The team “International
Institutions and Peace Processes” provides students opportunities to
participate in international UN simulations. This includes the preparation for
a delegation to the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York each year
as well as the substantial and organizational support for the student team that
organizes such a conference - the MainMUN - every winter in Frankfurt as well. It
is a largely independent student project, which is supported and supervised by
the team of International Institutions and Peace Processes. The teaching
project "Uni goes UNO" was initiated in 2002 by Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl
at Goethe University.
Goals of the teaching project
Students
benefit in many ways by participating in the projects. They can actively learn
about and shape diplomatic negotiation processes in international
organizations. On the one hand, they acquire profound knowledge about the
structure and functioning of the United Nations as well as about current global
political issues, such as "Climate Change as a Challenge in the 21st
Century" or "Privatization of Security". On the other hand, the
independent project work with self-set goals serves the acquisition of key
qualifications and knowledge in project management.
Thus, the
students are responsible for fundraising, public and press relations in
teamwork and, in the case of MainMUN, also for the complete organization of the
four-day conference. In addition to intensive training in presentation and
negotiation techniques, rhetorical skills in the English language (working
language of the simulations) are trained with the aim of gaining negotiation
skills in the world language. In addition, participation in the projects can
serve as a career orientation, since direct and authentic insights into the
career field "International Organizations and Foreign Service", which
is attractive for political scientists, are provided.
More
detailed information on the individual UN simulations can be found below.
NMUN delegation 2023
As early as
1946, students from around the world came together to represent a country of
their choice in the international political arena. The National Model United
Nations has a long-standing tradition of enabling student delegations to gain
practical insights into the workings of the United Nations, apply their learned
knowledge, further develop their soft skills, communicate in English on a
negotiation basis, make new friends and establish contacts around the world.
The
National Model United Nations, or NMUN, is organized by a non-governmental
organization that works closely with the United Nations. Year after year, it
makes it possible for students to become diplomats for a short period of time,
representing the interests of their state in the bodies of the United Nations
in New York.
Since 2003,
students of political science have had the opportunity to travel to New York
annually for Goethe University as part of an approximately 25-member delegation
and represent a UN member state in the bodies of the world organization. In
order to master this challenge, the prospective diplomats have to prepare
intensively for their tasks, e.g. in the Security Council or the General
Assembly. The project period begins in the summer semester and lasts one year, during
which they participate in a main seminar on the United Nations and an NMUN
project seminar with weekend workshops. In addition, they have to contribute to
the success of the cost-intensive project through independent teamwork in the
areas of fundraising, web presence, press relations, etc.
During the
simulation, the students' tasks include seeking allied representatives of other
states, forming alliances, writing resolutions, and representing the positions
of "their" state in formal meetings and informal negotiations and
enforcing its goals. In addition to cultural understanding, diplomatic conduct
and behavior in accordance with the UN "rules of procedure", the
rules of simulation, are also required.
Several
Frankfurt delegations have received awards for their achievements and were, for
example, honored with the Position Paper Award for their previously prepared
position papers and thus for their very good preparation for the conference.
The realistic and convincing appearance on site was also rewarded several times
with an Outstanding Delegation Award. The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt is
the patron of the project and supports the student "diplomats" in
many ways.
The
Frankfurt UN simulation was initiated by former NMUN delegates. Since 2005, the
Westend campus of the Goethe University has been transformed into a diplomatic
parquet for four days every year. With an average of 200 delegates from all
over Europe, MainMUN has established itself as one of the largest MUN
conferences in Germany. The conference and its supporting program, which
includes expert panels, prominent guest speakers and evening events, are
organized and run on a volunteer basis by a team of students who come together
every summer. The department supports the teams in this endeavor.
The reports are a selection from recent years which is not necessarily exhaustive.
2023 NMUN Final Report
2022 NMUN Final Report
2021 NMUN Information brochure
2021 NMUN Final Report
2020 NMUN Information brochure
2019 NMUN Final Report
2017 NMUN Final Report
2017 NMUN Information brochure
2016 NMUN Final Report
2016 NMUN Information brochure
Prof. Dr. Lisbeth Zimmermann
Prosessorship for International Institutions and Peace Processes
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
Faculty Social Sciences
Institute for Political Science
Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 6
60323 Frankfurt am Main
PEG-Building - Room 3.G 139
Postbox 28
Phone: +49 (69) 798-36615
l.zimmermann@soz.uni-frankfurt.de
Administration Office
Melina Bräutigam
Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 6
60323 Frankfurt am Main
PEG-Building - Room 2.G 143
Tel. +49 (69) 798-36643
m.braeutigam@soz.uni-frankfurt.de
Office hours
Consultation hours with Prof. Dr. Zimmermann take place on Tuesday from 10 am - 12 pm.
Please contact Melina Bräutigam (m.braeutigam@soz.uni-frankfurt.de).