the World

Scholar’s Cup®
 Inaugural rounds in
Scandinavia, the Baltics, 2400 scholars gather for
Chile, Ghana, Bulgaria, the 2014 Global Round

2014
Somalia, and Italy. in Singapore.
First-ever “Primary New “introdudctory”
Round” held in Dubai. rounds established all
Older scholars terrified. over the world, from

2013
Geneva to Perth.
1000 scholars from 30
countries meet at the First annual Tournament
2012 Global Round in of Champions hosted
Bangkok. by Yale University. Live

2012
alpaca attends.

“Scholar’s Ball” be- WSC staff learns it is pos-

comes a mainstay of the sible to miss a flight by
program. “Nerd prom” falling asleep at the gate.
nickname follows.
2011
Canadian novelist Guy
Kay keynotes Global
First rounds in Dubai, Round in Shanghai, leaps
Beijing, Australia, and into a pile of alpacas.
former Soviet Georgia.
2010

First Scholar’s Show

Nanyang Girls School erupts spontaneously in
wins its first global round, Dubai while WSC staff is
conditions other teams to lost in a taxi.
fear yellow jackets.
2009

First Scholar’s Scavenge

Scholar’s Cup staff dis- leads students to sing
covers the importance of and become Facebook
converting electricity.. friends on the streets of
Singapore.
2008

First regional rounds in

Taiwan, Thailand, Singa- The United States, Singa-
pore, and Arizona. pore, and Korea meet at
the first global round.
Alpaca defeats emu,
2007

elected program
World Scholar’s Cup
mascot.
founded.
New skills.
New knowledge.
New friends.
The artist Austin Kleon once advised, “Draw
the art you want to see, play the music you
want to hear, write the books you want to
read, build the products you want to use.” In
creating the World Scholar’s Cup, my team
and I kept that idea in mind: to design a pro-
gram we wish we could have taken part in.
That’s why the World Scholar’s Cup may
look like a competition, but isn’t one at all.
It’s a celebration of learning. It unites many
subjects, because before we specialize, we
should see the big picture. It challenges
teams to work together, because there’s
nothing harder or more inspiring than some-
one else depending on you. And we deal with
serious global issues without ever taking
ourselves too seriously, because we believe
that, before we can fall in love with learning,
we must find the fun at learning’s heart.
Our mission is one of inclusive enrichment,
bringing together schools of every kind of
and students of all backgrounds. We hope
you will be among them. Whether you join
us just for an introductory event or continue
all the way to our annual conference at Yale
University, you won’t just be discovering new
subjects and practicing new skills.
You’ll be joining a community of scholars and
leaders that will last a lifetime.

Daniel Berdichevsky
Founder and Alpaca-in-Chief
Each year, we ask scholars to explore a global theme—in
2015, The World Unbound. This year’s selected topics in art,
music, literature, history, science, and social studies range
from Liberating Technologies to Heroes and Superheroes.
We provide outlines and guiding questions for every subject.
They’ll be the starting points for your team’s preparation, all
the way from your local round to the Tournament of Champi-
ons at Yale University.

Global Theme, Global Events

 Scholar’s Facts
Founded 2007
Mascot Alpaca
Annual Final Host Yale University
# of countries 45+
# of schools 1500+
Team size 3 students
Teams per school Unlimited
Divisions Senior (15+), Junior (14-)
Regional Dates See website for details
Preparation time 2 weeks to a lifetime
How to prepare? Online exploration, lively
debate, ample snacks
The non-profit World Scholar’s Cup is dedicated to
inclusive enrichment for students of all backgrounds.
Each team debates three times, on motions across all the
subjects, from policy to poetry. You may be arguing whether par-
ents should have access to surveillance cameras at schools—or
whether women make better superheroes.
Debate is your chance to apply all that you’ve
learned to make the most persuasive case you
can. And, win or not, after each debate, you’ll
give the other team feedback on how to improve.

Team Debate Countdown

Each of you will speak up to
4 minutes. But first, you’ll
have 15 minutes to research
your argument, with full For debaters new and old.
access to the Internet. Use
your time—and choose your Two-thirds of our students have
sources—wisely! never debated before; over half
are ESL learners. The rest sign
up because they’re debaters.
For new debaters, it’s a great
introduction; for experienced
debaters, it’s a challenging new
Strange but true: the teams you debate against style.
Target skills: teamwork, research, public
are the ones you’ll become closest to. speaking, intimidating the opposition
There are winners and there are more winners. After each round,
winning teams face other winners—and non-winners other non-winners.
The result: the teams with the least experience have the opportunity to
gain it, and everyone becomes a better debater by the end of the day.

