During the second semester, GTK members took part in a debate training series

During the second semester, the members of the GTK Business Consulting Club had the opportunity to participate in a four-session debate training series, which was once again held and led by our alumnus, Pásztor Kende. The aim of the training sessions was to further develop the knowledge acquired during the first semester, to apply different debate formats in practice, to recognize argumentative mistakes, and to improve critical thinking, persuasive communication, and quick reaction skills.

At the first session, held on March 5, the participants put the previously introduced British Parliamentary debate format into practice. After a brief review, the students debated the assigned topics in teams of eight, in English, presenting and challenging their arguments and viewpoints in a structured form. The debates were followed by a joint evaluation and feedback session, during which Pásztor Kende analyzed the arguments in detail and highlighted how the techniques used during the debates could be applied even more effectively in the future. The session was particularly useful for both more experienced participants and those newer to debating, as everyone had the opportunity to improve.

At the second session, held on April 15, the focus was placed on mistakes made during debates and on incorrect argumentation techniques. The participants examined in greater detail the logical pitfalls, misleading arguments, and argumentative mistakes that can weaken or even undermine the credibility of a debate. During the session, they analyzed different types of problems with the help of a problem map, distinguishing between well-defined, scientific, value-based, and more difficult-to-structure problems. This helped the students better understand how important it is to clarify common ground during a debate, as without it, the parties can easily end up talking past each other. At the end of the session, an improvisational exercise also took place, during which the participants had to argue in favor of seemingly absurd statements within a short amount of time, thereby developing their creativity and quick thinking.

On May 11, the third debate training session took place, with the modernization of opera as its central theme. As preparation for the program, the participants attended a performance of Tosca by the Hungarian Opera of Cluj-Napoca, which served as inspiration for the British Parliamentary debate discussed during the session. The debate topic focused on whether opera should modernize its storytelling in order to compete with contemporary forms of entertainment, or whether it should continue to preserve traditional forms. The guest of the session was Bereczky Delinke, a marketing staff member of the Hungarian Opera of Cluj-Napoca, who enriched the discussion with a professional perspective. After the debate, an open discussion also took place, during which students could ask questions about the operation, communication, and organizational background of the opera. The conversation also provided particularly valuable insight into the institutional, economic, and financial aspects of opera.

The fourth and final session, held on May 25, concluded the second-semester debate training series and gave participants the opportunity to continue practicing the argumentation tools and debate techniques they had acquired up to that point. This session served as a fitting conclusion to the professional work carried out during the semester, as the students gained experience not only in using different debate formats, but also became more confident in argumentation, public speaking, and the structured presentation of their own viewpoints.

We would like to once again thank our alumnus, Pásztor Kende, for his high-quality professional work and continuous dedication, through which he significantly contributed throughout the academic year to the development of the GTK members’ argumentation, communication, and professional skills. We would also like to thank Bereczky Delinke for her participation in the May 11 session and for her valuable professional contribution.