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Civics education is a vital component of a 21st century curriculum. The dynamic geopolitical landscape of our world demands that graduates of secondary schools are versed in governmental frameworks， political decision-making processes， and the use of diplomacy in consensus building. Social studies classes provide the foundational platform for civics education but it’s the extra-curricular supplements， such as Model United Nations， that allow students to excel in modeling the appropriate roles and practice making responsible decisions with a group of peers.
A Model United Nations （MUN） club is a school-sponsored activity where students simulate the procedural environment of the real United Nations in an attempt to build consensus on solutions to international challenges. Students become delegates who are required to “model” their nation’s international policy， such as the Russian Federation’s oil exporting practices， and work with other role-playing students to analyze political agreements to devise or amend solutions. Each committee has a leadership team that guides delegate research， moderates an informed discourse， and recognizes exceptional levels of applied civics. Most of all， student participants have fun and build friendship bridges inside this diverse community.
Delegate Role-Play
The greatest drawcard of MUN meetings is the opportunity to step into the shoes of a high-ranking political diplomat and march forward in the global arena. There is inherent appeal for teenagers to transform from their everyday roles into a professional negotiator and engage with like-minded peers. Structured role-playing is beneficial for the opportunities it gives students’ to explore the comforts and edges of their perceived identity. MUN requires students to adopt a specific cultural context， such as the becoming delegate of Brazil， and approach a world issue from that perspective in a responsible and informed manner.
The types of students who will benefit from the opportunity to role-play a young professional are diverse and will often surprise you. I’ve seen timid students build confidence in their ideas and voice through extended debate. I’ve also seen self-centered students move beyond their individual needs to become a voice for the group. I’ve even seen academically lackadaisical students become so impassioned on an issue that they set out to learn more of the topic’s minutia than anyone else in the room， let alone the conference venue. The power of role-play to guide students closer to their own identify is not only one of the biggest attractions of MUN but also a noble pursuit in itself. Informed Civics
At the heart of MUN are the discourses on current events and consensus built solutions. Each student is directly involved in the political decision-making process starting from the basic research stage and culminating in a definitive simple majority adoption vote. What happens in between is an authentic civics lesson in documentation techniques， methods of deliberation， and acts of diplomacy. Student interaction with tough world issues and their potential solutions is hands-on， based in current political frameworks， and currently fostering the next generation of informed leaders.
A poignant joy for an MUN faculty advisor is when a student knows exponentially more about a topic’s geopolitical implications than any other teenager or adult in the room. Such is the level of research on general issues， prior accords， and regional contexts that students willingly undertake. As an advisor， it reaffirms my faith in the youth.
Professional Networks
An often overlooked， yet equally vital， element of MUN is the professional network that students build during their conference experiences. Teenagers maintain vibrant online communities and often draw more wealth from their networks than adults who are simply looking for the next employment contract. MUN conference experiences position students to meet informed academic peers and connect in a meaningful way. These networks should be valued for the inherent benefit of connecting children around the world. It is often these early positive experiences that lead to momentous life-changing decisions later in life.
A common barrier preventing parents and teenagers from joining a MUN club is the struggle to see the immediate benefits of the hours necessary to train and participate. Aside from the obvious arguments of nurturing citizenship， building professional skills， and supplementing a college application is the feeling of joining the global village. MUN participants have a heightened sensitivity to issues on a local， regional， and global level.
Anyone who actively engages pressing world issues and feels the strain to build consensus can proudly lift their head and empathize with the United Nation’s motto –It’s your world！
A Model United Nations （MUN） club is a school-sponsored activity where students simulate the procedural environment of the real United Nations in an attempt to build consensus on solutions to international challenges. Students become delegates who are required to “model” their nation’s international policy， such as the Russian Federation’s oil exporting practices， and work with other role-playing students to analyze political agreements to devise or amend solutions. Each committee has a leadership team that guides delegate research， moderates an informed discourse， and recognizes exceptional levels of applied civics. Most of all， student participants have fun and build friendship bridges inside this diverse community.
Delegate Role-Play
The greatest drawcard of MUN meetings is the opportunity to step into the shoes of a high-ranking political diplomat and march forward in the global arena. There is inherent appeal for teenagers to transform from their everyday roles into a professional negotiator and engage with like-minded peers. Structured role-playing is beneficial for the opportunities it gives students’ to explore the comforts and edges of their perceived identity. MUN requires students to adopt a specific cultural context， such as the becoming delegate of Brazil， and approach a world issue from that perspective in a responsible and informed manner.
The types of students who will benefit from the opportunity to role-play a young professional are diverse and will often surprise you. I’ve seen timid students build confidence in their ideas and voice through extended debate. I’ve also seen self-centered students move beyond their individual needs to become a voice for the group. I’ve even seen academically lackadaisical students become so impassioned on an issue that they set out to learn more of the topic’s minutia than anyone else in the room， let alone the conference venue. The power of role-play to guide students closer to their own identify is not only one of the biggest attractions of MUN but also a noble pursuit in itself. Informed Civics
At the heart of MUN are the discourses on current events and consensus built solutions. Each student is directly involved in the political decision-making process starting from the basic research stage and culminating in a definitive simple majority adoption vote. What happens in between is an authentic civics lesson in documentation techniques， methods of deliberation， and acts of diplomacy. Student interaction with tough world issues and their potential solutions is hands-on， based in current political frameworks， and currently fostering the next generation of informed leaders.
A poignant joy for an MUN faculty advisor is when a student knows exponentially more about a topic’s geopolitical implications than any other teenager or adult in the room. Such is the level of research on general issues， prior accords， and regional contexts that students willingly undertake. As an advisor， it reaffirms my faith in the youth.
Professional Networks
An often overlooked， yet equally vital， element of MUN is the professional network that students build during their conference experiences. Teenagers maintain vibrant online communities and often draw more wealth from their networks than adults who are simply looking for the next employment contract. MUN conference experiences position students to meet informed academic peers and connect in a meaningful way. These networks should be valued for the inherent benefit of connecting children around the world. It is often these early positive experiences that lead to momentous life-changing decisions later in life.
A common barrier preventing parents and teenagers from joining a MUN club is the struggle to see the immediate benefits of the hours necessary to train and participate. Aside from the obvious arguments of nurturing citizenship， building professional skills， and supplementing a college application is the feeling of joining the global village. MUN participants have a heightened sensitivity to issues on a local， regional， and global level.
Anyone who actively engages pressing world issues and feels the strain to build consensus can proudly lift their head and empathize with the United Nation’s motto –It’s your world！