CONGRATULATION
This summer, two of our students participated in the 2024 Harvard Model United Nations China Conference, an international event. Students from around the world gathered to discuss global issues, ranging from the Israel-Palestine conflict to the digital divide. Our students distinguished themselves among thousands of delegates, earning prestigious awards:
Anna (Y12) – Outstanding Delegate
Happy (Y12) – Honourable Mention
We spoke with Anna and Happy about their experiences.
01. Anna
Q : What was your experience like?
A : At first, HMUN was very confusing as it had a totally different procedure from the procedure we use in our school. However, after adapting myself to the conference, I had much more fun with a larger committee and I was able to meet new friends from all over the world. Having more than 60 delegates in a single committee was an exciting experience. I learned a lot from others and was able to approach the challenges of the conference from a new perspective.
Q : How did studying at UISG help her prepare for this competition?
A : The academic skills that I have built throughout MYP and DP really helped me a lot. I was able to effectively research and communicate, as well as strengthen and understand my arguments. My language classes and humanities classes, which often require essay writing, especially helped me with my critical thinking skills as well. I was further able to develop these skills through the MUN club that we have in our school. In this club, we have opportunities to have mock debates and bi-weekly discussions about global issues.
Q : Tips or advice for anybody who does this in the future?
A : Don’t be afraid and try! Everyone has their first time, so don’t be scared to make a speech. Don’t worry about how others would think of you if you mess up your POI (Point of Inquiry – Asking a question to the chairperson), speech, amendments, or resolutions. You’ll improve as you try.
Q : What was your favorite part of the conference?
A : My favorite part of the conference was meeting my chairs. They were students from Harvard University, so even outside of MUN, I was able to learn a lot about learning in universities and university applications. It was a unique opportunity that has let me think about that learning environment and reflect on my own attitudes towards learning. Meeting them has given me new motivation.
02. Happy
Q. What was your experience like?
A. During my time in HMUN China, I found the experience enlightening as this was amongst the larger conferences that I had attended. I was able to meet new friends and people that shared the same interests in resolving international issues through diplomacy. During that four day experience, I acted as the delegate of the United Kingdom in the security council and we debated multiple issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in the middle east.
Q. How did studying at UISG help her prepare for this competition?
A. In UISG, the courses we take in the Diploma Programme allows us to gain a multitude of perspectives into different areas of knowledge. Whilst being knowledgeable is important to navigate the constant changes that arose throughout the conference, it was the skills that I picked up through our constructive bi-weekly club on Tuesdays that provided me with the opportunity to hone my skills in MUN.
Q. Tips or advice for anybody who does this in the future?
A. For students who are interested in participating in MUN conferences, experience is the best way to quickly advance your skills in MUN style debates and negotiations. Joining the MUN cluba mentioned previously would be a good start, but actively looking for future conferences to attend to will also add onto your experience and keep you interested throughout your MUN career.
Q. What was your favorite part of the conference?
A. Personally I found every moderated-caucus debate to be interesting even though a lot of the discussions happened under unmoderated conditions. The flow and style of debate in MUN is different compared to conventional debate procedures and the ability for us to form concrete resolutions aimed at resolving the crisis at hand through the formal debate sessions gave us a glimpse of how real life United Nation conferences enact on global issues.
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