KRABI
THAILAND 02-09 JULY 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
6
Social Activities
Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships
8
Event Schedule
Exploring Krabi, Thailand
10
Registration Information
Cost of Flights, Food and Living Local Dining Options
General Information COVID-19 Travel Curtailment
The Core Team
14
Cancellations, Refunds and Payouts
Organising Committee Chief Adjudicators
Conclusion
Deputy Chief Adjudicator Advisory Board Tabulation and Digital Team University Host: Chulalongkorn University University Endorsement Letter
The Venue Bluesotel SMART Krabi Event and Meeting Spaces Accommodation
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"BRIGHT & SUNNY SIDE OF THAILAND" Known for its beautiful beaches, high rock formations and the iconic longtail boats that ferry people on island tours, Krabi is the stunning region located in the South of Thailand. Scenic views, seductive attractions, and a deeply ingrained historical link to Thailand's vibrant past, Krabi indisputably one of Southeast Asia's must-visit tourist destinations. While the bulk of tourists who go this way come for island and sea adventures, this constantly evolving region has a lot more to offer. There are many unique, off-the-beaten-path things to do and see, including unspoilt rural communities hugging the constricting waterways, fascinating museums, and charming local markets. Krabi is very well connected by land, air, or sea. You can get there not only from several points in Thailand but also from other countries through Krabi International Airport. Most of the best spots in Krabi, namely Ao Nang beach and Krabi town are quickly accessible with local buses. In this document, we've put together a list of what we believe to be the top things to look out for in Krabi Australs 2023. We will also share practical information about transportation, accommodation, and conference venues as you join us on this experience of debating in paradise.
INTRODUCTION Regional championships such as the United Asian Debating Championships (UADC), the Asian BP Debating Championships (ABP), and the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships (Australs) form the bedrock of the Asia-Pacific debating calendar. These milestone events are the culmination of months of training, recruitment, and competitive spirit amongst the members of the debate community. The Australasian community is ripe with talent and promising potential from the new generation of debaters. However, with the lack of physical spaces where talents could gather, network, and build meaningful relationships, debate societies are finding it hard to retain talent and interest. This year, the World Universities Debating Championships returns in-person to Madrid, Spain. More than this, in January of 2023, EduDrift will be hosting the first in-person Asian BP in Bali, Indonesia, two long years after the pandemic broke out. The return of these milestone activities to convening halls, handshakes, and group travel presents an attractive draw of human interaction and dialogue that is at the heart of debate and public speaking. Now is the time for members of the Australasian debate community to come together and showcase their talent, skill, and passion live and in-person.
ABOUT THE AUSTRALS Every year, universities from the Australasian debate community gather in one place to face off in the Australs format of debating. To compete, one must pair up with two other individuals to defend or oppose topics given with only 30 minutes’ notice. Each team must deliver two 8-minute substantive speeches and one 4-minute reply speech. As part of the affirmative action policy requirement of the tournament, at least onethird of all debating contingents must be non-cis-male individuals. The event aims to crown the Australasian champions of debating in the Australs format.
In 1975, the inaugural Australs tournament was hosted by the University of Sydney as an avenue to showcase the talents of young university debaters within the region. Since its inaugural, Australs has steadily broadened its range of competitors and now draws over 300 debaters annually from all throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
In 1993, a new Australs constitution was announced, and the event underwent considerable modernization and various changes were introduced. The new constitution extended voting privileges and rights for non-Australian and New Zealand as an attempt to be more inclusive to the members of the Australasian debating community and provide nonAustralians and non-New Zealand participants a greater amount of representation in the Australs Council.
10 Years of Australs (2010-2019) Number of Participating Teams 125 100
With the community being a platform to address and discuss inequalities and inadequacies in different aspects of society, the annual event is also an avenue for discourse. Issues on gender, race, sexuality, disability, and religion have become vital to the intellectual discussions during Australs.
Debate rounds also provide opportunities for teams from different contingents to interact closely. University representatives and student leaders are presented with more frequent and recurring collaborations between universities from joint projects to summer programs. Networking events between universities are more likely to have fruitful outcomes given the familiarity with the culture, operations, and representatives coming from different institutions across the Asia-Pacific region. Hence, Australs serves as a vital collaboration and networking platform for attendees hailing from different parts of the world.