Debate Showcase
Not your grandfather’s Debate Finals.
At most debate tournaments, the top two teams face off in a
high-stakes final round—while most everyone else goes home.
Not so at the World Scholar’s Cup.
Instead, we select the top speakers from each delegation and
form new mixed teams. These already strong speakers face a
brand new challenge: working with brand new teammates.
These all-star teams lead the whole community in debating
and discussing a tough motion—check out the example
below. Afterwards, members of the audience, students and
adults alike, can volunteer to join the conversation, perhaps
supporting their teammates on stage. Or defying them.

Resolved: That students should be allowed to take

medication to improve their World Scholar’s Cup scores.
Scholar’s Challenge
It’s multiple choice, so make multiple choices. The Challenge looks like
any other test, but with an alpaca-powered twist: you can mark more
than one answer per question. The fewer you mark, the more points
you can earn if you’re right. (Yes, that means you can finally guess C
and D... and also A, B, and E.) Apply your knowledge of the six subjects
successfully and you can win medals in one, two, or all of them.

Written Events
Collaborative Writing
Debate with your pen. You’ll be given three statements, each from a
different subject area, and asked to choose one to argue for or against.
You’ll first have 30 minutes to prepare with your teammates, then an
hour by yourself to compose the most persuasive essay possible, then
15 more minutes to work together at the end. Here’s the catch: each
member of your team has to choose a different topic. Bring straws.
Target skills: collaboration, research, writing, persuasion, time management
Every team in the theater. Every team with a clicker.
Every question harder than the one before.
Your team will work together to solve analytic questions and mul-
timedia challenges. Click your answers before time runs out, and
don’t be surprised if you’re asked to connect a poem you studied
to a clip from The Big Bang Theory. Bowlzinga.

Scholar’s Bowl
It’s loud It’s strategic
You might even hear a team What will you and your team-
shout the wrong answer— mates do when you disagree?
hoping you’ll click it. Target skills: teamwork, applied thinking, clicking

“It’s not the first team to answer that gets credit. You’re racing the clock. But the clock is fast.”
We like to say that we only pretend to be a competition. That
we’re actually about enrichment and community-building. And that’s
very true. But part of pretending to be a competition is holding a very real
awards ceremony in which we celebrate your achievements as some of
the world’s leading young scholars. Which, if you’ve joined this program, is
exactly what you are. Even when our emcee is mispronouncing your name.

Awards Ceremony

Individual honors Team prizes

Earn distinctions in every subject Win trophies (and infamy) for your
and every event—including trophies, achievements as a team. Photos
certificates, and medals of various encouraged. Long speeches? Not so
colors and kinds. much.
“Bring your alpacas
everywhere. Trust
me. It will help.”
Shela Usadi - Team Indonesia
Participate locally. Or go the distance. Special Guests
Even regional rounds are global: you may face a team You can always look forward
from across your town—or continent. Top teams at to special speakers at the
each regional event can earn invitations to the next Global Round: from award-
Global and Mini-Global Rounds. winning author Guy Kay in
No regional round near you? Contact us: you’ll be of- 2010 to postmodern French
fered a special chance to come represent your country, composer Sasha Zamler-
then return home and host a round of your own. Carhart in 2015. You’ll have a
chance to ask them questions

Local & Global ToC at Yale

and to meet them one-on-one.

Bring together the best

of the World Scholar’s
Cup with a world-leading
university, and you’ll
discover our Tournament
of Champions, hosted
by the Yale International
Relations Association.
The “ToC” is more than a
second Global Round: it’s
a chance to experience life
and learning as a student
at Yale University. You’ll
also meet professors, U.S.
Senators, special guests,
and, best of all, an actual
alpaca: Painted Warrior.
 What’s with all the goats?
They’re not goats, they’re alpacas,
and they’re the mascot of the World
Scholar’s Cup. Every scholar receives
one. Or two, or twenty. When they’re
happy, they say pwaa. So does our
staff. And so will you.

Scholar’s Show
Break a #2 pencil.
The talent show is completely optional—just a chance for you
to share something with the Scholar’s Cup community, even
if you’re not an experienced performer. Whether it’s a student
from Singapore pretending to be President Obama, or the team
from Sofia introducing us to traditional Bulgarian dance, every
single performance is unique. (Unless you’re singing “Let it Go”,
“The flood of pwaas, hugs, and selfies cannot but then at least the audience sings along.)
express my thanks to you for this entire WSC
journey, from Jakarta to Yale University. This
roller coaster ride is unparalleled... I’ve met so “Only at WSC would a student reciting 400 digits of pi
many new friends, and the exposure to so many
receive the biggest standing ovation.”
great people is really impactful.”
Sabrina Hartono - National High Jakarta School Ayesha Sabharwal, Dubai English Speaking College
 Scholar’s Scavenge
Teams: twelve. Facebook photos: thousands.
On the first night of the Global Round, you’ll be teamed up with 11 fellow
scholars from 11 other countries to undertake a series of odd challenges. You
may have to reenact a movie scene in public, or force your coach to do a push-
up. You’ll do all this while exploring a new city together. It’s a great chance
to make new friends from around the world—and a lot less awkward than a
welcome dance. Even when you’re hanging upside down from a tree.
Target skills: icebreaking, persuading people to embarrass themselves
 Scholars call it Nerd Prom. “I was already open-minded
Bring your dresses and your tuxes, before, but making a new friend
but leave the limos at home. Then from Malaysia and another from
dance the night away with fellow Iran surely changes things - for
scholars from over thirty other the better!”
countries. Plus, there’s ice cream.
Bar Atiya, Leo Baeck Institute
And balloons. And also an alarmingly
high population density. Bar helped lead Israel’s first-ever
World Scholar’s Cup team to the

