UAE school and university students debate world issues at the 16th AUSMUN

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) campus was brimming with excitement as more than 1,200 students from 40 schools and universities in the UAE debated some of the most pressing global issues today at the 16th AUS Model United Nations (MUN) last week.

Committee sessions covered an array of topics, including disarmament and international security; economy, finance and impact on climate change; children; displaced populations; women in education; and politics, decolonization and peacekeeping missions. Shuffling between the various AUS buildings, delegates rushed to their sessions in an attempt to solve world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. The AUSMUN also featured two special Arab League sessions where students discussed refugee repatriation and crises in Arab states, with one session conducted in Arabic. 

​“We were thrilled to see the level of participation and the excitement among delegates this year. When we selected the committees, we tried to focus on what would spark interest for all. This is why we organized a range of committees, including humanitarian committees that featured the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the environmental committee featuring the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and justice committees featuring the International Court of Justice,” said Reem Al-Dulaimi, a double major in international studies and psychology and the AUSMUN Secretary-General.

She added: “I was very proud of all the committees and issues we covered at this MUN, but I was most excited for the Arab League sessions. We were very happy to offer the opportunity for the MUN delegates to participate in Arabic, which is not a usual occurrence. This year, our Arabic committee was a huge success. The chairs and delegates had an amazing experience, and the level of debate was spectacular. I hope that this initiative continues and even expands in the future.”

The AUSMUN Executive Board started preparing for the conference nine months in advance. It comprised AUS students Shahd Mahmoud as Deputy Secretary-General, Sara Abu Iktish as Director of Human Resources, Saleha Saqib as Director of Media, Muhammed Junaid as Director of Logistics, Sameera Khan as Director of External Relations, and Huda Imran as Director of Research.

“We have been preparing for this conference since June 2022. Throughout those months, we took into consideration every little aspect to provide the delegates with an amazing experience. This included working on the discussion topics, selecting the committees, creating the country matrix, training of chairs, finding vendors and so much more. Also, this AUSMUN was the last conference for our lead faculty advisor, Dr. Jeniece Lusk, so we made sure it was one she would remember,” said Al-Dulaimi.

The AUSMUN offers an opportunity for students to learn about the United Nations and its procedures, but according to Al-Dulaimi, it is more than that. “I believe it is more of an opportunity for delegates to learn how to conduct good research, write a well-argued research paper, learn how to be self-reliant, build relationships, work as a team to solve a problem, and so much more,” explained Al-Dulaimi.

She added: “The knowledge and skills students gain after the conference are abundant. AUSMUN continues to be the largest and most prestigious hub in the region for UN simulations, and I believe that the more the conference grows, the more support we will be getting. This year, for example, the large number of student delegates made it impossible to put everyone in one single place, so we spread the committee sessions across various AUS buildings including the School of Business Administration, the AUS Main Building and many others.

The AUSMUN was supported by AUS faculty advisors and assistant professors in international studies Dr. Jeniece Lusk, Dr. Alisher Khaliyarov and Dr. Stephanie Shady.

“My advice to everyone who is interested in participating in the next conference, whether as a delegate, organizer, or board member, is just go for it! This was an experience unlike any other,” said Al-Dulaimi.

The Department of International Studies at the College of Arts and Sciences provides an ideal vantage point for students to engage in multidisciplinary approaches to understand the complex political, economic, social and cultural conditions in the region and beyond. Its mission is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world and to become responsible, active global citizens.

For more information about the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, visit www.aus.edu/cas/bais.