Annual IIPA Debate at the Department of Students Welfare Kashmir University held on August 18, 2022.

Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) J&K Regional Branch Kashmir organized Annual IIPA Debate at the Department of Students Welfare Kashmir University held on August 18, 2022. An inter University Annual Debate Competition was held in the University of Kashmir in Association with Department of Students Welfare University of Kashmir. The annual debate of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) saw an overwhelming participation of students. More than 60 students from the University departments and degree colleges of Kashmir spoke for and against the motion on the topic, "Keyboard learning is not an alternative to formal education". The debate was organized jointly by KU's Department of Students' Welfare and J&K Regional Branch of the IIPA. The debate was held on 18th of August at from 10:30 a.m. The debate was inaugurated by the worthy Registrar of University, Dr. Nisar Ahmad in presence of Vice-Chairman, IIPA J&K Chapter Dr. G N Qasba, and Joint Secretary IIPA G M Andrabi. Dr. Mufti Mudasir from the Department of English University of Kashmir Mr. Aijazulhaq from EMMRC and Mr. Bashir Ahmed member IIPA, J&K Chapter evaluated the performances of the students in the said debate competition. Registrar DrNisar A Mir, who earlier inaugurated the debate, said the University administration is fully committed to do best in the area of student welfare and provide all necessary facilities and infrastructure to students within and outside the classrooms. Dr G N Qasba, Vice Chairman IIPA J&K Regional Branch and Mr A M Watali, former Vice Chairman IIPA J&K Regional Branch also spoke on the occasion and thanked the University authorities for their support to the IIPA debates. Some of the key points that the participants had to communicate were an essential medium to widen the spectrum of thoughts. Speaking of which, FahadFayaz a student of Amar Singh College mentioned how most of the Nobel Laureates have been an outcome of traditional learning. He also pointed out that exposing oneself to keyboard learning is somehow unsafe and presented the example of the recent incident of data hack that occured in the same university. MehakAyaz, a student of English Literature, University of Kashmir emphasized over the fact that online education is a blessing for women who cannot afford a lifestyle outside their homes and are confined to their houses due to societal or cultural pressure. Another student from the Department of Law, MehvishManzoor focused upon how it is an essential part of a child's growth to be able to interact with people and learn social bonding rather than confining the development to learning to non-human sources. She also pointed out that education is not merely about being able to obtain degrees from institutions but about how one is conditioned into being a good person enriched with adequate moral and spiritual education leading to appropriate usage of individual and collective intellect. Numaira, a student of SKUAST Kashmir emphasized over personality development which according to her argument was an essential part of one's overall growth and development. There were diverse opinions regarding the motion, and personality development, effects on handwriting, adjustment, discipline, digital divide, decision making, physical disabilities, results of distance-learning, health aspects etc. were some of the things that were discussed. Vice-Chancellor Prof Nilofer Khan presided over the valedictory-cum-prize distribution ceremony of the event as chief guest. In her presidential address, Prof Nilofer said debating not only enables the debaters to evolve as better communicators, it also helps them to foster critical-thinking which is vital for their overall personality development. "We want our students to be ready to meet the further requirements of the ever-competitive world of academia. Their participation in extracurricular activities like these will go a long way in helping us realizing this goal," the VC said, complimenting DSW and IIPA for organising this debate annualy. Later, the Vice-Chancellor distributed prizes among the position-holders and consolation prize winners. MehakFayaz from KU's English Department bagged the first prize while SairaJabeen and Numaira (both from SKUAST-K) bagged the second and third prizes respectively. FahadFayaz from Amar Singh College and MehvishManzoor from School of Law KU bagged the first and second consolation prize respectively. SKUAST-K emerged overall winners of the IIPA Cup. Cultural Officer KU (Dr.) Shahid Ali Khan conducted proceedings of the programme.