EXPAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HOT TOPICS WORLDWIDE THROUGH MUN

You cannot go to the battlefield without equipment. Likewise, to step into the world arena full of opportunities but also full of challenges and high competition today, we must quickly equip ourselves with the necessary luggage before "standing shoulder to shoulder with the world powers". Through Model United Nations (Model UN - MUN) is an opportunity for the young generation to be exposed to global issues from the perspective of future leaders.

1.MUN helps you update hot world issues in an attractive and interesting way

Keeping up with world affairs on a daily basis can be a tedious task if you only read information-dense articles or watch repetitive video news programs. If you are someone who enjoys actively learning about current world events through active debate and debate, then Model United Nations (MUN) is the world for you.

By participating in MUN, your cultural and political knowledge will be significantly enhanced as you will be stepping into the shoes of a representative of a country at the global level and interacting with other national delegates to make important decisions that determine the fate of hundreds of countries. In other words, in this activity, you will be the one holding the most powerful tools and power of a country to propose policies to solve the difficult problems of the modern world.

As a delegate, you will be required to research your assigned countries in depth, analyse and understand their foreign policies and consider what factors influence the country’s behaviour at the international level. As you study the intricacies of the issues – the context, history, treatment in the United Nations and previous resolutions passed – you will naturally gain a thorough and practical understanding of the core of each issue.

The topics discussed in MUN conferences are often inspired by the “17 Sustainable Development Goals” that the United Nations set out in 2016 to move towards a better, fairer and safer future for the world community. Each goal will be developed and monitored by a specialized Committee under the United Nations.

For example, the “Action for the Environment” goal will be developed, implemented, and monitored by the United Nations Environment Programme. Under the goal category, there will be a diverse list of topics that can be raised for debate. For example, for the goal “Zero Hunger,” some issues that can be raised for debate might be “Reforming sustainable agricultural systems after war and conflict” or “Relief solutions to famine in Yemen.”

2. Hot topics of MUN

 Here are some of the prominent topics of MUN conferences.

• Target: “Say No to Hunger

Committee: Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)

Topic: Ensuring the resilience of the poor and reducing their vulnerability to climate-related extreme events.

According to a 2017 Brookings Institution study, low-income communities are more vulnerable to the risks of natural disasters and struggle the most to recover. This vulnerability stems from a lack of infrastructure and access to resources such as generators, food, and medicine. The commission will be tasked with improving the infrastructure of low-income communities and discussing ways to increase the availability of disaster relief resources.

• Target: “Ensure good health quality”

Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)

Topic: Disease control in humanitarian emergencies

Following conflicts or natural disasters, large numbers of people are often displaced and moved to temporary locations with high population densities. The World Health Organization has assessed that affected people are often at increased risk of disease due to inadequate food and shelter, unsafe water and poor sanitation. Delegates must work together to ensure the health and well-being of people affected by humanitarian emergencies. The Committee must address how to provide operational support during crises, strengthen partnerships with local organizations, provide technical assistance and improve workshops/education and training.

• Goal: Protect Aquatic Biodiversity

Commission: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Topic: Mitigating and addressing the impacts of ocean acidification

Research has revealed that ocean acidification has increased by 30% since the industrial revolution. This is due to human activities releasing carbon dioxide, which is then absorbed by the oceans and converted into carbonic acid. This has a major impact on marine life by corroding their shells and skeletons, making them unfit to live. Delegates must address this growing concern by working to protect coastal areas and reduce carbon emissions to ensure a safer future for life underwater.

3. Source documents as evidence

Information about the issues presented and debated at a MUN conference is often obtained from the United Nations website. Therefore, go to the website un.org and typing the issue keyword into its search engine would be a good way to start your research on these issues. Member states have websites for their permanent missions to the United Nations that can also be useful if you want to learn about your country's position on a particular issue. 

In addition, academic search portals such as JSTOR or ERIC are also a valuable source of information.

Additionally, news sources like CNN, BBC, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic are the best portals for you to find accurate information. When you get information from news sources, it is important to remember that news writers are also biased. Therefore, the task of finding accurate information requires your own judgment and analytical skills to be well-executed.

Not only in the US, but also young Vietnamese people can participate in the Model United Nations playground through conferences organized. English is the main language when participating in MUN in Vietnam and around the world. To be able to participate well in this activity, you should achieve IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80 or higher. If you want to build your study abroad profile with MUN, you should start practicing your academic research skills, public speaking and eloquence today.