March 28th – 30th: Canadian University has proudly hosted the Dubai Model United Nations Academy, in collaboration with United Ambassadors.
Teams from as far away as the Democratic Republic of Congo took part in a packed four-day program where they were treated to a magnificent Opening Ceremony followed by two days of intensive workshops and presentations. The event culminated in a keenly fought debate on the final day, addressing some of the major issues facing our world, including sustainability, discrimination, conflict resolution and world poverty.
The event was introduced by Nabila Elassa, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of United Ambassadors with contributions from Mr. Omar Hernandez, Lead Trainer and Mr. Ahmad Al Ammar, Facilitator and former MUN participant. United Ambassadors is a world-leading international Model United Nations Education non-profit organization with a mission of building the next generation of youth leaders and global citizens, through Model United Nations.
Students learnt about the importance of demonstrating effective leadership skills and having empathy with their stakeholders. During the workshops and presentations they developed skills in public speaking, writing proposals, reaching consensus, interpreting briefings, diplomacy and negotiation skills, all interspersed with a variety of fun activities.
Several of the delegates also made personal statements for their audience reflecting their determination to make an impact on their communities.
The MUN initiative was created to provide a platform for young people to learn about international issues, diplomacy and inter-government relations and to develop their capabilities in critical thinking, research and debate. The model simulates the United Nations forum itself, with each group of students representing a country in the debate over a range of issues from health and social progress to the economy and global finance.
Speaking after the event, Mr. Omar Hernandez, Lead Trainer with United Ambassadors, praised the standard of commitment and debate displayed by the delegates. He said, “this is a remarkable opportunity for young people to gain a unique perspective on how diplomacy works. The skills they are learning will help them make a difference in their future lives, and with the delegates coming from different backgrounds and culture, they are able to appreciate the importance of tolerance in today’s world.”
Eszter Meszaros, Administrative Coordinator for United Ambassadors in Dubai said the purpose of the event was to help the leaders of the future realise how they could make a difference.
The event concluded with presentations to the delegates and a series of presentations from the leaders of each group.
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