Model United Nations (MUN) is a United Nations (UN) simulation with students taking the role of UN Delegates representing assigned Member States in committees, discussing, debating, attempting to resolve some of the world's most pressing problems.

The theme of the MUN is "Sustainable Education - thinking and making the future of higher education".

Each participating student will work on one of the UN Committees listed below, all connected directly or indirectly to sustainable education. You will be trained throughout three online workshops (between early December and end of February). 

In Brussels, you will attend a combination of committee sessions, social events, city tours, workshops and meetings with guest experts.

UN Committees

1. New ways of learning and working (immersive learning and simulations, digitalization and metaverse)

Keywords: students' transferable skills, the right to switch off, sustainable changemakers' programme, innovative pedagogies

2. Sustainable education and all its - academic, vocational, pedagogical, informational, and linguistic - dimensions

Keywords: didactical training of academic staff, teaching career development, teacher engagement and assessment

1. Equitable access for all children to sustainable education

Keywords: engaging students, families, and communities as full partners, diversifying the workforce, providing meaningful support, inclusive discipline, rigorous and culturally sustaining curricula, reducing the proportion of out-of-school children, radio programmes for crisis-affected children

2. Children and multilingualism

Keywords: multilingual culture, multilingual opportunities, identifying obstacles, laying the foundation for exchange and change and for a common understanding, interdisciplinary learning, language policies

1. Education as a fundamental human right

Keywords: a human right and not a privilege, a fully-rounded individual (mind, brain, body….), individual empowerment and civic engagement, levelling inequalities, democratic values of truth, right action, peace, non-violence, freedom of expression

2. Education and the violation of human rights

Keywords: genocide, torture, arbitrary arrest, forced labour, discrimination, breaking of laws in armed conflict

1. Bridging the climate challenge and sustainable education

Keywords: Implications of the EU green Deal, agricultural water and forest management, cycling of metals, energy and food security

2. Sustainable education and education to sustainability

Keywords: building knowledge of sustainable issues, motivation to take action for more sustainable patterns in our personal lives within our community at a global scale now and in the future, lifelong learning, protecting the environment through informed action, thinking about the interdependence of systems, critical thinking, partnerships for change.

1. Bridging global health and global sustainable education

Keywords: Public Health, Access to medicine, intellectual property, testing in the third world, local inequities in Health, strategies for providing better healthcare for All, infectious diseases, new programmes on CVD (Cardiovascular Diseases)

2. Adapting education to the challenges of a global health

Keywords: vaccination campaigns, research on generics, abortion and reproductive rights, mental health, ageing issues, life course epidemiology

1. Good practices across EU for sustainable education

Keywords: democratization, governance, political ideologies, Public Policy and Public Administration, Public Law, geopolitical scene

2. Positioning EU as a leader in fostering sustainable education

Keywords: democratic values that are undermined and discarded, European vision, gender equality in access to resources and opportunities, civic engagement, stronger EU security and defense (Strategic Compass)

1. The role of SC in achieving sustainable education across the world

Keywords: protection of schools and facilities from attacks, Safe Schools Declaration, importance of data collection and of the continuity of learning, improving student's access to connectivity, remote and digital learning, collaboration with UNESCO and UNICEF

2. Reforming the SC to face global challenges

Keywords: challenges such as threats from human rights violations, terrorism, the proliferation of weapons, technological disruption, a reform procedure based on equity rather than on power, creation of a peace-building commission, agreements to achieve the SDGs, creation of a democracy fund.

Who can participate?

  • Bachelor and Master students with demonstrated leadership skills, analytical ability and team spirit, ready to challenge perspectives and to immerse themselves in foreign cultures
  • PhD students willing to act as chairs and facilitators
  • Researchers and professors is needed as Chairs and experts. If you are interested, please send an e-mail to min.reuchamps@uclouvain.be.

Why you should participate

  • To engage and educate delegates about contemporary international politics, international relations, diplomacy and the inner workings of the UN
  • To develop essential skills such as debating, negotiating, public speaking, team spirit, collaboration and networking
  • To facilitate cultural awareness, challenging students to take on new perspectives
  • To encourage out-of-the-box thinking, looking for creative and innovative solutions
  • To reflect on the future of higher education and foster sustainable education
  • To foster real-life solutions

Grants and ECTS

To find out if you are eligible for a travel and subsistence grant, please contact the office responsible for mobility at your university.

In some cases, you might also be able to get 5 ECTS by participating in this activity.

Contact

For questions regarding grants and ECTS, please contact:

For any other questions, please contact:

The alliance of 9 European Universities