UNA Youth Regent's University London: Model United Nations Conference

Regent’s University London will be hosting its 2nd annual Youth Model United Nations Conference in July 2015.

Regent’s University is a private, not for profit university with its main campus in Regent’s Park. I am a Lecturer in International Relations at the university, and have been involved in Model United Nations Conferences in the US and the UK for the past 15 years. This year, as a part of our goal of community outreach, Regent’s would like to extend the Model UN experience to other schools across London.  

What is it?

The Model United Nations is essentially a role-play of the meetings of diplomats at the United Nations. Students will assume the roles of ambassadors of a given country and will negotiate solutions to real world problems with other students from across London. Participants are assigned a UN Member State with each of them assuming the role of a diplomat from that country. They must represent the views and interests of that country, instead of their own personal opinions. They are then assigned a committee topic, discover the views, values and positions of their assigned country on the topic, and negotiate with other participants to find realistic solutions.

Who can participate?

All students aged between 14 and18 are welcome to participate in the conference.

Why should you participate?

Model UN Conferences can:

• Contribute to your awareness of complex international issues, events and political decisions
• Improve global understanding, as students will have to negotiate a solution to the issues presented to them from the perspective of another country and culture
• Improve your ability to present objective arguments
• Improve self-awareness and reflective learning: students may be forced to confront the root of their own biases
• Provide you with valuable knowledge and skills in global politics, leadership, teamwork, inter-personal communication, diplomacy, public speaking, research and negotiation

Committees and topics for the Conference

General Assembly:
1. The role of social media in development
2. Combatting drug trafficking

Joint Committee: the UN Development Programme & the World Health Organization
1. Improving methods to control diseases
2. Gender and access to reproductive health

Security Council
1. Combatting global terrorism
2. Crisis (to be revealed at the actual conference)

The Conference will take place on 4 and 5 July 2015 and will be held at Regent’s University London. Attendance is free and I am available to assist schools in training and preparing for the conference, also pro bono.

The Conference registration form, background guides, the archive from last year, and additional preparation materials are available on the website.