A Successful Student-Led Conference
On the 21st of November, ISA hosted its first Model United Nations conference of the year with our new cabinet. The whole club spent the weeks leading up to the event working hard to host the best conference possible, and it all came together this weekend.
Almost every part of the conference was student-led, with members of the club assisting with every aspect, from chairing and setting up to participating in the debate themselves. As a result, we had one of the largest turnouts for any ISA conference, with Albyn, Robert Gordon’s College, and St. Margaret’s Academy, as well as our own cohort, in attendance.
Honing Skills Through Global Debate
The subject matter of the night was a nuanced debate on the potential global legalisation of cannabis, discussed from the perspectives of more than 50 countries and 75 delegates. For two hours, delegates took on the personas of the international community to discuss an issue that is both light-hearted and controversial.
MUN conferences like this help students hone their skills and explore our ISA values. The opportunities for delegates include communicating with their peers—both friends and people they have never met before—taking risks by standing up on stage to defend points, and being open-minded as they develop their arguments and consider other ideas.
“It’s a process that I really enjoy. It’s something that I would definitely recommend to anyone who isn’t as confident in their public speaking or just talking to a lot of people, because it almost forces you to think on the fly and adapt. And I loved debating and public speaking even before I joined, so this just gave me an opportunity to do it more regularly.”
Finnish Delegate
ISA MUN: Past, Present & Future
MUN is the oldest club at ISA, hosting and attending conferences for more than 40 years. In this time, we have traveled across Britain and Europe, debating every subject ranging from Indigenous exploitation to space asteroid mining.
ISA MUN’s current cabinet consists of President Finlay Johnson, Vice President Teela Murray, and Secretary Katy McKee. The club meets every Thursday lunchtime, and any High School students are welcome to join. Sessions usually consist of mock debates and preparations for upcoming official conferences.
The group has many exciting events planned, including a multiday conference at St. Leonard’s School early next year, as well as a trip to The Hague next year.
Equipping Students for the Future
Model United Nations is an exciting social club that offers a plethora of real-life skills and applications. It is even an official undergraduate course at many universities.
Beyond school, however, the ability to communicate effectively and speak in public is invaluable in everyday life. Additionally, the ability to compromise and take on new ideas is integral to both MUN and day-to-day activities. Ultimately, MUN unites students and is an excellent way to meet new people, discuss interesting topics, and learn new skills in a fun and interactive way.
“I really enjoy how it brings in all the other schools together to talk about issues that we may not get to speak about regularly. It’s also just a great way to become friends with students outside of school. I met people through my first MUN conference 4 years ago who I’m still in contact with.”
Costa Rican Delegate