Features of debating at the Australs include:
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Debating as a sport and a discipline provides an avenue for stimulating mental exercise. However, milestone tournaments such as the Australs isn’t just for raking up achievements, awards, and prestige. Instead, the event also provides numerous other opportunities for participating institutions.
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By spurring interest and boosting the growth of small and medium-sized debate clubs in the region, Australs is an engine that serves to propel and proliferate debate among university students in the Asia-Pacific region. Early powerhouses of the event have always been concentrated in Australia and New Zealand. However, in a landmark victory in 2016, International Islamic University Malaysia became the first Asian university to be
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Critical Thinking: Topics from real-world issues and current affairs.
Competitors will be faced with diverse topics ranging from economics to social issues, war, poverty, environment, pop culture, and philosophy. Speakers must then come up with winning cases and speeches within a 30-minute timeframe.
Responses, engagement, and effective argument deconstruction
Each round, two teams face off against each other in a debating chamber. Not only must teams present their case well, but they must also rebut and deconstruct arguments by the opposing team to secure maximum points.
Consensus adjudication and accreditation for judges in debating
At Australs, wins are conferred through a vote within the panel of judges. A judge at the Australs may also be competitor. Their performance is determined by their judgement and the delivery of the verdict to teams in the chamber.
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crowned champions in the sport. With growing momentum and increased accessibility to opportunities and training, the success and level of competitiveness of Australs have also begun to rise. Today, Australs boasts being the second largest debating competition in the world— second only to the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC).
Every activity thrives on adding experimental value to its core proposition. For the longest time, Australs has been an opportunity to travel and visit new places, encouraging talents to join the sport. The transition to online debating has made it difficult to attract and retain talent.
Can debating return to annual intercontinental visits, convening halls, in-person socialization and teambuilding activities, small talks on corridors, and physical handshakes at the end of each round? We absolutely believe so. Next stop: Krabi, Trailand.
KRABI, THAILAND 200 islands
412 hotels
90 minutes from mainland
Krabi is renowned for its beautiful scenery, magnificent beaches, and stunning islands. It is a fantastic location with the most strunning coral reefs and some of the most photogenic sunsets in Thailand, often accompanied by spectacular displays of cloud-to-cloud lightning, that are best enjoyed from a beachside bar or Restaurant. With such a magical atmosphere, it is the perfect place to celebrate the return of inperson debating.
Krabi attracts over 6 million yearly visitors to the island, alluring travelers with its uniquely beautiful sights and picture-perfect experiences. With 412 top-rated hotels scattered across the island, Krabi has earned a coveted spot as a top tourist destination. Tourists looking to behold beautiful sights, immerse themselves in new cultures, and go on a gastronomic adventure often find themselves in this region. Khao Kanab Nam, 2 slanting hills rising out of water, form a local landmark. Andaman Sea destinations like the Phi Phi Islands are accessible by ferry. Thailand offer Visa Exemption to Australia, New Zealand, and ASEAN countries as well as 64 other countries outside of the Southeast Asian region. Hence, it only made sense to choose this wonderful place as the next venue for the upcoming edition of Australs. Of course, EduDrift’s decision to host the Australs in Krabi is by no means a conclusive assessment of other notable destinations and their unique allure to travelers. Instead, the decision comes from a balanced assessment made at the point where the world is opening up from the pandemic—comparting flights, visas, entry regulations, safety, and general affordability for the Australasian debate community to propel our region back toward its golden age of in-person events.
Before embarking on the idea of hosting Australs in Krabi, Thailand, we examined the suitability of this location for independent young travelers.
travelers.Our primary considerations included locals’ familiarity with the English language, prices of daily essentials, safety, and transportation convenience.
We looked at datasets to keep track of all the destinations most popular to people from Asia, Australia, and New Zealand in the past 10 years.
Finally, our research led us to Krabi— the capital of southern Thailand's Krabi Province. It lies in an area of limestone karsts and mangrove forest. On a hilltop reached by stairs, the Tiger Cave Temple is a Buddhist site with panoramic views.
