The National Debate Competition for the University Level 2025, organized by Junior Achievement of Albania under the Debating Economics program, was held in June at the Pyramid of Tirana, in the most innovative and youth-focused spaces of the city. The event brought together university debate clubs from all over the country to engage in structured discussion on contemporary economic and social topics.
Throughout the tournament, students participated in 19 debates, addressing motions such as the introduction of a weekly “blackout day” and the ethical implications of businesses using artificial intelligence to influence consumer behavior
The debates challenged participants to combine critical thinking with teamwork and public speaking, while also encouraging them to reflect on the wider societal impact and analyze both practical and ethical dimensions of today’s global economy
Participating institutions included:
University of Tirana – Faculty of Economics (Tirana)
University of Tirana – Faculty of Foreign Languages (Tirana)
“Aleksandër Moisiu” University (Durrës)
“Aleksandër Xhuvani” University (Elbasan)
“Luigj Gurakuqi” University (Shkodër)
“Ismail Qemali” University (Vlorë)
“Eqrem Çabej” University (Gjirokastër)
“Fan S. Noli” University – Faculty of Economics (Korçë)
“Fan S. Noli” University – Faculty of Education (Korçë)
Canadian Institute of Technology – CIT (Tirana)
Epoka University (Tirana)
Polis University (Tirana)
This year’s edition also introduced a new feature: teams eliminated in the early rounds continued to debate in parallel sessions. This ensured that all participants had the chance to engage with the full range of proposed topics, expanding the educational value of the competition.
The grand finals brought together The Young Economists team from Epoka University (Tirana) and the team from “Ismail Qemali” University (Vlorë). After a challenging debate, Epoka University was declared the winner. As part of their award, the winning team will attend the IDEA Debate Exchange 2025 in Warsaw, Poland, from 18–23 August, where they will join university teams from different countries in workshops, lectures, cultural activities, and networking.
The panel of judges combined the expertise of Junior Achievement alumni with newly joined judges, offering diverse perspectives and fair evaluation throughout the tournament. The competition concluded with the final debate, the recognition of outstanding speakers, and the announcement of the winning team.
The 2025 edition reaffirmed the role of university debate as a space for learning, dialogue, and civic engagement, preparing young people to become thoughtful contributors to Albania’s future.
