitchell from the USA and Adiba Shareen from Malaysia. Abstracts for the event are to be submitted on or before June 30. The registration process will be completed by the end of October. The co-organisers of the conference are World Debate Institute, International Society for the Study of Argumentation, the International Center for the Advancement of Political Communication and Argument and Za in Proti (ZIP) Zavod Za Kulturo Dialoga Slovenia. (QNA)