Most successful Chemnitz delegation of all times
During the world’s largest and most professional simulation of the United Nations (UN), the team from TU Chemnitz won four of seven possible awards
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The Chemnitz students participated in the National Model United Nations conference from March 19th to 23th, 2017. Picture: private
The delegation of TU Chemnitz successfully gained four awards and was among the best teams that participated in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference, which took place from March 19th to 23th, 2017 in New York City. In competing with numerous universities, many of which are renowned ones, the delegation impressed, just like in the years before, with an astonishing high level of competence. Every year about 5,500 students from more than 400 universities from 57 countries participate in the realistic conference.
During the four-day conference, the delegates from Chemnitz represented the positions of the Central African Republic, delivered speeches in the conference language English, negotiated compromises and drafted as well as adopted resolutions. At NMUN in New York, there are two important different types of awards: the delegation award for the whole delegation, which is awarded for the genuine representation of the respective country and the excellent participation during the UN simulation in all committee and the committee awards for the proper preparation before the conference which are awarded for each represented committee. In 2017, although understaffing in two committees, the TU Chemnitz received the „Distinguished Delegation“ award given to the top ten percent of all universities at the conference. In addition, the delegation received three of six possible committee awards for the best preparation, namely in the „General Assembly First Committee“ (GA1), the „General Assembly Second Committee” (GA2) and in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“In sum, the delegation of TU Chemnitz has won four of seven awards”, emphasizes Jakob Landwehr, research associate at the Professorship of International Relations and Faculty Advisor of the Chemnitz delegation in 2017. Only in 2013 and 2014 TU Chemnitz delegations received as many awards. “As in both years more committees were simulated by Chemnitz delegates, which means more chances to win awards, we have the highest efficiency of all previous delegations” explains Landwehr. In addition, TU Chemnitz is the only Saxon university that took part in the conference and has now participated 14 times in a row.
To be well prepared for the NMUN conference in New York, the delegation from Chemnitz had weekly meetings, each lasting several hours, from November 2016 on. During those sessions, the delegates did not only get to know the Rules of Procedure of the United Nations, but also accomplished intensive research about the position of the Central African Republic in the represented committees. Yet before heading to New York, the newly acquired knowledge had to be proved during two conferences in Chemnitz and Erfurt to apply theory in practice.
Prior to the journey to the UNs headquarter, the delegation visited the capital of the United States, Washington, where they went to put a final touch to their skills. During their stay in Washington D.C., the team visited the German Embassy, the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund and the international office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. In New York, the delegation had the opportunity for a briefing at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of Germany, at the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Coordination Team, as well as at the team of the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information.
What is the idea behind the UN simulation „National Model United Nations”?
The National Model United Nations-Simulation (also known as NMUN) is a simulation which is older than the UN itself. The predecessor of the today’s conference simulated the League of Nations since 1927. Today, in high schools and universities in more than 40 countries around the world Model United Nations conferences take place. Among these many MUN conferences, NMUN is the largest and most professional one. In addition to that, the participants of the NMUN conference are allowed to hold sessions in the tradition-steeped General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The simulation aims to teach an unbiased and open stance towards other countries and different cultures, to get a grasp of the complex connections between international influences and negotiations, but also to prove negotiation skills and diplomatic tact.
Delegations from Chemnitz have been participating in NMUN since 2004 and have already won numerous awards. TU Chemnitz is the only Saxon university that rises to that challenge every year. In the past, our delegations represented the following countries: Macedonia, Georgia, Estonia, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Namibia, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Libya, Mali and the Republic of Chad.
Our students have shared their experiences from New York and Washington D.C. in a travel journal: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/nmun/tagebuch2017.php
Homepage of the Chemnitz NMUN-Team: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/nmun/
Further information can be inquired from Jakob Landwehr, e-mail jakob.landwehr@phil.tu-chemnitz.de
Mario Steinebach
27.03.2017
