Ascent Academy, in collaboration with UBI Taiwan and CDPA, hosted a nationwide bilingual debate tournament at the International College of Innovation, NCCU. The central topic challenged students to explore whether Taiwan should implement a Universal Basic Income (UBI) system.
The event welcomed over 100 middle and high school students from across Taiwan, including participants from Kaohsiung American School, Taipei American School, Xinzhuang High School, Victoria Academy, and Jianguo High School. With students from more than 20 schools, the tournament marked one of the largest bilingual debate events in Taiwan.
Over two days, participants engaged in rigorous debate on the feasibility, necessity, and efficiency of UBI. Each student presented well-researched arguments and critical perspectives. The topic was chosen to encourage deeper reflection on social issues and to inspire students to think beyond the classroom and care about the world around them.
Unlike traditional debate tournaments, this event featured judges with real-world expertise, including prominent lawyers, UN advisors, and global business consultants. Their feedback provided students with insights grounded in professional experience.
We are proud to share that two Ascent Academy teams advanced to the English division semifinals. Facing Jianguo High School and Xinzhuang High School, both teams won their matches with a 2:1 score and went on to claim the championship and runner-up titles.
Looking ahead, Ascent Academy hopes to continue partnering with organizations to host regular bilingual debate tournaments. Our goal is to give students across Taiwan the opportunity to engage in debate, explore complex social issues, and grow as thoughtful, confident communicators