Online Resources for Model United Nations Research

Online Resources for Model United Nations Research

Research is a very important part of your MUN Journey. We have selected a few of the best Online Resources out there to aid your research. This article will be edited from time to time so we can update you with the latest resources available online. For now, we have links on the United Nations, News and Media and Country Research.

United Nations Online Resources

United Nations Official Website (www.un.org)

United Nations Security Council Resolutions (http://www.un.org/documents/scres.htm)

General Assembly Resolutions (http://www.un.org/documents/resga.htm)

United Nations Bibliographic Information System (http://unbisnet.un.org/)

United Nations Documentation: Research Guide (http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/)

News and Media (Online Resources)

Africa News (http://www.africanews.com/)

Al-Jazeera (http://english.aljazeera.net/)

Asia News Network (http://www.asianewsnet.net/)

Associated Press (http://www.ap.org/)

BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/)

CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/)

China.org.cn (http://www.china.org.cn/)

CNN News (http://www.cbc.ca/)

Japan Today (http://www.japantoday.com/)

Latin American and Mexican News Directory (http://libguides.utsa.edu/latamnews)

Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/)

The Moscow Times (http://www.themoscowtimes.com/)

The Diplomat (http://the-diplomat.com/)

Country Research

Country Studies (http://www.countrystudies.us/)

CIA World Fact Book (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/)

Country Reports (www.countryreports.org)

Do you know other resources that would aid in MUN Research? Let us know via comments! Then, we can add them to the list.

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

5 things teachers should know about Model United Nations

5 Things Teachers Should Know About Model United Nations 

1. It helps students get into prestigious institutions such as Ivy League colleges. – Lately I’ve been talking to delegates from International Schools and people abroad. They use Model UN to get into College. When did they start doing Model UN? Around 13 years old. It’s very important they start young so that they can practice and develop their skills.
2. It’s the best avenue for practicing diplomacy.– There is a “science” to diplomacy. What we mean here is the “art” of diplomacy. Students will be able to develop their socializing and communication skills. Do you have a campaign against bullying? DIPLOMACY is the solution. There will be interaction between all year levels. And on an intellectual level.
   

   Vince Naval doing an intervention during a practice Simulation

3. Best way to apply World History and English lessons. – While it’s important to learn about theories and do a lot exercises, it’s also very important to find ways for the students to apply World History and English outside the classroom set up. Model UN provides a VERY GOOD venue for this. Teachers will be able to see if the Students can really deliver speeches, converse in straight English and talk sense in English. Let me give you an example. We have/had English class, yes? Speech is a very big part in the English subject. Our professors/teachers teach us how to make and deliver speeches. Let’s say we do really well in class. Now, you take a student and make him/her join a MUN Conference. Because it’s a different environment, students will have a hard time delivering speeches. There is a gap between classroom activities and non-classroom activities. And teachers will have to find a way to bridge that gap. It does not only enhance the skills of the students in communicating with others but it eventually improves your curriculum.
4. It’s the best way to make students socialize in a learning environment. – Getting high grades is good. But enhancing your inter-personalskills is equally important. You find a way to enhance the intellectual capacity of a student and combine with enhancing his/her social skills, your student will succeed. Model UN gives you that opportunity!
   

   Vince Naval’s “unconventional” caucus drill. The students were tasked to communicate their opinion on a certain matter for one minute one by one. It teaches the students to be straight to the point, communicate in English, and say the same thing over and over again – which is what lobbyist and diplomats do.

