University News

Up for Debate: The Future of Undergraduate Education

December 19, 2012

Bishop’s University hosts a multidisciplinary event in February 2013

Sherbrooke, QC – Bishop’s University presents a complete program of thought-provoking and entertaining activities for Winter Homecoming Weekend. On Saturday, February 9th, 2013 a day-long series of activities billed as “Up for Debate” will feature three separate but complementary events – a student debate tournament, TEDxBishopsU and tapings of the CBC’s The Debaters. While all of the daytime events are open to the Bishop’s University community and to the general public for free, a limited number of tickets are currently on sale through Centennial Theatre’s box office for the evening taping of the CBC's The Debaters.

At a time when many Canadian universities are looking for ways to fulfill the mission of delivering a well-rounded experience to students, Bishop’s wants to maintain its commitment to offer the foremost undergraduate experience. At Bishop’s the focus is on the whole person and on providing a balanced and complete education, one that challenges young people and prepares them for responsible, ethical, and sustainable leadership.

Bishop’s wants to explore the complex issues around undergraduate education and since the University firmly believes collaboration leads to inspiration and innovation, speakers from three other universities – Acadia, Mount Allison, and St. Francis Xavier – have been invited to join in the conversation. The morning program consists of a student debate tournament following the Canadian Parliamentary debate format. The afternoon program is comprised of the TEDxBishopsU  multidisciplinary event that features speakers drawn from the talented pool of students, faculty, alumni, community members, and staff from all four universities. Both the tournament and TEDxBishopsU will focus on aspects of education that foster inspiration, innovation, or on transformative experiences which can be considered illuminating moments, revelations that take place whether inside or outside the classroom.

As the capstone event of the Winter Homecoming weekend, three episodes of CBC's The Debaters will be recorded on campus, thus extending the debate around the future of undergraduate education outside of the academy and into the world of stand-up comedy. The popular CBC radio show is an irreverent public forum that deconstructs the ideological underpinnings of the debate structure and moves the traditional, even elite format of “debates” from the esoteric to the accessible. Steve Patterson and his team of comics will ask questions and explore issues around education and other topics in their inimitable style. As there is limited availability, the University encourages those who are interested in attending to purchase tickets early. At $25 each plus tax, these also make a delightful holiday gift.

Schedule of events:
Student Debate Tournament (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., McGreer)
TEDxBishopsU (1p.m. – 5 p.m., Centennial Theatre)
CBC's “The Debaters” (7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., Centennial Theatre) *tickets required

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