Glasgow University Union were one of four finalists in the World University Debating Championships held in Chennai, India over the past week.

More than 300 Universities from across the globe took part in the championships, with Glasgow represented by fourth year philosophy undergraduate John McKee, and postgraduate law student Duncan Crowe. The team debated through nine rounds, and four head-to-head rounds before qualifying for the Grand Final alongside Harvard, Sydney and Cambridge Universities. In the Final, the Glasgow University team debated in opening opposition to the motion that "This House believes that India should adopt aggressive free market policies." The winning team was Harvard.

Gavin Tulloch, The President of the Glasgow University Union, paid tribute to the world finalists: "With over 300 teams in the whole tournament from across the globe, this is an unbelievable achievement for Glasgow University Union and the University of Glasgow. GUU has not qualified to the final of WUDC since 2000 and to be in the top four teams in the world is the best recorded result in fourteen years. This year's result puts Glasgow University firmly back on the international stage for debating."

Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow said, "Some of the world’s great debaters have emerged from the University of Glasgow and to reach the last four in the finals of the World Debating Championships further confirms that our rich heritage in this area continues. As a University we are delighted with the efforts of the team and look forward to welcoming them back to Glasgow to celebrate their world leading efforts."

First published: 4 January 2014

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