UNO has become a regular visitor in Chemnitz
For the fifth consecutive time Chemnitz students participated in a Model United Nations to simulate the work of the General Assembly
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Dr. Antje Nötzold, research associate of the professorship of International Relations, serving as Madame Secretary-General formally opens the ChemMUN 2014 conference. Picture: private -
David Tschorr, Jakob Landwehr und Magdalena Kosciolek (f.l.) serve as chairs and managed the ChemMUN conference. Picture: private -
Robert Baumgart representing South Africa speaks in front of the UN General Assembly. Picture: private -
Delegates exchange the different interests of their countries in working groups, trying to find compromisses and to write on resolutions together. Picture: private -
Voting for the worked out resolutions. Picture: private -
Beside the hard work the participants also had a lot of fun during the conference. Picture: private
On the 17th and 18th of January 2014 the Professorship of International Relations, under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Beate Neuss, held the fifth annual UN-simulation "Chemnitz Model United Nations" (ChemMUN). As in previous years, students from a range of faculties and courses took on the role of UN diplomats to discuss current problems facing global politics and attempt to portray a United Nations General Assembly conference as realistically as possible.
The tradition of the so called "Model United Nations" (MUN) conferences dates back to the 1940`s. Since that time, simulations have been taking place across the world to give participants an in depth understanding of the structure and workings of the United Nations as well as to highlight the complexity of negotiations in an international and intercultural context. During the conference the student delegates attempt to represent the interests of their assigned country, specifically its characteristic foreign policies, to the best of their ability. "The MUN conferences offer participants an excellent opportunity to learn about the largest international organization from a new perspective, and to actively apply this knowledge. As delegates of sovereign nations they strengthen their understanding of international relations and develop a good sense of decision making in foreign policy. It`s a great chance not only to test their diplomatic negotiating skills, but also to prove their ability to react to complicated situations," stated Prof. Dr. Neuss.
In the context of the ChemMUN 2014 student diplomats discussed a possible prosperous future for the Palestinian people, the global water shortage and how to ensure access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, and possible developments of chemical management in the context of global food security. "To successfully participate in the negotiations of the simulation all delegates participate in intensive preparations. They are expected to have a full understanding of the UN rules and regulations, including the correct formulation of points and motions brought forward, and must learn how resolutions are written and passed according to the international norms," explained Dr. Antje Nötzold, research associate of the Professorship of International Relations and coordinator of the MUN-activities, and continued: "It was great seeing the students experience and actually develop international political processes first hand. Everyone faced the challenges and delivered some very high quality work, which led to two genuinely excellent resolutions being passed in the end."
The ChemMUN is an excellent preparation for the NMUN delegation 2014, which will be heading to the world`s largest and most professional MUN in New York this march, as diplomatic representatives of the State of Libya. Following the ChemMUN 2014, the delegates celebrated their political success in the now traditional NMUN country-party in the student club "CdK” with a Libyan night. The Libyan music, belly dancing and regional food rounded of a very rewarding weekend.
The Model United Nations conference in New York
The National Model United Nations conference in New York is the oldest and largest simulation of the work of the United Nations and partially takes place in the main headquarter of the UN. Worldwide, MUNs take place in over 35 countries and participants are encouraged to represent the policies of a foreign country as openly and genuinely as possible, to competently find compromises and face the challenges of interacting with other cultures in the field of international politics. In addition to this, the NMUN program offers participants the chance to improve their rhetorical, negotiating and diplomatic skills. The first delegation of TU Chemnitz attended the NMUN conference in 2004. Since then, the TU Chemnitz had the honor of representing the interests of Macedonia, Georgia, Estonia, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Namibia, Ukraine, Turkey and Kazakhstan, and has received multiple awards for their efforts.
Homepage of the Chemnitz NMUN-Team: http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/nmun
For further information contact: Dr. Antje Nötzold, Phone 0371 531-35570, E-Mail antje.noetzold@phil.tu-chemnitz.de
(Author: Magdalena Kosciolek, Translation: Jonas Heid)
Katharina Thehos
27.01.2014
