Course Aims
UN flag flying
What you'll do:
- Learn about the United Nations (UN) and take a short quiz
- Research and write a briefing paper on a current global issue from the perspective of a diplomat from an assigned country
- Present it to a mock United Nations session
- Listen and consider the presentations from the other nations UN representatives (ie other students' briefing papers)
- Negotiate towards a resolution
- Reflect on your performance at the Model United Nations
What you'll learn
- The structure, role and functions of the United Nations systems and the key challenges it faces
- How briefing papers are used to advise on complex international challenges, and how to write one
- How to appraise qualitative and quantitative data in order to develop policy proposals
- The ins and outs of at least one current global issue that the UN is addressing
- An introduction to global diplomacy and negotiation
- How to critically reflect upon personal and societal assumptions about how societies should function and be able to challenge these.
With this under your belt you'll be developing skills towards the following which are typical of university programs in International Studies:
- Critically analyse interconnections between local and global international issues and events as well as the historical and contemporary processes that have transformed the globe
- Apply qualitative and quantitative analytic and problem-solving skills necessary for international studies, careers and global citizenship;
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of key components of global society and key global challenges through insights and knowledge gained from multiple perspectives and disciplines
