AUB students participated in the prominent Harvard World Model United Nations 2022 conference that was held on Zoom this March, debating the world's most pressing global matters, simulating roles of representatives of UN agencies and bodies.

Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) is the world's most internationally diverse college-level MUN conference, and the largest outside of the United States and Canada. Every year, 2,000+ currently enrolled university students from over 110 countries attend WorldMUN in a different location around the world.

At this event that brought together delegates from the world's most prominent universities, three students represented AUBMUN, a student organization that organizes simulations of United Nations conferences and sends delegations representing AUB to international conferences. Two out of those three students received awards for their distinguished participation and skills. Diplomacy Award (outstanding delegate), which is the highest possible prize based on diplomacy and lobbying skills, was presented to AUB student Elie El Hajj. And AUB student Marina Markarian was presented with Verbal Commendations, an honorable mention granted based on eloquent language and well researched topics.

“Having the chance to attend Harvard WorldMUN was one of the most challenging conferences I have ever had the pleasure of attending," commented Marina Markarian. “The ongoing debate in the Human Rights Council were heated and fast-paced with incredible delegates taking the initiative to get their point across. It was a tough four days of ongoing work starting with debating and then moving on to resolution discussions but the week ended on a high note."

Markarian added that despite it being a virtual conference, “we had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world present to deliberate and resolve the conflict at hand. We represented AUB to the best of our abilities and brought home our awards, Diplomacy Award and Verbal Commendation, making us proud to be part of the AUBMUN traveling team."

“As head delegate, I had to set the bar very high and motivate our representatives by leading by example. The odds weren't in our favor as we were only three about to participate in the biggest and most prestigious MUN conference in the world," said Elie El Hajj. “However, life taught me when something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor. We competed against students of the pedigree of Harvard, Stanford and MIT and we were still able to win two distinguished awards."

https://aub.edu.lb/articles/Pages/AUB_students_at_Harvard_MUN.aspx