FS Model United Nations (FS MUN) is one of the oldest and most engaged student-led initiatives at Frankfurt School. We offer students interested in international relations and political issues the opportunity to join us as a delegate at Model United Nations conferences and refine their public speaking and negotiation skills.
MUN conferences are simulations of the real United Nations, where participating delegates represent different member countries in UN committees. At the conferences, we role-play the delegation of our allocated country, debating international issues with fellow delegates and trying to write a resolution together.
I joined FS MUN as a delegate in my first semester here at FS and had the honour of being a head for the past two academic years.
The absolute highlight of our initiative is the annual trip to the largest and most prestigious university-level MUN worldwide: the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in New York. FS MUN sends a delegation of approximately 42 students to New York each year, where they meet and work with students from over 120 countries.
At the conference, we represent two different member states – this year it was France and Algeria – and discuss topics from human rights, to climate change, to international security and peacekeeping. We always allocate two Frankfurt School students to represent one country in the same committee, so that they can work together and make their voices heard.
But the conference itself is only one part of our 10-day stay in New York. We always organise networking and career events at different companies, as well as visits to the UN Headquarters or the Permanent Mission of a member state. This year we had a networking event with FS alumni now living in New York at the Deutsche Bank Americas Headquarters, a Bloomberg workshop at DZ Bank, and a company presentation at Commerzbank. In addition to that, we organised a private tour of the United Nations Headquarters – including an exclusive visit to the Security Council – and a visit to the German Mission.
Each year, we have many FS students who are interested in joining us. As we can only take up to 42 students, we have a selection process that helps us to select the best delegates. The most important part of the application is the performance in our Workshop Weekend, a 2-day mock MUN conference that we host at FS. Here, you get to gain first-hand MUN experience, researching your country, holding speeches, and writing a resolution together with the other delegates. During the Workshop Weekend, we see how engaged, interested, and prepared you are.
In addition to the Workshop Weekend, all students who want to join us for New York must submit a short written application highlighting their motivation and past experiences, as well as their CV. You do not need prior MUN experience to apply; we want delegates who are interested in learning more about the conference and want to perform their best in New York.
Being selected is only one step in our journey to New York. Before leaving Frankfurt, all delegates must attend a number of preparation workshops. These workshops are designed to help you keep up with the competitive negotiations during the NMUN conference, but they are also open to initiative members who were not selected for the NMUN delegation.
The workshops start with our kick-off, right after the student life fair in the beginning of the semester, where we present our initiative and get to know each other with drinks and pizza. Before, there is also a Rules of Procedure and UN Charter workshop that helps you prepare for your first MUN. After being selected as a delegate, you have to attend the Position Paper and Country workshops. During the winter break, you will write a position paper, outlining your country’s stance on the topic that you will discuss during NMUN New York. Before New York, we also host a Public Speaking workshop and invite all members to join us at the MainMUN conference in Frankfurt, as well as a few social events for all FS MUN members, like a Christmas Social, an Apfelwein Evening, and a Pre-NY Dinner.
For me, FS MUN was one of the most important experiences at Frankfurt School, and I know a lot of other students feel the same. From the excitement when preparing for the conferences, to the long conference sessions, and the social events, MUN really helps you to become more confident in your skills and connect to other students. I hope that our FS MUN legacy continues and many more students will be able to make this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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