The modern world is changing faster than textbooks can keep up. In the age of artificial intelligence and rapid transformation of the labor market, what matters is not academic grades alone, but the ability to think critically, work with large volumes of data, defend an argument under pressure, and find solutions in conditions of uncertainty.
School debating develops exactly these skills. To support talented young people and create a transparent pathway from school to university, inVision U has become the official partner of El Umiti Cup 2026, Kazakhstan’s largest national school debating tournament organized by Debat Eli. Since its launch, more than 3,000 school debaters from different regions of Kazakhstan have taken part in the tournament.
The tournament is held in two leagues:
This model simultaneously supports the development of the Kazakh-language debating environment and creates a competitive English-language platform for school students aiming to compete internationally.
Event venue:
NurOrda School-Lyceum, 34 Kassym Amanzholov Street, Astana.
Debat Eli is a Kazakhstani educational project and the official representative of Kazakhstan at World Schools Debating Championships Ltd. (WSDC Ltd.), an international organization bringing together more than 80 countries through the world’s largest school debating championship.
Since the project was launched, more than 140 educational and debating events have been held across the country, bringing together thousands of young people.
The project has been operating since 2022 and is building a unified national ecosystem from the first district-level tournaments to the formation and training of Kazakhstan’s national school debating team for the World Championship. Its international direction is one of the project’s key areas, alongside the development of national debating infrastructure.
The mission of Debat Eli is to develop a debating culture among school students, university students, and young people in Kazakhstan, creating opportunities to develop critical thinking, public speaking, leadership skills, and data analysis - skills that are becoming increasingly important as artificial intelligence advances rapidly.
At the same time, the project aims to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position in the international debating arena and expand the country’s representation in the global debating community.
The partnership between inVision U and Debat Eli brings together two platforms that share common values. Debating develops the very “super skills” that are at the heart of our educational model: deep analytical thinking about complex issues, leadership qualities, and the ability to communicate ideas convincingly.
Students involved in debating are, in essence, working to solve social problems: they demonstrate empathy toward the world around them and engage with issues that matter to society.
We collaborate with organizations such as Debat Eli because we are looking for talented students with flexible, unconventional, and expert thinking and giving them an opportunity to receive a high-quality, tuition-free, internationally oriented education in Kazakhstan.
These are exactly the skills we develop in the Sociology: Leadership and Innovation and Public Policy and Development programs.
As part of the partnership, inVision U is offering two grants covering 100% of tuition fees to the strongest participants of El Umiti Cup 2026.
The grants are available for two undergraduate programs:
The choice of these programs is not accidental. They are closely connected to what debaters work on every day: analyzing social processes, working with socio-economic trends, and developing systemic solutions for government and business.
The participation pathway is simple and transparent for every school student in Kazakhstan:
Step 1. Reach the final.
Pass the online qualifying tournament and receive an invitation to the in-person stage of El Umiti Cup in Astana.
Step 2. Apply to the university.
Complete the inVision U applicant form using the dedicated partner link: Admission
First. Take the UNT and achieve a score of at least 80 points. The required profile subjects for both programs are Mathematics and Geography.
Second. Achieve an IELTS score of at least 6.0.
Third. Complete an individual interview and/or group exercise.
Candidates who meet all the requirements will be admitted to inVision U.
Participating in El Umiti Cup 2026 is not only an opportunity to represent your region and compete on the international stage, but also a chance to secure a high-quality higher education in a new format.
