MUN – Prepare to Be Leaders for Tomorrow

A group of secondary students went on a 3-day trip from Oct 11^th to 13^th to Shanghai Singapore International School (SSIS) for an annual Puxi Model United Nations (PUXIMUN). Over 200 students from 7 international schools attended the conference, with Boston International School being the only attending school from Wuxi.

 

Model United Nations (MUN) serves to simulate UN. In MUN, one can take the role of being a delegate to present an assigned country and thus, as a delegate, speak for the country’s views and policies.

MUN is a valuable learning experience for IB students as it allows delegates to acquire and enhance skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, debating, collaboration, and leadership. These skills are cohesive to IB learner profile, i.e. Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced and Reflective.

During the 3-day conferences, BIS students were assigned as delegates of certain countries in different committees, including Human Rights Committee, Historical Security Council, Environment Committee and etc. Within the conferences, students went through intensive debate and collaboration to creating a resolution to the global issue a committee is addressing. This way, students not only had their skills trained, but also learned to look at issues from a global context, which prepares them to be a responsible global citizen.

MUN also played the role of a social gathering, as students from a variety of different schools and nationalities came together to participate in the conferences. We are glad to see our students interact and connect with their fellow new friends, making the conference more enjoyable and memorable.

PUXIMUN urges all delegates to be open-minded and take this issue seriously and delicately. There will be disagreements, but in the end, one cause should unite us, that is to embrace each other, to work together, and to truly stay united.

 

As the ONLY IB Continuum School in Wuxi, Boston International School always encourages our students to attend activities like MUN. In addition to regular I&S and History lessons, we also offer MUN in Design Cycle and Boston Explorers Program.

 

I&S/ History

Following the IB and IGCSE standards, Ms. Gina Smith, mentor of MUN, creates the curriculum for I&S/ History from Grade 6 to 10. Ms. Smith has a deep understanding in 19^th/ 20^th history and its contemporary significance. MUN draws from the I&S and History curriculum and is a superb way to reinforce students’ understanding and apply the skills that they have learned in class.

MUN Design Cycle

In Design Cycle, students learn about how to create UN resolutions and practice basic skills for MUN like public speaking, debating and reflecting. Besides, as global citizens and a part of the UN, they will use the design cycle to create microloans through KIVA (a non-profit organization that allows people to lend money via the Internet to low-income entrepreneurs and students), meeting UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Boston Explorers

Boston Explorers also provide MUN for students who didn’t take MUN Design Cycle. In B.E. classes, Ms. Smith provides Historical Simulations for students to understand UN history and how crises are resolved. Students are also trained to practice public speaking, debating, reflecting and resolution research.