Queen’s proudly hosted its 4th MUN conference, with 170 students from a range of schools across the North West involved in simulating a diplomatic summit at the UN.
MUN has so many facets to it that it’s difficult to know where to begin to describe the day – but at its heart, it brings students together around a shared interest in shaping the future. Through debate on topical issues and current affairs, students of different ages interact with and learn from, one another. They support each other in honing their teamwork, communication and public speaking skills, engage in friendly and challenging debate, share some (mostly) witty fun, and in the process build friendships and connections.
Keynote speaker Richard Walker, Director of Iceland Foods, started proceedings with his keynote address exploring our conference theme of “interconnectedness” in relation to politics, business, the environment and sustainability. Queen’s Secretary General of QMUN, Maahi in Year 13, offered her reflections on the theme, and after her gavel had come down on the sounding block to declare QMUN 4 “open”, delegates started their committee sessions. The afternoon saw us holding our first ever QMUN General Assembly, which all embraced with gusto. A big shout-out to the Press Team, who produced a newsletter and video of the day ready for the Closing Ceremony and our team of runners who were invaluable as always!
Old hands as well as first-timers were involved with all the different roles that helped create a conference that was, as always, almost entirely student-run from start to finish. Delegates, chairs and guest-chairs of debate, the Press Team and the runners worked in roles that overlapped and depended on each other, seeking out opportunities for stepping just outside the boundaries of their comfort zones, for we know that that is where we grow and develop. In this way, QMUN is more than a debating conference – it is transformed into a platform for learning and personal growth.
