Each format offers a distinct approach to ethical reasoning. All three prioritize thoughtful dialogue over combative debate.
Feature
◎Ethics Olympiad
⌘TKEthics Invitational
↯Global AI Debates
Format
4-round dialogue with feedback
Preliminary + elimination rounds
Structured argumentation
Team Size
3-5 students
3-5 students
2-4 students
Level
Middle School & Senior
Middle & High School
High School & Undergraduate
Mode
Online
In-person / Hybrid
Online
Emphasis
Collaborative moral reasoning
Regional ethics bowl circuit
AI ethics & tech policy
Fees
$180-$225 per team
Contact organizer
See globalaidebates.com
About
The Ethics Olympiad is a globally recognized team competition where students engage in structured, respectful dialogue about complex moral dilemmas. Unlike debate, there are no winners through persuasion - only through clarity of reasoning and intellectual honesty.
Format Details
Rounds
4 rounds with judge feedback
Structure
Case presentation + open discussion
Mode
Online (global participation)
Team Size
3-5 students per team
Duration
Full day event (10 AM - 4 PM EST)
◎Eligibility
-Middle School: Ages 11-14 at any point during the competition year
-Senior: High school students (European & Pan-American divisions)
-Open globally - school-based or independent teams
-School-based teams may qualify for International Final
♙Awards
✦Qualification pathway to International Final (Australia)
✦Certificates of excellence for top-performing teams
✦Judge commendations for outstanding individual reasoning
$Registration Fees
$180 (Early Bird) - $225 (Regular)
Pathway: Qualifies for International Middle School Ethics Olympiad
Competition Impact
Ideas shared. Perspectives changed.
A growing community of students and schools learning to meet difficult questions with curiosity, rigor, and respect.
400+
Participants
70+
Schools Reached
11
Countries / Regions
Awards
Past competitions and honors
Celebrate the teams, students, and communities that have shaped TKEthics competitions.
2026 Senior PAN American Ethics Olympiad (April 2026)
Gold Medal: Bethpage High School (USA)*
Silver Medal: Stanford Online High School, team Frege) (USA)
Bronze Medal: Westwood Ethics Bowl (USA)*
Honorable Mentions: teams with "*", Archimedean Upper Conservatory (team Russell and team Plato), Portola High School, Stanford Online High School (team Epicurus), St. George's School
Ethics Olympiad
2026 Senior European Ethics Olympiad (Mar 2026)
Gold Medal: Christ's Hospital (UK)
Silver Medal: Team De Beauvoir (Morocco)
Bronze Medal: Reed's School. Conham (UK)
Honorable Mentions: Team De Beauvoir, Team Christ's Hospital
20256 records
TKEthics Invitational
2025 TKEthics International Grand Final (Aug 2025)
Top Rankings: Chengyin+Jenelle+Anna+Huahui (4th)*, Ruilin+James+Darren+Ethan (5th)
Top Two Middle Schools (Excluding Finalists): Ruilin+James+Darren+Ethan (Unaffiliated) and Isaac+Nina+Jeason+Steven+Eason (SpeakUp)
Top International Team (Excluding Finalists): Olivia+Noelle+Winston (GE)*
Honorable Mentions: Teams with "*", Elsa+Abby+Eric+James, Derek+Austin+Liam, Angela+Jordan+Alpha+Angel+Mushel
Ethics Olympiad
2025 Pan Atlantic Middle School Ethics Olympiad (May 2025)
Gold medal: Harvard-Westlake (USA)
Silver medal: Point Grey Blue (Canada)
Bronze medal: Elgin Academy (Scotland, UK)
4th place: De Lisle College (England, UK)
5th place: Chestwood (Canada)
6th place: Arizona College (USA)
7th place: Point Grey Red (Canada)
8th place: Churchill (Mexico)
Honorable Mentions: Harvard-Westlake, La Salle College, Arizona College, Churchill
Ethics Olympiad
2025 Pan American & European Ethics Olympiad
Gold: St. George's School
Silver: Berkeley High School
Bronze: Nueva School
Top 16 Finalistests: Reed's School - Ruth Asawa SOTA - Pleasant Valley HS - Old Scona Academic - Archimedean Upper - Dwight-Englewood - Hotchkiss School - Harvard-Westlake - WeUp Academy - Fostering Debate - Chestwood - Westmount Charter - Chestwood (Head School
Global AI Debate
2025 Global AI Debate
Primary (Gr 1-3): Gold: Zhihan Zhu | Silver: Ryan Xu
Event-specific rules can change, so use these answers as guidance and confirm details on the tournament calendar.
Do I need debate experience?
No. The competitions reward careful reasoning, listening, and teamwork. Coaches receive format-specific preparation guidance before the event. View current events.
Do I need a philosophy background?
No formal philosophy background is required. Curiosity and a willingness to examine different values and perspectives are the best starting points. View current events.
How many students are on a team?
Ethics Olympiad and TKEthics Invitational teams are generally 3-5 students. Confirm the current event listing because requirements can vary by format. View current events.
Is it online?
Many TKEthics competitions are hosted online. Check the tournament calendar and event detail page for the confirmed location and time zone. View current events.
How do I register?
Visit the tournament calendar, choose an event, review its eligibility and deadline, and follow the registration instructions on the detail page.
