Course information

A Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation of the United Nations and other international relations forums, in which young people from all over the world take on the roles of world leaders. This seminar prepares to such an event.

Students must act as a 'delegate', i.e. a diplomat from a different country, and understand that country's position to represent and serve its 'official' interests on various issues during negotiation and debate. The MUN conference is an intensive, enriching learning programme that aims to help young people understand global challenges that transcend their background, culture, and nationality. 

The MUN seminar is available as an optional course to students enrolled in any faculty or programme at the St Louis campus, provided they have already completed at least 60 ECTS of their programme. 

 The course is divided into three parts: 

1. A theoretical part providing a framework of knowledge on the UN, its functioning, organs, main issues of debate. 
   
2. A specific part for each simulation, practice and logistics composed of various sessions supervised by the Head Delegates and the teaching staff, separately for each delegation. The purpose of these sessions is to learn the rules specific to the chosen simulation as well as practice the various aspects of the simulation (oral presentations, writing, rules of procedure, mini- simulations, etc.). 
   
3. The actual simulations, in Belgium and abroad (destinations may vary from one year to another). 
   

Organisation and grading system 

The seminar is organised during both semesters of the academic year until the conferences abroad. After the simulations abroad, there will be an additional, though limited series of seminars featuring witnesses and resource persons active in international diplomacy. 

NMUN-A (London & Riga): Sessions every Tuesday from 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm (first term), and every Thursday from 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm (second term). 

NMUN-B (Rome & Paris): Sessions every Thursday, from 6 pm to 8 pm (both terms).

Additional sessions may be organized at the discretion of the teaching staff in concertation with the delegation. In this case, students will be advised in due time.  

The students choosing Rome or Paris as a destination will take part in a larger initiative, in the framework of the Circle-U European Alliance of Universities. These delegations will also include additional participants coming from 3 partner institutions of UCLouvain, i.e., King’s College London, Humboldt University Berlin, and Paris Cité University. In each of these two delegations, there will be up to 5 additional delegates from the Circle U partner universities.

The final mark for the seminar is based on several criteria:

1. Participation throughout the year (two semesters): attending seminars, developing expertise on the assigned country and theme, preparing requested readings and speeches, making progress in public speaking exercises, etc.
   
2. Quality of the position paper.
   
3. Participation in the actual simulations in Belgium if organized, and abroad in one of the four destinations mentioned above. 
   

Additional marks will be granted in the event of official recognition by the conference organisers, of the delegation, of a specific delegate, and/or of a position paper.  

Insufficient participation during the year will result in exclusion from the trip and the simulation abroad. No marks (0/20) will be awarded in case of absence from the simulation abroad. This teaching activity (UE) cannot be retaken during the August exam session.

Students from all faculties and disciplines are encouraged to participate in the seminar. You do not need to be perfectly fluent in English, or confident when speaking in public, nor do you need any prior knowledge of the UN or international institutions to enrol. The seminar is based on learning by doing. Although it requires strong commitment and hard work, it provides a valuable opportunity to develop your skills. 

You will develop your research and soft skills, such as social interactions, negotiation in another language, working in a multicultural environment, public speaking, improvisation, critical thinking, and an interdisciplinary approach to a topic. You will also increase your global awareness of world issues, create massive networking opportunities and boost your self-confidence and personal development.

Join us! 

NB: Due to the university's financial support for student participation in simulations abroad, only a limited number of participants will be able to register for this seminar. A selection process will be organized if the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available. All the details will be posted on this Moodle page.  

Join us!