A group of four exceptional AUD undergraduate students won first place at the Daman Interuniversity SDGs Debate Competition, garnering well-deserved recognition and a prize of 20,000AED for their achievement. The three-day competition, hosted at United Arab Emirates University, featured seventy students from fifteen universities across the UAE and focused on the critical topic of Sustainable Development Goals.

AUD’s winning team consisted of Victor Kochegura, Emiliya Islayilzada, Sarah Abdalla and Wafa Al Sayegh. They impressed the judges with their eloquence, knowledge, and skillful arguments related to the SDGs. Their ability to think critically and to work together as a team to answer questions and respond to their competitors set them apart from the competition and earned them the top prize.

The winning students were supported by AUD faculty members Dr. Madiha Hashmi, Dr. Linda Smith, and Dr. Kassem Wahba.

The culture of research, critical thinking, and debate that AUD has developed through its General Education curriculum and its annual university-wide debate competition was on full display in the student’s impressive performance. “We are incredibly proud of what our students have achieved,” said Dr. Micah Robbins, Acting Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “Their accomplishment is a reflection of the intelligence and leadership abilities that are developed at AUD.”

Congratulations to Victor, Emiliya, Sarah, and Wafa on their victory at the Daman Interuniversity SDGs Debate Competition!