Sharjah: More than 300 students from the UAE and abroad debated issues ranging from security concerns to the environment during the eighth edition of the American University of Sharjah Model United Nations (AUSMUN) conference, which simulates the United Nations forum.
The high school and undergraduate student delegates chose to be on one of various committees addressing, among other issues, public health, economic priorities and social problems.
Model United Nations is an activity in which students simulate the United Nations by representing a member state or an organisation in a formal assembly. The event concludes on Saturday.
Dr Meenaz Kassam, Professor and adviser of AUSMUN at the university, said: “The AUSMUN is a powerful life-changing experience for the students who come together prepared with their research to listen, negotiate, collaborate and then offer solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.”
Professor Kassam, who has been apart of the programme since its inception, said AUSMUN is an important step towards achieving the vision of resolving complex issues through collaboration and highlighting the importance of world peace.
The concept of Model United Nations aims to illustrate the level of professionalism at the UN. Whether a student comes to the table with ideas inspired by democracy, capitalism or socialism, he or she must detach personal views from the wider stance and is expected to strictly voice their country’s position at all times.
Shahed Abdul Dayem, Deputy Director of Human Rights Council at AUSMUN, described the conference as an experience that not only fosters intelligent discussion, but sparks a passion in students in the region about issues of critical social or diplomatic importance.
Tamara Al Gunaid, an AUS student and Director of Logistics and Director of the Third General Assembly at the conference, described AUSMUN as a platform for diplomatic dialogue that offers an insight into the future of global cooperation.
“It’s my second year as Director of Logistics and I’ve learnt that patience and organisation are essential in planning such an important conference,” she said.
The conference has proven to be a rewarding experience for school and university students as they become more aware about the UN and the diplomacy involved in finding solutions to critical global problems, said Nawaf Nour Al Deen, Deputy Director of the Third General Assembly.
After sessions involving debate and discussion, the delegates are drawn into groups and draft resolutions. Once that stage is complete, the resolution is reviewed and then presented to the committee. Once the majority in the committee is satisfied with the resolution, it goes through a vote.