Next, we examined the suitability of the location for independent young
Purchasing Power in the Region: Cost of Flights, Food, and Living
While everyone is ready and enthusiastic to travel, the port of destination has to capture both the hearts and wallets of everybody. The prices of air tickets, availability of flights, and cost of food, shopping, and living in Krabi have been maintained at affordable levels despite the pandemic. Well-funded and institutionally-backed debate clubs can afford to recruit members and attend tournaments abroad in large contingent sizes. But cost remains a critical bottleneck for early-stage debate societies, as well as independent varsity teams. One bright feature in the region is the relative transportation advantages of Krabi. Return flights from within the Southeast Asian region average at around US$300 with low-cost airlines such as AirAsia, Jetstar, Malindo Air, Scoot, VietJet, and Cebu Pacific plying the routes to Krabi International Airport. For travelers coming from Seoul or Tokyo, flight costs are approximately US$450, with projection of flight costs to lower as border restrictions ease and more flights are added to the routes. Participation from South Asian universities have also seen a steady rise over the past decade with Dhaka, Lahore, New Delhi, and Mumbai as popular ports of departure for teams attending Australs. Return flights from India and Bangladesh are reportedlyat US$600 via budget carriers AirAsia, VietJet, and Thai Airways.
On the other hand, travelers from Australia and New Zealand can expect to pay an average of US$850 for air tickets to Krabi. While fuel prices and currency devaluation trends have driven up costs for certain countries, especially for those located further away from Thailand, it is imperative top note that the rapid lifting of travel restrictions and influx of travelers may help to balance the cost by 2023 when the event takes place. For the longest time, Krabi has been a long-standing center for remote work and a popular destination for foreigners from all over the world for remote work and nomadic living. Hence, access to the internet and other connectivity essentials are easily accessible within the island. Affordable costs of living, and beautiful natural places of interest such as long pristine beaches and cliffs against the sunset make Krabi an allin-all financial affordable experience once you get there. Krabi is one of the best places in the region to go to when one is looking for a soul-searching excursion adventure. And it is definitely one of the best places for the Australasian debate community to gather and come together in order to celebrate the return of debating into physical convening halls. Hence, it’s best to plan for an extra day or two to make your visit worthwhile!
Paradise on Earth: A melting pot for culture, food, and art While Buddhism defines much of Thailand's culture overall, Krabi is an eclectic mix of Muslim, Buddhist, and Chinese-Thai influences, with a small number of gypsies. Thailand enjoys a mix of cultures, given the rich variety of ethnic groups in the area. Because of this, the region is rich in music, dance, theater, and the arts. Krabi is also a popular destination for foodies from across the globe. One of Krabi's most recognizable characteristics is its mouthwatering cuisine, which draws visitors from all over the world to sample the best cuisine. There are a variety of dishes from across the world offered here, from western cuisine to traditional Thai cuisine. More than this, Krabi is also well renowned for its pulsating nightlife, which includes a wide variety of clubs, bars, shopping, dancing, and fine eating establishments. Visitors adore traveling to Krabi to participate in shopping excursions at its night markets, which not only sell items but also provide incredible entertainment. Overall, Krabi is a tropical paradise that features lush nature, postcard beaches, and beautiful architecture characterized by deep spirituality and history. The island is a picture-perfect painting of paradise on Earth with its stunning temples, sparkling beaches, and clear waters. Krabi's supernaturally dotted landscape is indeed a sight to not be missed.
LOCAL DINING
THAILAND DELIGHTS AND NATIONAL FLAVORS TO TRY: Mango Sticky Rice – Mango sticky rice is a Thai dessert made with glutinous rice, fresh mango, and coconut milk. Som Tum – Spicy papaya salad, served with fermented fish and many other ingredients. Green Curry – Given its color from the green curry paste used to prepare it, this dish is usually served with chicken and is a local favorite. Pad Thai – A casual or street food, this comprises rice noodles, fried with eggs, tofu, and other ingredients. Kapao Moo – Minced pork with basil, served on rice. This is a Thai staple, most often served with fried egg. Tom Yang Goong – Watery or creamy hot, spicy soup, served most often with prawns.
POWERING THE AUSTRALASIAN REGIONALS: THE CORE TEAM The success of any debating event relies strongly on the synergy between the different core groups of the event. The core team is made up of the organizing committee that coordinates the event and its operations, the Adjudication Core that manages the judges and validates debate topics, the Digital and Tabulation team that ensures virtual access and prompt delivery of results and match-ups, and an experienced Advisory Board to oversee the event.
THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
EduDrift (Singapore) is the network and events platform for the debate and public speaking industry, with a global reach and a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region. We represent multiple pillars of education: early childhood skill development, English language proficiency, competitive debating/public speaking, and workplace public speaking.
www.edudrift.com
12 University Partners 10 Flagship Events 12,800 Attendees Served In 2017, EduDrift core team members pioneered the first debating-in-resort concept in Asia by hosting the Asian BP entirely in Bluesotel Krabi, Thailand. Since then, the EduDrift events team have had a reputation known across the debating community for efficiency in event coordination, innovative initiatives for team building and other social activities, heavy investment in quality adjudication and a strong emphasis on education and personal development.
2017 Krabi, Thailand Asian BP
By late 2021, EduDrift successfully transitioned into online events and eventually hosted the UADC online. However, for those that entered varsity debating before the era of online tournaments, EduDrift may be a familiar name. At previous editions of EduDrift events, the expectation was that attendees must be able to appreciate the intensity of competitions while having sufficient time planned for leisure, rest, and networking with other event attendees. The accessibility of venue spaces, access to emergency services, and general welfare of attendees has always been the top priority of EduDrift at every event. At Krabi Australs 2023, attendees will not be required to sacrifice rest time to travel to a separate debating venue as the debating chambers will be located within the same hotel. Each debate chamber will be a hotel room retrofitted with conference tables and chairs—all debate chambers will also have an en suite bathroom. The convening hall will be no more than one elevator’s ride away. Debate rounds will end promptly before sunset to give contingents time to analyze their performances, as well as explore the area. Krabi Australs will also include social activities organized by EduDrift as part of celebratory customs.
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Hanoi, Vietnam Asian BP
Bali, Indonesia Australs
Seoul & Shanghai Asia Schools
CO-CHIEF ADJUDICATORS
Sourodip Paul
Sourodip is a world-renowned debater and coach from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He broke barriers and exceeded expectations by ranking fifth in the Open Category during the preliminary rounds of the 2022 edition of the Worlds Debating Championship – the most prestigious tournament in the global debating community. He went on to bag the championship title with his partner, breaking records by becoming the first-ever Bangladeshi team to win Worlds 2022. Prior to that, he was the best speaker of Australs 2020, winning the championship title of that tournament as well. Sourodip earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Dhaka in 2019; and earned his master’s degree in International and Development Economics at the Australian National University in 2021. He is passionate about utilizing his field of study to address social issues, seeing financial constraints as one of the biggest hurdles for aspiring debaters in thirdworld countries along with language barriers. As such, he is an advocate against institutional inaction regarding these matters. He firmly believes that debating is more than just winning; failures are a part of that journey.
Leah Mercier
Growing up shy and timid, Leah decided to try debating when she was only nine years old in order to overcome her fears of public speaking and addressing a crowd. Thirteen years later, Leah is now a distinguished debater and coach for public speaking and debate. Hailing from the land of Australia, she has won multiple awards in the international debate arena as an active member of Macquarie University’s Debate Society. She is one of Australia's most decorated and achieved debaters today, and Leah has definitely grown from her timid persona. In 2021, she became a Grand Finalist in the prestigious Australs tournament and was an Octo Finalist at Worlds in the very same year. On top of these notable awards, she was Easters Best Speaker in 2022. Her numerous laurels led her to become one of the most prominent debate figures in the Australian debating circuit. Her achievements and prominence in the sport landed her the opportunity to be the Marketing Manager and coach at Speaking Schools Australia, sharing the knowledge and expertise she has accumulated throughout her years of debating and public speaking experience.
DEPUTY CHIEF ADJUDICATOR
THE ADVISORY BOARD Bringing with them unparalleled experience, expertise, and neutrality. The Krabi Australs Advisory board will be composed of six esteemed debating veterans to oversee and address the concerns within the event. From matters involving debate topics to potential conflicts within the event, the Advisory Board offers an alternative point-of-view when decisions involving the attendees, organizing team, adjudication core, or other parties on the ground reaches a deadlock. Regular consultations throughout the event aside,
the Advisory Board members will be present in-person at the event to supplement the adjudication pool of judges during the preliminary rounds. If required, these experienced veterans of debating can be, at the request of the Chief Adjudicators, called upon to shadow judge and provide a qualitative assessment of judges moving into the breaking category. These advisors will also lend their expertise in judging when they deliver their oral adjudication to provide a reference for teams and other judges on the panel.
