A debate team of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) won various debates competitions in these recent six years. The team became the winner of a national debate competition at UIN Pekanbaru Riau, the winner at UIN Alaudin Makassar, the winner at University of Mulawarman, the winner of Social Political Science Week of Yogyakarta Governor Championship, the first runner up at University of Widyatama Bandung, the second runner up of International Accounting Week, and the winner at University of Andalas, Padang, Sumatera Barat.

In the national debate competition conducted on 20-24 September 2017, the team was represented by Yopi Irianto Panut (an International Relations student of batch 2012), Dika Puspita Law student (2015) and Afriza Sanjaya Government Science student (IP 2014).

In the race that has been held on 20 to 24 September 2017, the UMY debate team represented by Yopi Irianto Panut International Relations (HI) (2012), Dika Puspita (a Law student of batch 2015), and Afriza Sanjaya (a Governmental Study student of batch 2014). Afriza informed that the competition was to commemorate the anniversary of University of Andalas. Besides, the debate motions were dealing with current national issues such as management of pilgrim funds, and Indonesian diplomacy on Rohingya issues in Myanmar.

Afriza told that there were 15 teams from several Indonesian universities such as Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), University of Indonesia (UI), University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), University of Andalas, University of Bengkulu, IAIN Batusangkar, University of Lancang Kuning Pekanbaru, University of Sumatera Utara, University of Pattimura Ambon, University of Riau, and University of Potensi Utama Medan.

“In the preliminary round, our team defeated IAIN Batu Sangkar and University of Indonesia. Passing to quarter final round, we knocked team B of University of Andalas out and we successfully went to semifinal round meeting with the team of University of Gadjah Mada. In the final round, we won over team A of University of Andalas. Our team was the winner, the first runner up was University of Andalas, and the second runner up was IPB,” mentioned Afriza in an interview on Wednesday (27/9).

He also invited to all students of UMY to join in the debate team. “We are now attempting to regenerate this debate so that I wish that students of any batch are interested to join this team,” expected Afriza.