Student success at major Model UN event

Students involved in the Essex Model UN Society are celebrating after scooping several awards at a major international event.

A team of 15 Essex students took part in LIMUN – the London International Model United Nations – which is Europe’s largest Model United Nations conference and regularly attracts university students from more than 50 nations.

Four Essex students won awards, including two diplomacy awards, which recognise delegates for their best overall performance during both debates and negotiations.

Politics and International Relations student Tari Seif, who led the Essex team, said: “I am very pleased with how the whole team performed, and everyone really enjoyed themselves. This conference provided a unique opportunity for Essex delegates to showcase their skills and talent and to compete amongst some of the top universities in the country and the world.”

Model UN is an educational simulation in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations and the United Nations. Its aim is to foster future world leaders who will face global challenges with a spirit of international cooperation.

International Relations student Toby Warren, who won the LIMUN Diplomacy Award with team mate Politics and International Relations student Alexander Sablich Iraola, said: “Winning an award at a conference like LIMUN was the most I could have asked for since I started Model UN last year. The conference as a whole was a wonderful experience, but my highlight is definitely the unforgettable teamwork experience of working so closely with my co-delegate Alex.”

The event involved the students representing a country in committees such as the United Nations Security Council, the World Health Organisation, UNESCO and the Arab League.

Leading up to the competition the Essex team took part in an eight-week training program, designed and delivered by Tari and covering a wide range of topics ranging from how to conduct foreign policy research to the rules and proceedings of the debate.

“The event was very challenging as it pushed every member of the team out of their comfort zone,” explained Tari. “There was a lot of negotiating and diplomacy underlying their successful performance at the competition, and we witnessed impressive improvement from all the Essex team.”

The other Essex award winners were Politics and International Relations student Neemah Balogun who won Most Improved Delegate and Finance and Mathematics student Ylenia Piccolo who gained an Honourable Mention.