Emily Partridge New Zealand
Sally Lee South Korea
Boat Sathorn Thailand
Ellie Stephenson Australia
Mubarrat Wassey Bangladesh
Vinod Kuppusamy Malaysia
Mikko Vitug Mikko Vitug is an applied mathematics graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University, specializing in Finance Mathematics. After earning his master’s degree, Mikko was chosen to be an intern at the United Nations Development Programme under the finance department. During his university years, Mikko was a member of the Ateneo Debate Society, and had a very illustrious career as a young debater. He was crowned champion and best speaker of the Australasian Debating Championships in 2021, the champion of the Asian British Parliamentary Championships in 2020, and a Worlds Grand Finalist in 2021. Despite having graduated from university, Mikko remains active in the debating community. He gives back to the circuit by serving as an adjudicator in various debating tournaments as well as coaching young children and introducing them to the sport of debate.
TABULATION & DIGITAL TEAM Ready for the hybrid model, with TabbyCat, Slack, and Zoom With travelers from China and Japan still concerned about COVID-19 restrictions, Krabi Australs will make preparations for those affected to tune in and participate virtually. The hybrid-as-and-exception policy will require the event to be ready with a stable internet connection, attendees with personal connectivity devices, and an experienced team to handle the separate methods of preparation. Krabi Australs will be running on the
Andree Chandra Tab Director
Andree is a digital consultant for Indonesia’s national-level debate competition for both the varsity and school level. In the debate community, he is known as an event consultant for educational events in the region. He frequently employs data science and his spreadsheet enthusiasm when taking on the role of tab director. Andree is currently serving as an analyst for one of Indonesia's leading communications consultancy firms. He has managed and served on the tabulation teams of various regional championships. He was the tab director for UADC 2018, ABP 2019, and Australs 2019.
tabulation software TabbyCat and deployed onto CalicoTab for ease of access. On the tab site, participants will be able to access their matchups, view their results and verify their participation information during the event, The tab site will also allow participants to submit feedback on adjudicators in their debate chambers.
CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY: UNIVERSITY HOST
Slack will be used for information dissemination, while Zoom will be used to accommodate the hybrid model. The digital team will also be in charge of live event broadcasting.
Vu Ahn Tuan Digital Director
More affectionately known in the debate community as VAT, Vũ Anh Tuấn is one of Vietnam’s most accomplished debate veterans. Trained in tabulation and event organizational work, VAT is best known for his extensive experience in transitioning tournaments online in the COVID world. VAT has supported close to a hundred tournaments in the capacity of being the digital director from Worlds to Australs, to UADC and Asian BP. VAT will help to advise and ensure a smooth hybrid version of Krabi Australs in the event that the need arises.
A leading creator of knowledge and innovations for the sustainable development of society, Chulalongkorn Univeristy, is a public and autonomous research university in Bangkok, Thailand. The university was originally founded during King Chulalongkorn's reign as a school for training royal pages and civil servants in 1899 at the Grand Palace of Thailand. Chula University has been crowned the top university in Thailand for 8 Consecutive Years by QS World University Rankings 2021, which is a testament to the university's dedication to providing quality education and breeding learned students. In line with Chulalongkorn’s long-standing dedication in providing quality education to all students, they have agreed to come in partnership with EduDrift to bring the next edition of Australs back live and in-person in Krabi, Thailand. Members from Chulalongkorn University's debate society will form the local team and help the organizing committee in making sure that Krabi Australs runs smoothly and seamlessly. As part of the local team, they will be in charge of communicating with local vendors, as well as other external parties. On top of this, the local team will also fly in from Bangkok to Krabi ahead of time in order to perform necessary checks such as inspecting the hotel, securing trophies, and dealing with other vendors.
ENDORSEMENT LETTER FROM CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY
THE VENUE A debate competition is traditionally made up of a central hall for announcements, classrooms for debate chambers, general spaces for preparation, and a canteen for convenient access to meals. Our venue partner, Bluesotel SMART Krabi Aonang Beach has committed to ensuring that all the necessities required for a debate competition are provided within the premises of their hotel. Krabi Australs will take place entirely in a hotel.
