Students learn the art of diplomacy at BAYMUN
Such conferences are not just a test of knowledge but also of resolve and persistence, says trainer.
Students from over 15 O’ and A Level schools and colleges in the city participated in the Bay View College’s academic simulation of the United Nations on Sunday (top). A student holds a flag of India to represent his member state in a replicated session of the UN at the conference (left). PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
From a hypothetical situation like Nazis revitalising to wipe out the United States to more pertinent issues like the Syrian conflict and global oil politics, students from across the city engaged in a lively debate at Bay View College’s premier academic simulation of the United Nations which concluded on Sunday.
The conference’s director-general, Mahnoor Moin, said, “We must learn to change the world around us rather than letting it change us.” She was flanked by the secretary-general, Tashfeen Ansari, who shared that Pakistan, at present, seems to be failing on the diplomatic front as no practical solutions have been reached on major issues.
Fatima Rizwan, a Bay View College graduate serving as a trainer at the conference, said seldom does one come across an opportunity where one can practice the art of diplomacy, hone their oratory skills, engage in intense political dialogue and most importantly, learn from their peers. “Such conferences are not just a test of knowledge but also of resolve and persistence.”
Ansari was of the view that by representing their country one was able to learn a lot of things about it.
The conference’s publications-director, Mahnoor Maqsood, said that it was during the long summer hours in June when the students first delved into their extensive and tiresome preparations for the event. The core team sketched out the plans and pasted posters across the city. The team stayed in school till late evenings, making charts and placards, she added.
At the opening ceremony on Friday, the conference, titled BAYMUN 2013, drew around 60 delegations, comprising 215 participants, from over 15 O’ and A’ Level schools of the city to play the role of diplomats. Over the next two days, the delegates had to represent a member state in a replicated session of the UN to negotiate, analyse, do research, communicate and undertake conflict resolution.
Viewing it as a great achievement, Moin recalled that the organising team, at one point, gave up the idea because they could get sufficient number of delegations to participate. “Little did they know that they were going to pull up an outstanding conference with over 200 delegates,” said Moin with a smile on her face.
Bay View College vice principal Nadeem Islam said, “At the college, we will now have a permanent BAYMUN Secretariat to work throughout the year and coordinate the participation of college students in model UN events at national and international level.”
He was of the view that the secretariat will also train and develop the skills of new entrants in this filed in addition to making BAYMUN an annual event in the national calendar of MUNs.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2013.
From a hypothetical situation like Nazis revitalising to wipe out the United States to more pertinent issues like the Syrian conflict and global oil politics, students from across the city engaged in a lively debate at Bay View College’s premier academic simulation of the United Nations which concluded on Sunday.
The conference’s director-general, Mahnoor Moin, said, “We must learn to change the world around us rather than letting it change us.” She was flanked by the secretary-general, Tashfeen Ansari, who shared that Pakistan, at present, seems to be failing on the diplomatic front as no practical solutions have been reached on major issues.
Students from over 15 O’ and A Level schools and colleges in the city participated in the Bay View College’s academic simulation of the United Nations on Sunday (top). A student holds a flag of India to represent his member state in a replicated session of the UN at the conference (left). PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
Fatima Rizwan, a Bay View College graduate serving as a trainer at the conference, said seldom does one come across an opportunity where one can practice the art of diplomacy, hone their oratory skills, engage in intense political dialogue and most importantly, learn from their peers. “Such conferences are not just a test of knowledge but also of resolve and persistence.”
Ansari was of the view that by representing their country one was able to learn a lot of things about it.
The conference’s publications-director, Mahnoor Maqsood, said that it was during the long summer hours in June when the students first delved into their extensive and tiresome preparations for the event. The core team sketched out the plans and pasted posters across the city. The team stayed in school till late evenings, making charts and placards, she added.
At the opening ceremony on Friday, the conference, titled BAYMUN 2013, drew around 60 delegations, comprising 215 participants, from over 15 O’ and A’ Level schools of the city to play the role of diplomats. Over the next two days, the delegates had to represent a member state in a replicated session of the UN to negotiate, analyse, do research, communicate and undertake conflict resolution.
Viewing it as a great achievement, Moin recalled that the organising team, at one point, gave up the idea because they could get sufficient number of delegations to participate. “Little did they know that they were going to pull up an outstanding conference with over 200 delegates,” said Moin with a smile on her face.
Bay View College vice principal Nadeem Islam said, “At the college, we will now have a permanent BAYMUN Secretariat to work throughout the year and coordinate the participation of college students in model UN events at national and international level.”
He was of the view that the secretariat will also train and develop the skills of new entrants in this filed in addition to making BAYMUN an annual event in the national calendar of MUNs.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2013.