They will carry the colors of Madagascar. Koloina Fanirisoa Rajaonarivony and Nalitiana Tahianjanahary Rakotomavo, the duo from the Catholic University of Madagascar (UCM), will defend the country during the regional final of the 12th Inter-University French Debate Tournament (TIUD), scheduled for October 22 in Antananarivo. The Malagasy team will face teams from Angola, South Africa, Comoros, Mayotte, Kenya, Mauritius, and Mozambique.
The UCM duo won the national final, held online on September 23, which brought together four teams from the pre-selection phase. These finalist teams represented the Faculty of Law, Economics, Management, and Sociology of the University of Toliara, the Faculty of Social Sciences of the UCM, the School of Management and Technological Innovation of the University of Fianarantsoa, and the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Antananarivo.
Under the general theme “Civic engagement and youth employability,” the competition featured two elimination debates before UCM and the University of Antananarivo reached the final. For this ultimate confrontation, the two teams had to defend their positions on the topic: “Volunteering prepares one better for the job market than theoretical studies.” The academic recognition of student engagement and the role of community volunteering versus internships were key points of the discussion.
The jury, composed of representatives from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), the Regional Center for Francophone Education (CREF), and the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) in Madagascar, evaluated the candidates based on five criteria: definition of the theme, content, debating talent, teamwork, and time management.
Organized by the AUF’s Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Regional Office, the TIUD aims to contribute to the influence of the Francophonie and promote values of solidarity and sharing. The competition also seeks to develop the practice of civic debate, oratorical skills, and exchanges among students in the region.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-25 12:53:35 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.2424.mg/concours-lucm-representera-madagascar-a-la-finale-regionale-du-tournoi-inter-universitaire-de-debats-en-francais/