5.  MUN prepares students for college and employment – Let’s talk about college first. Grades are good. But again and I cannot stress this enough, you need to enhance your inter-personal skills for you to be able to build your résumé for future employment. Playing an active role in Student-organizations is a BIG PLUS for future employment. Having these inter-personal skills will allow you to build a VERY STRONG network that you can use 3-5-10-25 years from now. I have friends in the US, Italy, France, Bosnia, Canada, Venezuela, etc. And this is because of Model United Nations. MUN teaches you how to research and think analytically too. College term papers, reports, presentations and theses will seem easier. Being part of an Organization about Model UN will enhance your skills in organizing events, managing teams, training, etc. While I am a Model UN Consultant, I also have a regular 8-5pm job. I’ve only had two jobs so far. Both jobs I got because of my Model UN experience. I work as a Training and Organizational Development Officer. I don’t teach MUN in the Office! But the discipline that I got from teaching MUN, making my own modules, organizing my training and setting up programs, are now being applied in the corporate world. If you are a teacher or a school administrator, you play big part in preparing your students for the future. Model UN is one of the best ways to prepare the students for the future.

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Not all Schools in the Philippines know what the MUN is. I have trouble getting the students to engage in MUN because I am not a full-time “teacher” in the school I’m working with. It is the teachers who should “drive”  MUN in local schools. It’s not all about basketball and volleyball. I see a lot of schools who “celebrate” United Nations Day WITH A PAGEANT! And you have students representing countries they don’t even know. Most of the students don’t even know what the United Nations is. That is sad. One way to really celebrate UN Day or UN Month is by HONORING the people who play a big role in crafting the policies of the Organization. These are the Diplomats. These are the various representatives of member-states. And what better way to recognize the efforts of these diplomats than be a student-diplomat in a Model UN Conference.

It is my mission to spread Model United Nations at the local school level. However, I cannot do this alone. While I do have a team with me, it is the teachers in schools that should drive this program.

Very big thanks to Nikkie Ong who contributed to this article.

Thank you for reading!

Vince Naval

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Planning VMUN2012

Hello Readers!

This 2012 will be my third time organizing the VMUN Conference. Every year I try to make the conference a little bigger than the last. Every year I would usually face the same challenges – time and manpower.

VMUN is a one day conference. And while that may be enough for “MUN Veterans”, it won’t be very meaningful for first timers. The goal is to always give students a meaningful experience every time. It only happens once a year so might as well make it worth it right? But because of the tight schedules, I always have to compromise with a one day session.

Delegates from the Security Council discussing their Resolution Paper

During my first year with VMUN, I was only given two days to train 70 Delegates who were Year 3 and 4. What made it worst was the conference itself was a one day thing. I have to emphasize, you can’t expect a good quality MUN if its only one day and 100% of the delegates are first timers. Manpower was also a challenge. I only have two committees for VMUN2010 so I only needed two sets of Dais. We (I and the other coaches) ended up presiding over the two committees because one Chairperson had to go to an outreach program and the other preferred to be a Delegate. Despite all the challenges, I was pretty happy during and after the program. It was a good opportunity. It was a good first time.

Coach Thomas Chua raising a concern. He eventually took over as the presiding officer.

Coach Jerry Go and Thomas Chua guiding the Delegates during the Caucus

I really made sure that during VMUN2011, I was given at least 5 training days with the students. I am very thankful that they approved my request. What was also nice is that I finally started doing online training. VMUN2011 was again a one day conference. However, because we increased the number of training days (and the number of registered delegates went down because it’s not required) the outputs were better compared to VMUN2010. The Dais had more practice as well which resulted to a more efficient session.

VMUN2012 will be bigger than probably 2010 and 2011 combined. It’s going to be a 4 day session. The conference this year will invite students from other schools to participate during the sessions. I’ll be requesting more training days and more manpower. Hopefully they approve. New systems and processes will be used to really give the Delegates a meaningful experience.

I’ll start meeting the Secretariat for VMUN2012 around May so we can start planning. Since its going to be a public conference, we can’t make mistakes anymore. I’m very fortunate that I was able to get good people to run for the 2012 Conference. I might consider getting students from other schools to participate as Staff or Dais Members.

I’ll be posting a blog after the VMUN2012 Planning session.

Regards,

Vince Naval