What is MUN?

Model United Nations or MUN is a simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate students about global issues and to teach effective communication, diplomacy and the art of compromise.

In MUN, students take on roles as foreign diplomats. They are required to represent and research a country, not their own, sit on a committee and investigate international issues, lobby, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems.

In March 2017 we took 19 students from Year 12 to the conference which started with the opening ceremony in the Senate room in Parliament, and continued at Karinthy Frigyes Gimnazium in the 18^th district of Budapest. The student delegates sat on committees such as Environment, Disarmament, Human Rights, Security, Crisis and Justice, and debated issues including migration, girls’ education, refugee status, pollution, abortion, geopolitical tension, conflict, species trade and many more.

All students were active in debate and many won their battles to pass resolutions, but it is not so much a tournament as a meeting of minds. Peter Csitkovics made an impressive speech in Parliament, and Jon Blanckaert was very efficient as our representative for registering the delegation.

MUN is widely respected for its work in developing students’ global awareness and critical thinking skills, essential ingredients for success in the 21^st century.

by Jon Taylor, Geography Teacher and CAS Coordinator