Two students from the Faculty of Administrative Sciences (FIA) of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Muhammad Rafi Sadewa and Ida Bagus Shantih Ananda Wiradarma, won 1st place in The 2024 Climate and Energy Debating Championship. This prestigious competition was held at Universitas Telkom Bandung and was the result of a collaboration between Telkom University and the SRE Community, using the British Parliamentary (BP) debate format. This success not only shows superior debating skills but also the commitment of UI students to environmental issues.
The theme of this debate focused on the energy transition and the impact of climate change. Rafi explained, “The impact of climate change has been felt in real terms by people in various parts of the world, from increasing temperatures to decreasing air quality. Therefore, it is important for people to actively participate in this transition by adopting environmentally friendly practices.” This shows that students are not only competing, but also contributing to public awareness of pressing environmental issues.
During the competition, Rafi and Ida Bagus explored issues related to the energy transition and the impact of climate change. Ida Bagus added, “This competition plays an important role in increasing public awareness of our role in protecting the environment.” They hope that their contribution can encourage the public to be more aware of solutions that can be implemented to address the climate crisis, as well as support more environmentally friendly policies.
Before joining the competition, both of them made thorough preparations by undergoing intensive training to improve their debating and argumentation skills. Thanks to this training, they were able to maintain focus and remain calm in facing the challenges of tight competition. This preparation shows their dedication to achieving achievements at the international level, which reflects the inclusive competitive spirit of UI students.
Rafi and Ida Bagus hope that this victory can inspire other students to be more actively involved in environmental issues and help create a more sustainable future. “Awareness of the role of individuals and communities in protecting the environment is key to addressing the climate crisis,” said Ida Bagus. This shows that UI students have a far-sighted vision of overcoming global challenges.
Through this achievement, Universitas Indonesia affirms its support for the young generation who care about environmental conservation and energy transition. The Dean of FIA UI, Prof. Dr. Chandra Wijaya, M.Si., M.M., expressed his appreciation for Rafi and Ida Bagus’ achievements, hoping that this achievement will motivate other students at FIA UI to continue to excel. Thus, UI is not only the best campus, but also an inclusive university that supports student initiatives in creating a positive impact on the environment.
