Preparing for Model United Nations Conferences

Pre-MUN

You prepare months (or weeks) before a Model United Nations Conference. For you to make a bigger impact during the real Conference, you have to prepare before Formal sessions start. I call this Pre-MUN. Pre-MUN is a Phase in your Model UN journey where you prepare for the real Conference. Everything before that first Roll Call is Pre-MUN. What do you do for Pre-MUN?

1. Research Research Research– The foundation of your MUN Journey is your knowledge on your country and the topics assigned to your committee. You gain knowledge through heavy research. That’s the first thing you have to do during this Phase.
   

   My research binders. I have one for MUN topics and another for my MUN Research (different conferences, procedures, stuff about the UN, etc)

2. Skills Training  – What are the Skills needed in Model UN? Communication, Writing, Debating, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and a lot more. A Model UN newbie needs skills training whether he/she likes it or not. Debating in MUN is different from the usual formal debate. Communication is not just about Public Speaking but also lobbying, negotiating your wants and needs, building networks, etc. You can do this through proper training. Model UN Veterans (people with MUN experience) will also need skills training but would be in a more advanced level.
3. Logistics and other Administrative Concerns – Before I forget, you also need to fix the logistics and the administrative side of your MUN Journey. This would include paying your Delegate Fee, getting the documents you need, applying for a Passport or Visa, working out a training schedule, etc. The administrative side of things is usually handled by a Head Delegate or Adviser but each Delegate should contribute so the work will be distributed properly.
4. Complete Conference Requirements(Policy Paper, Country Profile, etc) – Most Conferences requires a Delegate to submit a Country profile and a policy paper weeks before the real Conference. For trainers, we do this to determine the level of knowledge the Delegates have and will bring to the Conference. Policy Papers are also part of the requirements for awards. You have to be on time. Late submissions will say a lot about you and your Delegation. The Dais will know who you are. For policy papers, it’s very important to know the proper format for your Conference. Policy Paper formats vary from Conference to Conference.
   

   Training is a very important aspect in the Pre-MUN Phase.

5. Lobbying – Knowing who you are going to deal with in the Conference months before the session starts is a HUGE advantage. In International Conferences, there’s a good chance that you don’t know anyone. Groups on Facebook and other Social Networking Sites is a good way to start. These are the first people you can meet during the Conference. Plus, you can also start discussing the topic on Facebook Groups which will be helpful to you since you will learn more. Lobbying before the Conference is not limited online. There might be instances that you already knowing these people. This will actually be easier. You can already talk about possible solutions during training. You can talk about it over lunch. Point here is make your presence known to your Committee. Once you’ve established yourself before the Conference, there’s a good chance that people will look for you and support your ideas/resolutions during formal sessions.

Facebook groups are always a great place to start pre-mun lobbying. This is the VMUN Online Simulation Group where we actually conduct online simulations – yes Online! 🙂 http://www.facebook.com/groups/vmunonlinesimulations

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Vince Naval

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5 Things to Bring during MUN Conferences

5 Things to Bring in MUN Conferences  

1. Delegate Guide – Delegate Guides include information on the conference procedures, schedules, topic background and other essential information.  Most Conferences give this sort of information at least 60 days before the start of formal sessions.
2. Research Binder– a Research Binder is a compilation of your country and topic research. You should only bring essential research material. Some Delegates try to impress others by bringing multiple research binders. Will they use all of them? Not really.  Plus, it’s going to be heavy bringing these things around.
   

   My research binders. I have one for MUN topics and another for my MUN Research (different conferences, procedures, stuff about the UN, etc)

3. Laptop and other Gadgets – Laptops are a common tool for both academic and business related purposes. For MUN, it allows you to research, communicate with co-delegates and write Resolution Papers (and Photo booth).  I once saw a Model UN where everyone was connected via Skype which allowed them to communicate with one another during Formal sessions. If you do not have a laptop, you can always bring an iTouch, Tablets, a really good smart phone and other gadgets that might be of good use to you. You should also have a USB in case you need to transfer files from one computer to another. Always keep an eye on your gadgets! It is very important to take note that using or having gadgets do not make you a good delegate. It’s still about the quality of your speeches, lobbying, and writing.
4. Notepad – Even with a laptop, Notepads will always be useful during Conferences. You will also need paper to pass notes around to the Dais and your co-delegates. Model UN Conferencesdone in hotels usually give out pens and notepads.
   

