WHAT IS MODEL UNITED NATIONS?
In MUN, students act as though
they are a country’s delegates or representatives to the United Nations. Prior
to the conference, each student is assigned a country and a committee. Each
committee meets separately and debates several topics of a general subject
matter. Each delegate tries to advance the objectives of his or her country in
dealing with each topic. The entire committee works together to develop a
resolution or multiple resolutions that aim to resolve the issues at hand.
HOW DID MUN BEGIN?
Simulating international
organizations began even before the birth of the United Nations, when students
held a series of Model League of Nations in the 1920s. MUN is a successor to a
student directed simulation of what preceded the U.N. itself, but it is not
documented exactly how Model U.N. began.
WHAT IS A MODEL UNITED NATIONS
DELEGATE?
A MUN delegate is a student who
assumes the role of an ambassador to the United Nations. He or she does not
have to have experience in international relations. Anyone can participate in
Model U.N., so long as they have the ambition to learn something new, and to
work with people to try and make a difference in the world. Model U.N. students
tend to go on to become great leaders in politics, law, business, education and
even medicine.
WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE IN
MODEL UNITED NATIONS?
Model United Nations promotes
student and teacher interest in international relations and related subjects,
increases the capacity for students to engage in problem solving, teaches
aspects of conflict resolution, research skills, and oral communication skills,
and creates the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
WHAT ARE SOME EDUCATIONAL
BENEFITS OF MODEL U.N?
For almost 60 years, teachers and students have benefited
from and enjoyed this interactive learning experience. It not only involves
young people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also encourages
the development of skills useful throughout their lives, such as research,
writing, public speaking, problem solving, consensus building, conflict
resolution and compromise and cooperation.
WHAT TYPES OF TOPICS ARE
DISCUSSED AT MODEL U.N CONFERENCES?
The agenda items discussed in committee vary at each conference. Most conferences tend to focus on current affairs issues that are being discussed in the United Nations. These issues can highlight political, financial and/or social concerns. However, the task of some committees might be to address hypothetical concerns or issues from the past or future. For example, many conferences have "crisis" committees, in which delegates must react to a hypothetical or actual crisis situation. Other conferences host historical or future Security Council simulations.
