Pace University Model United Nations students from the New York City and Pleasantville campuses received 5 awards for their excellence in diplomatic practice at the 2018 National Model UN conference in Washington DC (NMUN DC), 9-11 November 2018, including
- Distinguished Delegation – Pace University NYC students representing Malawi
- Distinguished Delegation – Pace University PLV students representing Slovenia
- Honorable Mention delegation – Pace University PLV students representing Germany
- Outstanding Position Paper – Pace University PLV students representing Germany in a simulation of the UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security)
- Outstanding Position Paper – Pace University PLV students representing Germany in a simulation of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Model UN offers students the opportunity to learn about global politics, encounter cultures other than their own and learn crucial skills in research, writing, negotiation and public speaking. At NMUN DC university students from around the country and the world simulate global policymaking processes by playing the role of diplomats from an assigned country. In advance of the conference, students prepared in a class – POL303A International Organization Workshop – in which they studied their country and key foreign policy issues, wrote position papers and practiced delivering speeches and conducting negotiations.
Pace NYC Model UN students offered the following reflections on their experiences at NMUN DC:
- “I hope to have a career in human rights one day, and so I was super excited to represent Togo in the Human Rights Council. Human rights have been something I’ve always been interested in and being surrounded in a room full with people who were just as passionate, inspired me. Listening to people’s speeches and their creative ideas motivated me tremendously.” – Aya Taqi ‘21
- “I stayed in a hotel room with three of my classmates who are from different countries and have different cultural backgrounds. I worked and made friends with students from around the world. … I learned a formal and polite form of English expression which improved my public speaking and confidence.” – Zhoujun Zhao ‘20
- “Model United Nations was not a required class for me but I took it in an effort to better embrace school spirit and engage with people who I knew would challenge and encourage me to learn more things about the world we live in. This class exceeded all of my expectations. Perhaps the biggest value of Model UN to me was the people I met and the ability to be part of an event that pushes you to step out of your comfort zone and learn more about yourself, people around you, and what goes on in the world today.” – Sonya Svetenko ‘20