EVENT & MEETING SPACES All rooms at Bluesotel SMART are fully equipped with strong WiFi access, mineral water, coffee and tea making facilities, welcome drinks, a safe deposit box, and a refrigerator. Some rooms may also feature an attached balcony or a direct access to one of the property’s infinity pools. Hence, guests can expect to fully experience an exquisite atmosphere throughout their stay. Bluesotel SMART Krabi Aonang Beach is a four-star international accommodation located at the heart of Krabi, Thailand. The hotel boasts two infinity pools, a swim-up bar and a first-rate health club and spa.
www.bluesotelsmart.om
2 Infinity Pools 1 Rooftop Events Space 35 minutes from the Airport
Hotel buffet breakfast is included every day at Krabi Australs. After enjoying a scrumptious meal, attendees may proceed to the conference hall only a moment’s walk away for briefings and topic announcements for each debate round. They can then take a short elevator commute to the debate chambers to commence the rounds. All lunches and dinners will also be catered by the hotel, and the Open Grand Finals along with the event’s celebratory Gala Lunch will also take place in one of the hotel’s spacious event spaces.
The EduDrift signature Debating-in-Resort Concept Up to 60 hotel rooms will be retrofitted, redesigned, and utilized as debate rooms. The 36 sqm deluxe rooms will have their beds removed to fit the tables and chairs required for the Australs debate format. Each room will have sufficient space for up to 5 adjudicators. Every room is also equipped with reliable WiFi connection for teams tuning in to compete virtually (should they be unable to arrive due to COVID restrictions), and an en suite bathroom/toilet. The hotel’s main lobby and its facilities will be available for debaters to use as prep areas. Teams are also welcome to use corridor spaces and poolside benches during their 30 minutes of preparation.
Making Australs a spectator sport
This hotel’s added a touch of luxury to Krabi's coast. It's wrapped in greenery for a tucked-away feel, and the centerpiece is a big pool with a swimup bar. A selection of swish swim-up rooms are also available to choose from.
To allow for more observers to witness the on-going round, one debate chamber for each round will be held in a meeting room where the debate will be live-streamed. As the event proceeds into the outrounds, debates will be held in breakout meeting rooms to allow for spectators to witness the exchanges between teams.
With only a 5-minute walk to the closest beach, one may enjoy silk-soft sand, bath-warm, teal-coloured water, and a handful of waterfront eateries in just a moment’s way.
Debaters will be congregating in a hall spacious enough to accommodate up to 250+ participating debaters. The convening hall will be equipped with sears, projectors, and sound systems.
ACCOMMODATION The hotel boasts 216 spacious bedrooms fully equipped with air-conditioning, minibar, refrigerator, in-room safe, LED television with satellite/cable channels, coffee and tea making facilities, refrigerator, and fast WiFi. Participants coming down to Krabi to attend the upcoming edition of Australs will be allocated in either double or twin bedrooms by gender preference. Upgrade to suite rooms and triple-sharing rooms will be subject to availability at the point of request. The resort features facilities designed to make the most of a guest’s stay. These include 2 infinity swimming pools where welcome drinks will be served, a full-service sauna and spa facilities, and a fully fitted gym/fitness center for those looking to get a workout in before the start of the day. Included within the registration fees of Krabi Australs are seven (7) nights of accommodation with hotel catered buffet breakfast. Within the planned program, attendees to Krabi Australs can expect barbecue night socials; and cocktail, mocktail, and gelato night are REEVE Beach Club on top of the customary break night celebrations. All lunches and dinners will be catered by the hotel including the much anticipated gala lunch finale.
EVENT SCHEDULE Krabi Australs will be structured as an 8D7N program consisting of 8 preliminary rounds of debating for every attending debate team. Upon the completion of all preliminary rounds, the event will have a designated ‘free day’ where university representatives will gather and decide on matters pertaining to the competition and also vote on the next edition of the event. Gender and POC forums will also be held during the event wherein the event organizers will invite esteemed guests to have discussions and talks on issues faced- and milestones achieved by non-cis-males and people of color. The Grand Finals will take place the day before hotel check-out.
02 July 2023 (Day 01) Arrival Day: Australs
Welcome
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Krabi
Krabi International Airport is located 26km away, or 35 minutes away by car. Attendees can choose to book an airport taxi or use ride hailing apps such as Grab. Data sim cards and portable WiFi devices are available for purchase at the airport. The registration counter at Krabi Australs will open at 09:00AM while hotel check-in at Bluesotel SMART Krabi starts after 02:00PM. Pre-forum reporting will start at 05:00PM and welcome drinks (socials #01) will commence at 07:00PM.
