The Model United Nations in Doha: Fresh Perspectives on a Global Agenda

Over 350 high school students from 20 local schools and 40 international schools representing at least 25 different countries will converge in Doha on Thursday, February 21st through Sunday, February 24th, to take part in academic simulations of the United Nations. The upcoming 8th annual Model United Nations (MUN) conference hosted by Education City’s Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) will take place at the Qatar National Convention Center where participating high school students will debate, deliberate, consult and develop solutions to real world issues, in a recreation of the real workings of the U.N.

Over the years, several MUN conferences have been established and practiced all over the world. The Georgetown University Model U.N. projects-held on both the Washington D.C. and Qatar campuses- benefit in particular from the breadth of expertise and focus that a foreign affairs curriculum provides to both the student organizers and high school participants involved.

Kathryn King, Associate Director of Student Development at SFS-Q, touched on this interplay of the MUN and Georgetown’s education mandate, saying “SFS-Q’s MUN is run by Georgetown SFS-Q students – students leading the world in the study of international affairs. Additionally, we have the participation of Georgetown faculty with expert briefs offered in our committees and sample lectures given during the event.”

The scope of the conference is further enhanced by the tremendous representation from both regional and international schools. SFS-Q Dean Gerd Nonneman makes the point that “the opportunity to participate in the Model United Nations presents a transformative moment for a future generation of engaged citizens. High school students from around the world coming to Doha will gain a unique insight into the mechanisms of effective negotiation and global conflict resolution. We are incredibly proud of our university students serving as role models through the dedication and hard work they have invested in this important program.”

This years Model U.N. theme, which along with the committees and committee topics are all chosen by the MUN Student Board, is focused on the issue of sustainability. William YangUn Cha, an SFS-Q senior in International Economics and the Secretary General for the upcoming SFS-Q MUN, reflects on the chosen topic of sustainability as “particularly relevant to Qatar, the host country of our conference.“

However it’s not all work and no play for participants. A break from the seriousness of the topic schedule comes in the form of the Cultural Night, a colorful international bazaar where each school will showcase national dress, food, flags, pictures, songs, and artifacts from their school’s country. The festivities not only provide an engaging social activity for the students, but present yet another forum in which relationship building will contribute to the atmosphere of cooperation during the more serious proceedings, in a continued microcosm of the global stage.