You can feel the anticipation crackling through the air at Khon Kaen University’s College of Local Administration. After a five-year absence, intercollegiate debating has returned to campus, and more than 100 eager participants have gathered to witness something extraordinary. Today, student voices will clash, ideas will spark, and minds will be sharpened through the art of structured argument.
KKU Debate 2025 Student Council Tournament Empowers Voices Through Creative Communication
Catalyst
The Student Council of Khon Kaen University recognized a critical gap in campus life—students needed a platform to develop their communication skills and engage in meaningful dialogue across faculty boundaries. This realization sparked the revival of the KKU Debate 2025, the university’s annual debate competition, successfully organized on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
Sukhanat Lapphanatkhanti, Chair of the Organizing Committee, explained that the event aimed to enhance students’ communication and critical thinking skills, provide a platform for problem-solving and constructive self-expression, and encourage logical and reasoned dialogue. The opening ceremony was presided over by Asst. Prof. Prapansak Chaveerach, DVM, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for Student Affairs and Innovation Commercialization, signaling the university’s commitment to student development.
Rising Action
As word spread about the tournament’s return, excitement rippled through the campus community. An open application process attracted widespread interest from students across various faculties, each eager to test their intellectual mettle. From this pool of enthusiastic applicants, organizers carefully selected 12 finalist teams to engage in spirited exchanges of ideas.
“The Student Council hopes this debate will not only offer an opportunity for students to connect across faculties, but also help develop skills in rational communication and systematic research. These experiences are invaluable for both academic success and professional readiness after graduation,” Sukhanat stated, emphasizing the tournament’s broader educational mission.
The stakes were set, and the challenge was clear.
Meanwhile, a distinguished judging panel assembled to evaluate the competitors. The panel included respected faculty members: Asst. Prof. Dr. Marasri Sorthip from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Asst. Prof. Sukhontarat Soythongdee from the Faculty of Education, and Dr. Runglawan Sudmoon from the Faculty of Law, bringing diverse academic perspectives to the evaluation process.
Turning Point
The debate began at 8:00 AM and featured a high level of intensity and enthusiasm throughout the day. As teams progressed through elimination rounds, the competition’s true purpose began to shine through—this wasn’t merely about winning or losing, but about fostering intellectual growth and cross-faculty collaboration.
For Thanakorn Phupanchueak, a student from the Faculty of Education, this competition represented something profound. He shared that this tournament marked the return of intercollegiate debating at KKU after a five-year hiatus. “It was a challenge I wanted to take on — to refine my knowledge and rhetorical skills through a competition that demands quick thinking, language proficiency, and well-researched arguments,” he explained.
The pivotal moment arrived during the final round, where teams grappled with a motion that struck at the heart of university life: “Khon Kaen University should prioritize quality of life as equally as academic excellence.” This topic perfectly encapsulated the tournament’s mission of encouraging students to reflect on real issues and advocate for meaningful change.
Resolution
When the final arguments concluded and judges deliberated, the results reflected the high caliber of competition throughout the day. The championship title went to team “Ohm Sittisruangsrikaew”, comprised of Paramat Deeplongam, Suwannee Sali, Sasirot Nakchangdaeng, and Thanakorn Phupanchueak—all from the Faculty of Education. The first runner-up was team “Pak Pen”, and the second runner-up was team “Si Sian Chuean Khom Kham”.
Beyond the awards and recognition, however, the tournament achieved its deeper objectives. Students from different faculties connected, exchanged ideas, and developed critical thinking skills essential for academic and professional success. The debate served as a space for students to advocate for a more inclusive, supportive campus environment while honing their analytical abilities.
Thanakorn praised the tournament’s impact and expressed hope for its continuation: “I hope this becomes a regular event in the future.” His sentiment echoed throughout the participant community, suggesting that KKU Debate 2025 successfully planted seeds for ongoing intellectual discourse and student engagement. The Student Council’s vision of empowering student voices through structured dialogue had not only been realized but had also created momentum for sustained campus-wide conversation about issues that matter most to the university community.