04 July 2023 (Day 03)
03 July 2023 (Day 02) Preliminary Round 1 & 2 08:30 AM – Pre-council Session 12:00 PM – Lunch 01:00 PM – Preliminary Round 01 03:30 PM – Preliminary Round 02 06:00 PM – Dinner and POC Forum 07:00 PM – Cocktail, Mocktail, and Gelato Night
Preliminary Round 3, 4, & 5 08:30 AM – Preliminary Round 03 11:00 AM – Preliminary Round 04 01:00 PM – Lunch 02:00 PM – Preliminary Round 05 07:00 PM – BBQ & Skewers Party W*men’s/Gender Night
05 July 2023 (Day 04) Preliminary Round 6, 7, & 8 08:30 AM – Preliminary Round 06 11:00 AM – Preliminary Round 07 01:00 PM – Lunch 02:00 PM – Preliminary Round 08 06:00 PM – Dinner 07:00 PM – Breaknight Party
06 July 2023 (Day 05) Council Session/Free Day 08:30 AM – Start of Council Session Krabi Australs attendees will be able to secure island tours, day tours, and other travel packages from event travel partners stationed at the hotel lobby.
07 July 2023 (Day 06) Octo Finals, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals 08:30 AM – Open Octo Finals ESL Quarter Finals 11:00 AM – Open Quarter Finals ESL Semi Finals 01:00 PM – Lunch 02:00 PM – Open Semi Finals 06:00 PM – Dinner
08 July 2023 (Day 07) Grand Finals
*Final break categories to Krabi Australs will be determined by the total number of team registrations.
08:30 AM – ESL Grand Finals 11:00 AM – Open Grand Finals 01:00 PM – Finale Gala (Black-tie event) Presentation of Awards Closing Ceremony
09 July 2023 (Day 08) Explore Krabi After the conclusion of Krabi Australs, attendees may choose to explore the island to take photos and shop for souvenirs before checking out from Bluesotel SMART Krabi at 12:00PM. Alternatively, participants to Krabi Australs may also opt to extend their stay for a day or two to maximize their travel experience.
GENERAL INFORMATION Registration
COVID-19 Safety
Cancellations, Refunds, & Payouts
Krabi Australs will require all attendees to adhere to policy requirements of the hotel, the laws of Thailand, and the conditions set by the attendee’s country of origin. To further mitigate risks surrounding COVID-19 and to increase accessibility, EduDrift has outlined the additional policies for this event.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION Krabi Australs will not be offering virtual-only tickets to the events. All tickets for the event will be for inperson participation. Exceptions will be made for a regular ticket holder to participate virtually in case of COVID19 restrictions (refer to next page for details). No additional discounts will be given to virtual attendees beyond the COVID-19 on Goodwill Payout. All ticket holders will receive a welcome pack and have access to all social events. The estimated registration opening date is 15 February 2022.
There are no limits to the number of tickets each institution may register for. Registration will be on a firstcome-first-served payment basis. Booking managers who require invoices for university payments will have 7 days from the issuance of the invoice to may payment. Available payment methods include VISA, Mastercard, WeChat, and PayNow. When the 7-day period has elapsed, the invoice will no longer be valid and payment will not be accepted. Tickets reserved will be freed up. Bank transfers will also be accepted as a method of payment for this event.
Available Ticket Options Include: Ticket Type:
Price: US$ 469 per person Note: Sold per team of 3
DEBATER Available Quantity: 300 (100 teams)
Ticket Type:
7 nights of hotel stay (twin-sharing) with buffet breakfast included
Price: US$ 469 per person Note: N-1 Judge Rule applies
ADJUDICATOR Available Quantity: 70
Ticket Type:
7 nights of hotel stay (twin-sharing) with buffet breakfast included
Price: US$ 469 per person
COVID-19 Travel Curtailment Strict adherence to in-person event guidelines and best practices. As required by the border control and the hotel, all attendees must be fully vaccinated and possess proof of vaccination with them at the point of check-in. Attendees who are unable to furnish documents to prove their vaccination status will be denied entry to the event. Self-testing will not be required but attendees are encouraged to self-test before arrival at the event and must stay quarantined if they experience symptoms or feel sick.