Scholar’s Ball
2010 Global Round in Shanghai.

Debate what
to Deb-eat.
Whether it’s a
bento box or a gala
Thanksgiving dinner,
we promise to keep
you (and your brain!)
well-fed.
Get some rest.
For the Global Round,
stay at your choice of
recommended hotels:
they’re all affordable,
clean, and fun.
Primary The children are our future (scholars).
In 2014, we held our first round exclusively for
primary students—and our youngest scholars

Divison
seized the chance to learn beyond their years!
They practiced skills such as collaboration, peer
feedback, and public speaking at an age when
these things may not come easily, but last forever.
We’ll be holding more primary rounds around the
world this year, from Dubai to Shanghai. Let us
know if you’d like to host one for your community!

“I am truly awestruck by the skill and confidence demonstrated by these young students. Thank you for an incredible day.”
Suzanne Munn, GEMS Wellington Academy - Dubai Silicon Oasis
Scholar’s Camp Work with
Our camps are more than just a way to prepare dedicated Master team
for your next regional or global round: they’re self- teachers to debate,
contained all-around learning experiences. Whether explore global persuasive
you’re pondering the hero’s journey or modeling the issues from writing,
life cycle of a tree, you’ll engage in exercises and this year’s problem-
seminars that connect all six subjects, and you’ll theme and solving,
practice leadership, writing, and debating with experts beyond. and alpaca-
who are there to mentor and inspire you. hunting.

Incamparable hosts.
Recent camps have been hosted by some of
the world’s leading schools and universities,
including Yale-NUS College, Sinarmas World
Academy, and the American University in
Dubai. Interested in hosting a camp in your
own region? Contact us to learn more.

Summer is
coming.
In 2015, join us for
our first-ever Global
Camp at the National
University of Ireland!
 “The days I spent at Regionals and Globals have been the
best of my life. I’ve become friends with fellow scholars
all over the world, taken part in extraordinary academic
competition, and truly developed a passion for learning. In
conclusion, I absolutely love WSC, and can’t wait until the
ToC at Yale... my team aims to finish with a bang!”
Alex Prior-Wandesforde, Tanglin Trust School

Get Involved.
Form a team at your school. Host an introductory event.
If there isn’t a program yet, don’t Schools around the world host
worry! It just takes a single team local rounds and invite friends
of three to get started. Learn and rivals to participate. We’ll
more at www.scholarscup.org, be there to support you every
or email us for help. step of the way.
Attend a regional round. Sponsor or volunteer.
Attend a round near you or As a non-profit organization,
travel to one abroad. Every we depend on the generosity of
regional round is open to the donors and volunteers to make
entire world. our program possible.

“One of my students wasn’t the strongest academically when she entered the program, but is
now in the upper percentile of her class. The World Scholar’s Cup instilled in her self-discipline
and a love of learning.” - Nigel Kaw, Nanyang Girls High School, Singapore
 “When I looked across that sea of young faces this weekend, I just
had to pause and reflect upon the exponential level of learning that
has occurred through the programme globally throughout the year.
Once again, I am in awe of your team’s vision, determination, and
commitment.”
Grant Smith, Jumeirah College, U.A.E. National Team Debate Coach

Unforgettable. “I had no idea the world was so huge before WSC.”

Khyati Gala, Oshwal Academy Nairobi
“Since I started teaching 17 years ago, I have never encountered
an opportunity as extraordinary, or a learning experience as
comprehensive. My students have learnt as much through WSC
each year as they have through their entire school curriculum,
and I now find it hard to imagine a year without WSC in it.
You talk about “alpaca nation” as a big family, and, whilst that
could so easily sound platitudinous, I think it is true: it is no
hollow cliche when I say that, to us, it genuinely feels like home,
“Thank you for bringing together over a thousand of not only the smartest and you guys somehow (and impossibly) feel like friends
people I know, but also the funniest, friendliest, and most fun-loving too. I’m so to us all.”
honoured to be part of this amazing program.”
Meher Malik, Emirates International School Matthew Savage - Bromsgrove International School Thailand
Join us at the 2015 Global Round in Kuala Lumpur
June 22-26, 2015

World Scholar’s Cup

www.scholarscup.org