6 PH universities in world's top 100 debating societies list

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Six universities from the Philippines are included in the list of Top 100 debating societies in the world by the International Debate Education Association (IDEA). They are Ateneo de Manila University (#7), University of the Philippines-Diliman (#23), University of the Philippines-Manila (#40), De La Salle University-Manila (#42), Far Eastern University (#92), and Xavier University (#95).

Eighteen other local universities made it to the Top 500 list.

IDEA based its World University Debate Rankings from the results of 33 high-profile international tournaments.

"The totals are calculated by adding the results of all the teams that society fielded in the tournaments we track over the course of the year, right up to the largest event – the World Universities Debating Championships." IDEA wrote. "The rankings are maintained by Colm Flynn, an emeritus member and former Chair of the World Debating Council and a former Deputy Chief Adjudicator of Worlds."

Here are the Top 10 best debating societies in the world, according to IDEA:

1. Sydney Union (Australia)
2. Monash (Australia)
3. Yale (United States)
4. McGill (Canada)
5. Cornell (United States)
6. Oxford Union (England)
7. Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines)
8. Cambridge (England)
9. Bates College (United States)
10. Colgate (United States)