SEF IFDC 2026: Shaping UNSOED’s Next Generation of Thinkers
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In an era packed with endless information, critical thinking has become a fundamental necessity. It enables individuals to evaluate information carefully and assess different perspectives. Moreover, the ability to articulate opinions logically and defend arguments based on facts has also become an essential skill. For this reason, as individuals, we need an effective medium to cultivate these abilities as a way to adapt to the demands of the modern era.
SEF (Student English Forum) as a Student Activity Unit focused on the English language development, recognizes the importance of fostering students’ intellectual and communication skills. In response to these needs, we created the Inter Faculty Debate Competition (IFDC) 2026 as a platform for individuals to develop these skills through the exchange of perspectives and the ability to defend ideas with reasoning.
Fun fact! The IFDC 2026 is led by Mhd Fahri Irfandi Dewantara from the Talent and Debate Department as Project Officer. This year, IFDC 2026 carries the theme "IDEA: Intellectual Debate for Expression & Argumentation." Through this theme, debate is presented not simply as a way to disagree, but a space for students to think critically and express their ideas clearly. To put these skills into practice, IFDC 2026 adopted the British Parliamentary format, where participants are challenged to analyze motion, develop arguments, and respond to opposing views across five preliminary rounds under time pressure.
Held across two days on June 27–28, 2026, the event brought together talented delegates from various faculties across Jenderal Soedirman University. To ensure the highest standard of evaluation, the committee enlisted an expert and experienced panel of adjudicators: Stafirudin Fuad Suryadirata, Dinar Danahari A., S.Sos, David Aryodhi., S.Sos. After five preliminary rounds, the tournament crowned its top debaters, as following:
1st Place: Team Zigi Zaga (Narendra Maheswara Permana & Yazid Azlan Attamimi)
2nd Place: Team UUUUHHHHHHH (Cyayun Cyalla Czofyano & Qinanty Alya Yuniarto)
3rd Place: Team Korban Impulsif (Jeffry Priya Junius Telaumbanua & Kayla Risya Delya.
In conclusion, IFDC 2026 was created in response to the need to foster and develop debate talent internally which aligns closely with SEF’s Talent and Debate Department. IFDC 2026 also serves as a stepping stone to prepare Jenderal Soedirman University’s top debaters for the upcoming NUDC 2027 Selection!