   VMUN2012 Secretary General Jewel Maog using her laptop to draft a working paper for VMUN2011

5. Tumbler  – This just makes good sense. You will be talking the whole day. More than coffee, you should drink water so your throat does not dry up.

Vince Naval

Model United Nations – simplified by MUN with Vince

What is Model United Nations?

I’ve been teaching Model UN for almost four (4) years now. The first lecture is always difficult because it’s where I have to orient the students on WHAT the Model United Nations is. I tried different approaches and the results varied from class to class. My latest approach would be to explain what the United Nations is first then move to Model UN. Why? Some schools do not teach United Nations (even if they celebrate UN Day). Let me try and give you a simplified lecture on the Model United Nations. Let me know if you get it!

What is the United Nations? (In simplified form)

Photo of Vince Naval during VMUN 2011 Training

The United Nations is an International Organization. The United Nations is made up of countries who signed up for membership. Each member country assigns at least one person to go to the “UN Meetings”. These people are called Diplomats. The Diplomats who represent these countries meet up now and then to discuss certain issues that affect the world. These issues would range from Education, Food Prices, Nuclear War, Climate Change and the like. Not only do they discuss the issues, these Diplomats also find solutions to these problems. These solutions are put into writing and made into an official document that we call a Resolution Paper. Before the group can come up with a Resolution Paper, it must go through a process that will eventually lead to Voting either for or against the document. What happens if the Resolution Paper is approved? In principle, countries will now have to follow what is written in the document.

What is Model United Nations?

As the name suggests, the Model United Nations models the real Organization (UN). Instead of real diplomats, those who attend a “UN Meeting” are the students. These students are now called student-diplomats or Delegates. Each Delegate (student) is assigned a country. It does not have to be the country where he/she is from. A Filipino Delegate can represent Russia while a Russian Delegate can be assigned to the Philippines. It does not stop there. The United Nations aims to solve problems of different types. To solve these problems all at the same time (ideally), they created different committees (also known as Organs) to address a certain type of issue. For example, the Security Council of the United Nations is assigned to discuss and solve issues about security. Each Delegate is assigned a country and a committee. Like the United Nations, Delegates of the MUN are tasked to come up with a Resolution Paper at the end of a session (earlier referred to as a UN Meeting). Delegates will also have to follow a certain process which we call Rules of Procedure.

Is Model UN hard?

Students always ask me if Model UN is hard. I try to give them an answer honest answer which is “Yes at first! But once you experience at least one practice simulation, it will easier to understand”. Like the real deal Diplomats of the United Nations, students will also need to research and prepare for the Conference. Model UN is hard if you don’t prepare and know what you’re saying. Not only will it be hard, but you’re also going to look stupid if you attend a session unprepared. And this goes for everything actually. Shooting a 3-pointer in a basketball tournament will be hard if you don’t practice before the game. You need to prepare for Model UN so that you can have a meaningful experience.

And that is an introduction to the Model United Nations. Some trainers or teachers always forget a key aspect when they discuss the UN-Model UN connection which are the Diplomats. Students need to understand that they will be the Diplomats in Model UN. You have to teach them the role of a Diplomat so that they can better understand what they’re going to do in a simulation.

I always try to simplify Model UN. By simplifying it, you attract students whose first impression of Model UN is negative (hard, complicated, challenging, something for adults, etc).

Model UN with Vince will be posting more articles on the basics of MUN. Check the blog regularly!

Happy reading!

Vince Naval

Model UN Artwork by Jay Jan Pilerva of Veritas School. I think that’s me! 

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