Nelson Mandela Global Intervarsity Development Debate 2017 took place from February- April, 2017. Concern Worldwide, Ireland, continued to be the key sponsor of the Mandela debate competition. The debate motions ranged from pros and cons of Brexit to whether religion has lost ground to be a force of good in our societies. A total of 16 universities, colleges and institutes of technology took part in the debate competition.
The competitions were organized in four regions of Ireland and brought together third level students to compete as follows:

Northern region
Galway University,
Galway-Mayo Institute of technology,
Sligo Institute of Technology
Anthlone Institute of Technology

Winner – Sligo IT

Southern Region
University College Cork,
Cork Institute of Technology,
Limerick University
Waterford Institute of Technology

Winner Cork Institute of Technology

Dublin - North
Dublin City University,
Dundalk Institute of Technology,
Maynooth University,
Blanchestown Institute of Technology

Winner Maynooth University

Dublin -South
Trinity College Dublin,
University College Dublin,
Dublin Institute of Technology,
Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin

Winner Dublin Institute of Technology