The National University Competition "Debating Economics" 2026, organized by Junior Achievement of Albania, took place on 26–27 June at the Pyramid of Tirana, bringing together debate clubs from universities across Albania for a weekend dedicated to critical thinking, structured argumentation, and academic debate.
Throughout the tournament, students participated in 19 debates addressing some of today's most pressing economic, technological, and labor market challenges. The motions explored whether remote work should become the dominant employment model, whether the increasing use of artificial intelligence will significantly reduce the value of university degrees, and whether the 21st century will be shaped more by technological competition than ideological competition. These debates challenged participants to build evidence-based arguments, defend opposing viewpoints, and critically examine the social and economic implications of global developments.
Participating institutions included:
University of Tirana – Faculty of Economics
University of Tirana – Faculty of Foreign Languages
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 Philology (Korçë)
Epoka University
Polis University
Tirana Business University
The grand final featured Tirana Business University and Ismail Qemali University of Vlora. After a highly competitive debate, Ismail Qemali University was declared the winner. As part of the award, the winning team will represent Albania at the IDEA Debate Exchange 2026, to be held in Brno, Czech Republic, from 6–13 August, where they will join university teams from across Europe for workshops, seminars, cultural activities, and networking sessions.
The judging panel combined the experience of Junior Achievement alumni with newly trained judges, ensuring a professional and impartial evaluation throughout the tournament. The National University Competition "Debating Economics" 2026 concluded with the final debate, the recognition of the best speakers, and the award ceremony.
The 2026 edition once again reaffirmed the role of Debating Economics as a platform that develops critical thinking, communication skills, and civic engagement, preparing students to analyze today's economic, technological, and social challenges through well-structured arguments and informed perspectives.