There is something different about returning to a place that once shaped you, especially when your role has changed entirely.

For me, the Oxbridge Debating Forum was once an experience I attended as a student at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar (KTJ), an event that had long been hosted there and supported by the Oxbridge Society alongside MABECS, an organisation dedicated to helping Malaysian students transition into British universities. Years later, standing on the same platform not as a participant but as the main student coordinator felt like a full-circle moment.

This year’s forum brought together students from leading international schools across Malaysia, continuing a tradition that dates back to the early 2010s. While the debates explored global issues such as politics and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, what stood out to me was the collective energy of students eager to question, challenge, and understand the world more deeply.

_{Anuj delivering his opening remarks as student coordinator at the Oxbridge Debating Forum.}

As part of the organising team, I worked closely with a group of 16 students to manage the event’s logistics and flow. From coordinating registration and ushering to planning university tours, every detail required careful alignment. Under the guidance of Dr Alexey and Dr Deboshree, we held regular planning sessions weeks in advance, ensuring that what could have been overwhelming instead became a well-orchestrated experience. I also had the opportunity to co-emcee the forum, returning to the stage in a completely different capacity.