So you’ve seen a few of these posts talking about something called a “MUN”, “directors” and “delegates.” You might not even remember how you started following this page – maybe it just looked interesting, or a friend got you to like it – but now you’re wondering if it’s too late to ask what on earth a MUN is.

Fear not! Here at MIAS we know it’s easy to get lost in the jargon, so here’s the quick explanation.

MUN stands for Model United Nations – basically a simulation of the actual United Nations. You get to debate and discuss real-world issues while representing real countries. The conference usually runs over two days, with multiple ‘committees’ where the action happens. These are based on real UN committees or bodies, like the UN Security Council (UNSC), World Health Organization (WHO), or the Commission on the Status of Women. Each has a set topic, often reflecting real problems the actual committee would deal with – for example, this year’s UNSC at MUNash is debating the crisis in Sudan.

So what’s a delegate? That’s you – the participants! You take on the role of a country’s representative (a “delegate”) rather than yourself. Each committee’s available countries reflect their real-life membership. For example, the UNSC has only 15 member states, so those are the ones you can choose from – first come, first served.

As a delegate, you represent your country’s foreign policy and goals. Your personal opinions don’t matter – if you’re the US in a climate change debate, you argue from the US’s current policy stance.

The goal? To create a resolution by the end of the conference to solve or address the issue. You’ll need to work with (or against) others, figure out allies and rivals, and navigate two days of diplomatic chess to get your country’s aims met without compromising its values.

Sounds intense? It’s not as scary as it sounds. MUN is one of the best ways to learn about how the UN works, and it doesn’t require mountains of research or prior knowledge. Yes, there’s debate, but there’s also humour, witty remarks, and the occasional ridiculous twist – past MUNash conferences have included clauses about Harambe the Gorilla, unexpected alliances between historical enemies, and re-drawn maps that defy reality.

Over the two days, you’ll learn about your committee, your country, global issues, and UN procedures. MUNash is especially friendly to first-timers – most attendees have never done MUN before, so the environment is welcoming and supportive.

What about historical or crisis committees? These are special formats. Historical committees take you back in time to major moments like the Treaty of Versailles, where you act as a delegate from that era with the chance to rewrite history. Crisis committees focus on specific real or fictional emergencies, and you often play real people instead of countries – like in past years when delegates became members of the 2003 US Cabinet during the Iraq invasion. These are more advanced but they’re something to try later in your MUN journey.

If you’re still feeling lost, here are some videos to help visualise what MUN is.