Media Release

Mangaluru, Jan 14: St Joseph’s Institute of Philosophy (SJIP) hosted an engaging debate session on Wednesday, January 14 in collaboration with St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) Mangaluru. The event, held at the seminary campus, was a thought-provoking exercise for students, fostering critical thinking and communication skills.

The programme commenced at 2:30 pm with an inaugural session graced by distinguished dignitaries: Dr Rose Veera D’Souza, dean, the school of Arts and Humanities, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, Dr Rajesh Rosario, rector of St Joseph Seminary, Vishal Nayak, assistant professor, department of Media and Communication, Dr Ivan D’Souza, director of SJIP and Fr Nelson D’Almeida, faculty member of SJIP.

The session began with the recitation of the Preamble of Indian Constitution reflecting the ideals and vision of our nation. Dr Ivan D’Souza welcomed the gathering, setting the tone for the day, while Fr Nelson D’Almeida explained the methodology and structure of the debate. Br Akash skilfully compered the inaugural session.

The debate centred around the topic, ‘Is social Media a Bane or a Boon?’ students from SJIP and St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) were divided into two groups to deliberate on the strengths and weaknesses of social media.

The first session involved group discussions, where students collaborated to share ideas and prepare their arguments. The formal debate commenced, with group leaders delivering compelling keynote speeches. Each team passionately defended their stance, presenting well-reasoned arguments and counterpoints.

Vishal Nayak moderated the debate and offered insightful concluding remarks. Moreover, he praised the students for their enthusiasm and highlighted the importance of such activities in developing communication, listening, and critical thinking skills.

The session was well-received by participants from both institutes, who described it as a valuable platform for knowledge-exchange and broadening perspectives. The event concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, leaving students inspired and eager for more such collaborations.

This debate session marked a significant step in fostering academic interaction and mutual learning between SJIP and St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), setting a precedent for future initiatives.