What is MUN?
MUN stands for Model United Nations. There are MUN societies at universities all around the world. In essence, we simulate the process and debates that the organs of the United Nations have.
How does MUN work?
Usually, every participating student chooses a country to represent a specific issue. The topic of discussion regularly is a current and controversial problem of world politics. MUN debates follow fixed rules of procedure. This specific structure serves the purpose of mimicking the process of the UN as close as possible. The goal of the debate is to come up with a resolution to the problem discussed.
There are two occasions for MUN debates to take place: weekly sessions and conferences.
Weekly Sessions
Weekly sessions are meetings held by a MUN society specifically for its members on a regular basis. At its home university, a topic is debated in multiple sessions, once a week. The specifics may vary depending on the MUN club. The MUN Team UZH has weekly sessions every Wednesday evening during the semester and a topic block typically lasts four sessions. After a month we move on to the next controversial issue, decided by our Heads of Operations with input from our members.
Conferences
Conferences, on the other hand, are organised by MUN societies in their home city for MUN delegates from all around the world. They usually last two-and-a-half days and attract anywhere from around 50 to 3’000 participating students. You can sign up for a conference on your own or as part of a delegation, often the MUN society you are a member of. In contrast to weekly sessions conferences often have multiple committees, meaning there are a variety of topics to choose from. Socials are what complete the unique MUN conference experience. A variety of events surround the debates and give delegates the opportunity to connect with fellow participants and get to know a city better.
What can you gain from doing MUN?
Participating in MUN debates gives students of all fields of studies the opportunity to improve or acquire skills such as public speaking, problem solving and diplomatic cooperation in an international, young, and most importantly, safe environment. It allows you to practice arguing for ideas that do not necessarily reflect your own and make compromises with a large group of people that have other interests to represent.
Furthermore, knowledge concerning the structure, workings and decision making of the UN and its many organs will be gained. On top of that, students will learn how to do targeted research on a specific topic and the standpoint of the represented country on said topic. While these unique experiences have proven to be an asset to potential employers, MUN is also valuable simply as a medium to socialise with students from all around the globe.
Interested in trying out MUN for yourself?