Model United Nations
The Model United Nations was first introduced in Northfields in 2016 and has been a very successful event, mostly in the upper school years.
Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an extra-curricular activity in which students typically role-play delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN committees. This activity takes place at MUN conferences, which is usually organized by a high school or college MUN club or even abroad.
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students play the role of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. For example, a student may be assigned to the United Kingdom and will have to solve global topics such as nuclear non-proliferation or climate change from the policies and perspectives of the United Kingdom.
Students can attend Model United Nations conferences around the world. These conferences are organized by universities, high schools, non-profit organizations, and other educational groups. Conferences are offered for different academic levels: college and university, high school, middle school, and grade school. There is no central governing body for Model UN — any school can create a Model UN team and register for any Model UN conference they wish to attend.
Once a team has registered for a conference, it receives a country to represent. Each student on that team will represent that country in a different committee with different topics. For example, Best Delegate High School could be assigned to China and have different students representing China in the disarmament committee, the human rights committee, the development committee, and so forth. Schools with larger teams will receive additional countries.
Northfields International School recognises the importance of Model United Nations (MUN) in promoting student engagement, global awareness, and critical thinking skills. Our students develop an appreciation for cultural diversity while being prepared to become confident, responsible and active global citizens. The aim of the Model United Nations (MUN) which is an after-school activity is to provide students with a dynamic and engaging platform to enhance their critical thinking, public speaking, negotiation skills, and research skills, while fostering a deep understanding of global issues and diplomacy through simulated United Nations conferences that take place across the world in different countries.
Northfields has been participating in MUN conferences in the past preparing students for the RIMUN conference and lately, the MUN directors have decided to expand their knowledge and skills by participating in other prestigious MUN conferences namely the DIAMUN one which stands for Dubai International Academy’s Annual Model United Nations.
RIMUN Mission
MUN•ROME is for those who wish to better understand the international significance of the problems they deal with daily in their studies, and who wish to strengthen their ability to operate in the field of competitive negotiation and elevate their awareness of internationalization.
The project is structured to achieve the following goals:
Contextualization of multilateral diplomatic issues: by means of the specifically-created training course, the participants will be able to understand how players operating within the international community define the most urgent and relevant issues that require joint action.
Comprehension of the negotiating and interactional dynamics: by means of a preliminary analysis and the simulation of international diplomatic negotiations, participants will acquire the notions and expertise which lie at the basis of the work of all negotiators.
Strengthening of relational and expressive abilities: participants will have to give formal speeches, negotiate and, in more general terms, interact in English using formulas and terminology appropriate to the context.
Orientation relating to careers and international opportunities: the simulation of UN committees and specialized agencies helps all participants understand the real interest they may have in a career in public or private international institutions.
Northfields Achievements
Over the years, students at Northfields have attained numerous accomplishments through their various participations, including the following:
- Best delegate for the Human Rights Watch Committee
- Best delegate of Youth Assembly
- Best position paper in the third General Assembly of Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Issues
- Honourable mention of Human Rights Council
- Honourable Mention of United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development
- Recognition in International Court of Justice
‘MUN was a great experience, there was a lot of preparation, but in the end it was worth it’ I have met so many people and enjoyed Rome. It has been a fulfilling experience, especially as I was the youngest of the group!’
Jayendra Mardemootoo, Year 8