Jakarta, 6 July 2026 – Undergraduate of Communication Science Program at Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ) organized the 2024 Public Speaking Debate Showcase at the Multipurpose Hall of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law (FISH), UNJ, on Tuesday (July 1). The event served as the final project for the Public Speaking course taught by Dr. Marisa Puspita Sary, M.Si., providing students with an opportunity to apply the critical thinking, argumentation, and public speaking skills they had developed throughout the semester.
Serving as the culmination of a semester-long series of classroom debates, the showcase brought together the top representatives from each class. Representing Class A as the affirmative team were Bilqis Marwah Firdaus, Callista Agatha Maharani, and Muhammad Revan Ardana Sumarta. Representing Class B as the opposing team were Cut Meilany, Maryam Azizah, and Muhammad Anugrah Saputra. The teams debated the motion, “Pursuing a Career Abroad Is More Promising for the Younger Generation.” Rather than determining a winner, the showcase served as a learning-based assessment designed to evaluate students’ ability to think critically, construct logical arguments, and communicate persuasively.
Opening the event, Dr. Dini Safitri, S.Sos., M.Si., CPR, Coordinator of the Undergraduate Communication Science Program at UNJ, expressed her hope that the experience would encourage students to continue developing their debating and public speaking skills beyond the classroom. “I hope today’s experience inspires our students to confidently participate and excel in debate and public speaking competitions,” she said.
Both teams demonstrated their ability to present well-structured arguments, deliver rebuttals, and defend their positions with evidence and logical reasoning. The debate reflected the learning outcomes of the Public Speaking course, particularly in critical thinking, persuasive communication, and the ability to respond effectively to opposing viewpoints.
The event also featured a musical performance by Desfita Sekar Kinasih and Mohammad Abelardho Al-Ayyubi, members of the 2024 cohort, highlighting the creativity and artistic talents of Communication Science students.
Closing the event, Dr. Marisa Puspita Sary, M.Si., the course instructor, shared her reflections and provided constructive feedback on the students’ performances. Additional remarks were delivered by Sandy Allifiansyah, S.I.Kom., M.A., Ph.D., a lecturer in the Communication Science Program, who emphasized the importance of critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and effective communication as essential competencies for future communication professionals.
The 2024 Public Speaking Debate Showcase reflects the Undergraduate Communication Science Program’s commitment to providing practice-based learning experiences that bridge classroom instruction with real-world communication skills. The program hopes initiatives such as this will inspire students to continue developing their debating and public speaking abilities while confidently pursuing opportunities to participate and excel in academic competitions at both regional and national levels.