Agora Fest 2018, presentation skills taken up a notch
Five teams battled it out for the ultimate Presentation Skills Class Project at this year’s Agora Fest on Wednesday 25th April in the Aula Magna. The finalists of four to six students per team were drawn from ten at the semi finals by the judges who were the course professors. The competition was the peak of the Presentation Skills course offered this semester. Major attendees of the event included the students, their respective professors and the Vice Rector of IE University, Antonio de Castro who was the honorably invited guest-judge.
The event commenced with the welcoming remarks by the organizing professors. It was followed by fifteen-minute presentations from the teams and in the end the winners were awarded by the Vice Rector and the professors. First place, Game of Life and second place, Humbrella, secured a thirty and twenty Euros credit respectively for each member, to be spent at the university’s shop. All winners were certified for their accomplishments.
The Agora, which referred to the center of artistic, spiritual, athletic and political life in ancient Greek cities, perfectly describes the diverse nature of the event’s presentations. Some groups introduced new products such as Student App and Humbrella, while others took the audience on a historical journey through Segovia. Stuck in Segovia was the title of one group’s reality TV show production that features University student life. And this year’s winning team had a life reflective presentation, in the light of Video Games.
Initially, the Agora fest began with two professors, whose classes competed. “Later, more and more classes joined, and it’s now common for all classes”, accounted Professor Paloma Martinez. There has been a variation in the winning presentations over the years. Last year, the winning team presented about a sustainable product for cigarette disposal whereas the year before that the winners made Food Satire, the subject of their presentation.
When asked on the success of the event this year Professor Paloma said, “This year there was a high performance because of students’ commitment and great passion with which they delivered their message”. The individual groups decided on the topics. Professor Javier Diaz who couched the winning team said that he was very pleased with his team’s choice saying, “It was inspiring and made people remember that life is short. So we have to take advantage of every opportunity we get.”
On being interviewed by the Stork, Vice Rector Antonio de Castro remarked on the success of the event for both Madrid and Segovia campuses. Mr. De Castro added that the course had been essential for students’ self improvement, team spirit and creativity development, hence being part of the university’s modules. He concluded by mentioning the possibility of a joint Madrid and Segovia Agora Fest as the proceeding step.
Many students thought that the initiative was a success. Adam Wilson Barnes, who also featured at this year’s theatrical production, "Memories of the Lion and Rose", did not only think that the event was a success, but also thought that the course was essential in building up public speaking skills commenting, “In theatre we learn how to be another person(character), whereas being yourself can be even harder. So the course was very useful”.
Upon improving next year’s Agora Fest, Giorgi Aronia, student presenter, requested for better assembling of the tech-equipment to avoid the inconveniences encountered by some groups, such as the wavering sound system. Theresa Jürgenssen, first year law student advises the judges to be more inclusive of the presentations that showcase public speaking skills without necessarily having ‘funny’ content. In her words, “there were some groups this morning (at the semi-finals) that had more of public speaking skills but did not make it to the finals because their topics were not as funny”.
Professor Victor Sanchez said that the Agora Fest was not the end of the presentation journey, but the beginning. When asked for the key to presentation success, Professor Sanchez said, “Feel, feel and feel. Feel who you are, feel who they are and make sure you have shared feelings in what you present. With those three things, you will get a sense of the other side and will be able to communicate effectively.”
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