All attendees are required to bring along connectivity devices such as a laptop, tablet, webcam, and earphones. If an attendee is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms while present at the events, they must remain within their hotel rooms and connect to the event virtually. Roommates of attendees who are quarantined in their rooms are also advised to stay within the rooms and connect to the event virtually. Information broadcast on Zoom, Slack, and TabbyCat will be timely synced with information in the convening hall.
What happens if I am unable to make the flight or got rejected at the border? 1.) Virtual Participation If an attendee is unable to arrive at the event or unable to check in at the hotel due to COVID-19 restrictions, they will be allowed to participate virtually. Slack and Zoom platforms will be available for all attendees to take their debate rounds online.
12.) COVID-19 Travel Goodwill Payout
Curtailment
To encourage event participation in light of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 policies, EduDrift will be initiation a Goodwill Payout of US$100 to each registered attendee of Krabi Australs in the event of travel curtailment due to COVID-19.
At present, attendees from Japan and China are automatically considered for virtual participation until their border conditions change.
Requests for Goodwill Payouts must be made to EduDrift before the Council Session on 06 July 2023.
If an attendee had arrived in Krabi but begins to feel unwell, they will be allowed to participate virtually to the event in the confines of their hotel rooms. Their roommates must also tune in to the event virtually.
Travel disruptions resulting from personal negligence will not be eligible for Goodwill Payout. Photographs of personal ART test results are not acceptable proofs of travel curtailment.
Note: Observers do not have the option for shared rooms
OBSERVER Available Quantity: 30
7 nights of hotel stay (single room) with buffet breakfast included
https://edudrift.com/products/in-person-krabi-australs
Cancellations, Refunds, & Payouts Cancellations Tickets once purchased are non refundable. In exceptional cases wherein a booking was wrongly entered, a grace period of 48 hours will be given for the booking manager to raise the issue to the event organizers. For approved refunds due to exceptional cases, the customer will bear all transactional charges associated with the purchase. All refunds will be made to the original mode of payment.
In such instance, a Goodwill Payout of US$100 will be made to every registered attendee. The payout amount will be subject to bank charges and other applicable processing fees to the original mode of payment. Attendees who are enrolled to the event through scholarships and/or invited judges will not be entitled to the Goodwill Payout. EduDrift recommends that all attendees purchase travel insurance pre-departure to ensure that claims can be filed in case of Force Majeure.
Transfer Tickets purchased are transferrable but non-refundable. Original ticket holders must inform EduDrift before check-in. Tickets to Krabi Australs are nontransferrable for another EduDrift event. Admission is strictly for this event only.
No Show In a case of a No Show, no refund will be issued.
Force Majeure If Krabi Australs cannot be held inperson due to reasons beyond the control of the event organizers, the event will transit to a 100% virtual event.
Adjudicator Payouts Adjudicators who have been granted travel subsidy amount from the Adjudication Core will only receive payment to their registered payout account once confirmed by the Council Session on 13 January 2023. The Australs Council of universities withhold payout in case of a breach of the agreement between the adjudicator and the Adjudication Core. Should an adjudicator cancel their trip to Krabi, no travel subsidy payout will be made.
Conclusion EduDrift believes that countries and institutions that rose to prominence in the last decade will continue to play a role in powering development and growth in this activity. They form the competitive bedrock of this community to provide a foundation and model for others to flourish. However, to continue recruiting talents and maintaining interest in this sport, the Australasian community will need to meet, interact, and network with each other to overcome the residual drag of the pandemic.
A debating adventure in Krabi presents itself as a valuable and muchanticipated return to dialogue and exchanges with others. Despite the obstacles hampering the growth and development of clubs and societies, and the reduction in training programs, we remain optimistic about the future of debating. Join us as we welcome and celebrate the return of debating in person with a glimpse to one of Southeast Asia's hidden gem, the beautiful island of Krabi, Thailand.
EduDrift, 2022. All rights reserved. The information in this event catalogue is provided on an "as is" basis. This document was produced by and the opinions expressed are those of EduDrift as of the date of writing and are subject to change. This document has been prepared solely for information purposes for the conduct of the event "Krabi Australs". EduDrift or any of its affiliates makes no representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in the brochure and shall not be liable for any loss arising from the use hereof.