April 12th, 2015: Students at Canadian University Dubai (CUD) have for the first time established their own association based on the Model United Nations (MUN) initiative, bringing the debate on key international issues to the heart of the University campus.
The founders of the CUD branch of the global initiative are Public Relations student Hassan Malik and Marketing major Naureen Patne. Wanting to develop their own skills while speaking out about global concerns, the pair established the club, which saw its first outing at the American University of Sharjah's (AUS) annual MUN conference in March.
The MUN initiative was created to provide a platform for young people to learn about international issues, diplomacy and inter-government relations and develop their capabilities in critical thinking, research and debate. The model simulates the United Nations forum itself, with each student representing a country in the debate over a range of issues from health and social progress to the economy and global finance.
At CUD, the MUN committee meet on a weekly basis to discuss different global challenges, with each student presenting their country's stance based on their research on that particular issue. Participants aim to debate and collaborate, in order to reach agreement on workable solutions to some of the world's most pressing international concerns.
Hassan said, "One of our goals in establishing the MUN at CUD was to raise awareness among all of us about what is going on around the globe and the issues that will ultimately shape our future. If we understand the challenges faced by the wider world, we are in a better position to act as effective global citizens."
CUD's MUN committee, which also consists of International Business student Ginevra - Nencha, Engineering student George Munir Bandak, and Advertising students Maryam A. Bin Dakhan and Shabbir Furniturewala, were among more than 300 students from the UAE and overseas who took part in the AUS debate, for which they received a trophy that was presented to University President, Dr. Karim Chelli.
Co-founder of the committee Naureen concluded, "The forum is not just a good way to find out more about the key issues affecting the world around us, it is also an excellent opportunity to demonstrate social responsibility, to develop professional skills and ethics, and to build the competencies and values that are required in the workforce."
Gallery
