Global Debates Leadership Academy
English
20-36 Sessions
Develop Confident Leaders Who Build Bridges and Break Barriers with the Half-Yearly/Yearly Leadership Academy

The Global Debates Leadership Academy is a comprehensive program designed to unlock your child’s potential through debate and leadership training over an extended period. Across 20 to 36 sessions, participants will learn to communicate effectively, think critically, and lead with confidence, skills that serve them in academics and beyond.
Program Overview
The Leadership Academy is an immersive, multi-stage program designed to develop young leaders equipped with the communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills needed to thrive in today’s complex world. Spanning 20 to 36 sessions, this program takes participants on a progressive learning journey through two or more interconnected stages: Foundational, Intermediate, Advanced, and Professional.
Foundational Stage
At this introductory level, participants build essential skills in argumentation, public speaking, active listening, and basic debate strategies. Emphasis is placed on fostering confidence, encouraging curiosity, and developing the habit of respectful dialogue. Activities include simple debates, storytelling, and interactive exercises that promote clarity of thought and expression.
Intermediate Stage
Building on the foundation, this stage deepens participants’ understanding of argumentation and critical analysis. Students learn to construct logical, evidence-based arguments, recognize fallacies, and engage in more complex discussions. Collaborative activities are included to enhance teamwork, negotiation skills, and empathetic listening, preparing learners to engage with diverse perspectives.
Advanced Stage
Here, participants refine their debating skills with a focus on strategy, rhetoric, and leadership presence. They take on more challenging topics. The program incorporates role-playing, campaign planning, and leadership exercises to foster initiative, responsibility, and effective communication under pressure.
Professional Stage
In the final stage, students apply their skills in real-world contexts through intensive debates, project-based learning, public forums, and leadership challenges. They prepare and lead debates, mentor junior participants, and engage in critical debates.
To make learning an enriching and immersive experience, the Leadership Academy employs an optimal blend, selection and sequence of fun, serious, interactive and experiential activities— such as Research, Group Discussion, Decision Making, Cooperative Learning, Reading, Storytelling, Campaigning, Little Entrepreneur, Market Skills, Debate, Writing, Drama, Persuasion, Inter-personal Skill Training, Language Training, Negotiation, Thought Challenge, Survival Jigs, SDG Action, Indoor Sports, Games, Assignments, Presentations and other productive activities. The program embeds approaches such as natural learning, collective engagement, mutual support, and co-operative learning towards ensuring that the child is not forced to learn or to respond to any activity. At the end of the Academy, participants engage in a showcase event, demonstrating their acquired skills and capabilities.
Flexible Delivery
The Leadership Academy is currently delivered either as an in-school or after-school program at select partner schools. It is fully adaptable to the unique needs and priorities of each school, with flexible formats ranging from 20 to 36 sessions. Session duration ranges from 105-150 minutes.
Ideal For
Schools
Young Professionals
Youth
Students
Delivery Formats
Our programs are delivered in in-person, online, and hybrid formats, primarily through collaborations with educational institutions, training partners, and professional organizations. In addition, we offer select programs independently online or at external venues to ensure broader access and flexibility.
Program Goals
Enhance critical, creative, & analytical thinking
Sharpen communication & decision-making
Develop confidence & leadership presence
Develop collaborative skills
Engage in meaningful debates on real-world issues
Indicative Program Outline
Introduction and Ice-Breaker
Argumentation I
Argumentation II
Skills and Drills
Winning when Losing
Mini Debates
Recap and Reflection
Debate Prep
Argumentation III
Debate Strategy I
Debate Strategy II
Debate Strategy III
Debate Strategy IV
Debate Games I
Debate Games II
Showcase Debates
This indicative session outline provides a general overview of broad topics and tentative session titles. It is suggestive in nature and subject to change based on learner needs, contextual relevance, session duration, and program structure. The detailed and finalized agenda is shared separately through the specific program you plan to apply for. Please check the specific Program Agenda Section or your program brochure for more information.

Certification Criteria
To receive certificate of completion, participants shouild meet the following criteria:
Certificate of Program Completion issued by Global Debates in association with the Global Citizenship Foundation.
Facilitator(s)

About the Global Debates Experience
The Global Debates’ Experience is time-tested & one of the leading set of programs in debate education, public speaking, & democratic-leadership development. Our programs are designed to leverage the power of natural, social and peer-to-peer learning through a heterogeneous group of learners in two age categories— ages 08-17 and 18-27.
Our fun & unforgettable debating & leadership-building experiences promote the development of self-esteem, independence, and responsibility. The Global Debates’ Four-Team Format is unique & acclaimed in developing sound thinking & decision-making skills.
Global Debates is an independent, non-partisan, progressive initiative seeking to develop confident communicators, critical-thinkers, & empowered global citizens and leaders — of today & tomorrow — equipped to shape a more just, inclusive, peaceful, secure & sustainable future for all.
Interested in bringing the Global Debates Leadership Academy to your institution?
Write to us!
Frequently asked questions
Global Debates has intentionally designed this program to bring together a diverse age range of participants to foster social and natural learning, collaboration, and peer-to-peer influence. Mixed-age groups create rich opportunities for younger participants to learn from older peers, while older participants develop leadership, mentoring, and communication skills. This dynamic environment mirrors real-world interactions and encourages inclusive dialogue, empathy, and adaptive thinking—core competencies in debate and global citizenship.