Model United Nations (Model UN or MUN) is a simulation of some of the organs and bodies of the United Nations (UN.) It is an educational tool used by many middle schools, high schools, and universities to teach students about the UN and current international issues. At a Model UN conference, students represent a member state of the UN, sit on a simulated committee and debate current international issues. A Chair, who is responsible for selecting the topics of debate and moderating discussion at the conference, guides each committee. The goal of each committee is to draft resolutions that propose solutions to the problems of the chosen issue for debate.
Model UN as a Teaching Tool
Model UN is a useful tool to educate students of approximately grade 6 and up about international problems and issues. Furthermore, it also develops numerous academic and life skills in delegates.
Public speaking: First and foremost, Model UN develops public speaking skills in its delegates. As a debate conference, delegates are expected to contribute knowledgeably to the debate and defend the positions that the state they are representing holds. Delegates learn how to form a coherent argument and present it in a clear and concise speech. They learn how to think critically about the counterpoints to another delegate’s argument and articulate those points clearly. Model UN builds confidence and polishes a delegate’s public speaking skills.
Research: Prior to the conference, each delegate is assigned a particular country on a committee. For example, a delegate could be assigned Ghana on the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The delegate is expected to research Ghana’s position on the debate topics provided prior to the conference and to arrive at the conference knowledgeable about these topics and prepared to explain and defend his country’s position.
Teamwork: Success at a Model UN conference depends on the ability of a delegate to build consensus and cooperate with other delegates. It is impossible, due to the rules of debate, for a delegate to unilaterally pass his own draft resolution. Therefore, he must work with other delegates to create a document that proposes solutions to an issue that many delegates will support. Delegates must work together and cooperate with each other in order to make progress on a topic.
Possible Conferences to Attend
There are numerous Model UN conferences throughout the world. The United Nations is an avid supporter of Model UN conferences and provides an extensive list of high school and university conferences on its Cyberschoolbus website.
Some of the most popular high school Model UN conferences are: Harvard University’s Model United Nations (HMUN), The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN), Georgetown University’s North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN), the United Nations Association of the USA (UNAUSA), and McGill University’s Secondary Schools’ United Nations Symposium (SSUNS).
Benefits of Model UN
Model United Nations conferences develop strong public speaking, debate, and research skills. They also teach participants how to work effectively on a team and broaden their understanding of international affairs. There are numerous Model UN conferences for students at the high school and university levels.
More information about Model UN can be found on the United Nations’ Cyberschoolbus Model UN website and the United Nations Association of the United States of America's website.
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