Week of Integrity
Activity Goal: Integrity shall stand at the core of our political, economic, and social structures, thus guiding Albania’s development strategy. To that end, the “Week of Integrity ” – initiated by ICC Albania (International Chamber of Commerce) – constitutes a week-long framework for coordinated activities, national awareness-raising, and advocacy campaigns promoting integrity and ethical leadership in the civic, political and business domains. UNAA has joined the initiative in 2020.
Activity Description: Integrity through the lenses of the Sustainable Development Goals
In the framework of the third edition of the Week of Integrity in Albania -– UNAA in partnership with the University of New York in Tirana (UNYT), organized a series of small-scale youth activities where participants exchange perceptions on the link between integrity and the Sustainable Development Goals. Eight young Albanians participated in two activities, which aimed to improve the understanding of how integrity applies to the SDGs and vice-versa. Each participant was shown around 100 pictures that depicted different lifestyles, phenomena, and problems from all around the world. They were asked to choose three to five images and create a story regarding how these pictures were related to the topic. After the storytelling, participants discussed by commenting on the story and expressing different points of view. The discussions focused mainly on:
- Participants’ perceptions of integrity;
- the link between integrity and each of the Sustainable Development Goals;
- their everyday experience and situations where integrity can be undermined.
In the framework of the third edition of the Week of Integrity in Albania, in one with its’ vision for introducing innovative education and deliberation methodos, UNAA managed to pilot an “Oxford-style Debate Format” event, engaging four debaters on the motion: “Albanian Universities promote integrity and educate democratic values”. Pursuant to the format, speakers were equally divided “in favor” and “against” the motion – based on their publicly elaborated viewpoints, preceding the event.
In favor of the motion:
Ms. Enkelejda Olldashi
Mr. Ilir Kalemaj
Against the motion:
Mr. Endrit Shabani
Mr. Gentjan Tufa
These guest speakers, under the facilitation of a Moderator, debated throughout these four sections:
- Opening Speeches – Each of the speakers had six minutes of introductory remarks, throughout which s/he elaborated on the defense of his/her stand on the debate motion. Before this, the audience was asked to cast their first vote, in favor /against /abstaining on the motion. Its’ results were as follows:
In favor – 22%
Against – 61%
Abstain – 17%
- Intra-panel Discussion – Following the remarks, the debaters engaged in a constructive discussion among themselves, guided by the Moderators’ previously defined questions, as well as references to the arguments that the speakers outlined throughout their opening remarks.
- Question-and-Answer Period – By the end of the Intra-panel Discussion, the Moderator opened the floor for the Audience, who had the opportunity to briefly elaborate their opinion, and their question, directed to one/ or more panelists.
- Closing Remarks – In the last section, each speaker had two minutes to elaborate his/her main arguments and final messages. At the end of the fourth debate section (after the Closing Remarks), the Moderator asked the audience to cast their second vote. The results were as follows:
In favor – 35%
Against – 55%
Abstain – 10%
As per the format rules, the winner of the Debate is determined by the change in percentage of people they managed to shift, between the first and second voting rounds. To this end, the team arguing in favor of the motion, managing to shift over 13% of the audience, won this debate.
