Everything you need to research, write, speak, and prepare. Jump to a topic, or read it through.
MUN is a simulation of the United Nations. You represent a country, debate a real global issue, and work with others to write a resolution. It is one of the best ways to build skills you will use for life while learning how the world actually negotiates.
You are a delegate representing an assigned country in a committee. You debate, negotiate, and vote the way real UN diplomats do.
Committees take on real global challenges: climate change, human rights, conflict, poverty, technology. Topics change with every conference.
Your committee works together to produce a resolution: a formal document that sets out the causes, the concerns, and the solutions to the topic.
You debate formally in session, then negotiate informally in caucus. You win by building alliances and persuading others to back your position.
You are assigned a country and speak for its real position, not your own opinion. Arguing a view that may not be yours is part of the skill.
Debate follows clear rules of procedure: points, motions, and voting. They keep every delegate's turn fair and the room orderly.
At QAS we take part in two kinds of conference:
The programme runs across Middle School (Grades 7 and 8) and High School (Grades 9 and 10). CWMUN runs separate Middle School and High School committees, so you debate with students at your own level.
MUN connects straight to what you do in Individuals and Societies and English, then pushes those skills into a real-world setting.
Each committee has its own mandate, topics, and rules. Knowing yours gives you a real advantage before the conference even starts. Middle School committees (Grades 7 and 8) debate one topic; High School committees (Grades 9 and 10) debate two.
| Committee | Full Name | Focus Areas | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA1 (DISEC)Disarmament & Int'l Security | First Committee | Arms control, nuclear weapons, cyber warfare, peacekeeping | A common start for beginners. Large committee, good for practising speeches. |
| GA2 (ECOFIN)Economic & Financial | Second Committee | Global economy, trade, development, poverty reduction | Links well to I&S economics topics. |
| GA3 (SOCHUM)Social, Humanitarian & Cultural | Third Committee | Human rights, gender equality, refugees, child rights | Often the most emotionally charged debates. |
| UNSCSecurity Council | UN Security Council | International peace and security, armed conflicts | Advanced. Only 15 members. The P5 hold veto power. |
| UNICEF | UN Children's Fund | Child welfare, education, health, protection in conflict | Accessible topics, strong humanitarian focus. |
| WHO | World Health Organization | Global health policy, pandemics, healthcare access | Relevant after the COVID-19 debates. Science-focused. |
| UNHRC | UN Human Rights Council | Human rights violations, civil liberties, justice | Politically sensitive. It rewards careful country research. |
| UNESCO | Education, Science & Culture | Cultural heritage, press freedom, science cooperation | Creative topics, often a good fit for I&S students. |
You will write three main documents in MUN. Each has its own purpose, format, and rules. Master these and you stand out at any conference.
You submit the position paper before the conference. It sets out your country's official stance on the topic. It is usually 1 to 2 pages.
The resolution is the committee's final product. You write it together during the conference, live and with no screens. Every resolution follows a strict format.
Amendments are proposed changes to a draft resolution. You submit them during debate, before the final vote.
A working paper is an informal draft you circulate during unmoderated caucuses to gather support. It does not need full resolution format yet, but it should set out your key solutions.
AI is part of how the world researches and writes now. You will use it, and you should learn to use it well. In MUN we set clear limits so the thinking stays yours. The point is to gain real experience with AI as a tool, not to hand your work to it.
| Where | How much AI | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Position paper | Up to 20% maximum | This is your formal stance. The argument and the words are yours. |
| Working papers and draft clauses | Up to 30% maximum | Early drafts can take a little more support, but the solutions must be yours. |
| The resolution | None. No screens. | Written live at the conference. No phones, no laptops, no AI. This is where your real skill shows. |
Diplomatic language has its own rules. The right phrases show respect for the process and mark you out as a prepared, credible delegate.
Raise your placard and wait for the Chair to call your country. Then stand and say:
A good speech has three parts: hook, substance, call to action.
The best delegates are the most prepared delegates. Here is a step-by-step way to get ready for any conference.
Start with your country's geography, government, economy, alliances, and UN voting history. Know its strengths, its weaknesses, and its relationships. The CIA World Factbook and UN.org are good starting points.
Read your committee's background guide closely. Then go deeper: recent news, UN reports, data. Understand the causes, the consequences, and what has already been tried.
Put country and topic together: what would your country say about this topic? Note the treaties it has signed, the aid it gives or receives, and its past votes on related resolutions.
Use the format in Chapter 4. Write in the third person. Choose clarity over complexity. Have someone read it and give feedback before you submit.
Write and learn a 60 to 90 second speech. Time yourself. Practise in front of a mirror or record yourself. Aim for confident delivery, not perfection.
Plan three to five operative clauses you want in the final resolution. Having them ready means you can contribute to working papers from the first caucus.
Research the likely positions of the major powers and of countries allied with yours. Know who to approach for your bloc, and who will push back.
Watch real UN speeches online. Practise answering counterarguments. Role-play debates with classmates. The more you speak aloud, the more natural the room feels.
Print these or open them on your laptop. They walk you through the writing and speaking you will do at every conference. Use them as a starting point, then make the work your own.