"Together we aspire, together we achieve"
Evaluation of the 1982 NMUN Experience
Country represented: Sweden
Nancy Becker:
The NMUN class is, in my opinion, one of the best classes offered at Rider College. I personally benefitted immensely from the class.
It taught me not only a great deal about international political, economic, and social affairs, but it also challenged my abilities as a communicator and leader. Because the class centers on individual performance, in relation to team performance, it requires a total or complete effort on the part of the individuals who participate. The class pushes individuals to high levels of performance because of its built in pressure to excel in your performance in the classroom as well as in New York.
I gained not only a great deal of academic knowledge about the world, the United Nations, and people, but also knowledge about myself as a person, my abilities as a leader. From this experience I am more confident in myself and the interpersonal skills I had to use will help me in whatever field I endeavor. NMUN made me more aware of the intricacies of international relations as well as more aware of myself. I believe this awareness makes me special at Rider because it has widened my entire educational experience. This class was probably most rewarding because it is an experience in diplomacy and experience is an ever-lasting educational tool.
I was in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development-Negotiating Group II. My areas were, protectionism, multilateral trade negotiations, and the code of conduct on the transfer of technology. I learned more about North-South negotiations from this participation than I feel I could have learned anywhere else. I was not only required to be an expert on Sweden's position but also knowledgeable on the other participating countries positions. I better understand the demands of the Group of 77 and their criticism of the United States and other Western nations in these areas.
By being put in a position to defend both sides and reach a consensus agreement I assumed a leadership role in our conference. My own perceptions and those of others about myself enabled me to do this experience. I credit my knowledge of world affairs I received in preparation for our participation in New York for my own personal achievement.
Classroom preparation, in the form
of research and simulations of the UN, was not only educational and beneficial,
it was also fun. When learning is fun it is hard not to learn.
The absence of lecturing and reliance on independent individual performance
enabled me to benefit the most from the material. By being put "on
the spot" for my assigned country's position I realized my own knowledge,
and the ability to communicate this knowledge, gave me greater confidence
in myself as a student. This form of testing our positions taught
us about each others country and our own more than any written test could
have. NMUN was a learning experience in every
sense, one that will be with me forever.
Academically, the Model UN project was of great benefit. In simulations I was made aware of several important world issues along with the positions other countries take on these issues. I feel that today I am much more familiar with the policies of UN Nations than before NMUN began. I also consider myself a near-expert on European affairs concerning disarmament and human rights. This stems from my studies for CSCE. My respect for the United Nations in general has also grown considerably. I now realize that the UN has helped to avert another world war and is indispensable as an international peace-keeping body. The UN may be a stepping stone toward a more compress means by which to achieve an equitable international order.
Model UN also helped me present myself in a more positive way. I am now a confident speaker and my diplomatic skills have improved dramatically. In New York I met many interesting and intellectually stimulating people who will probably remain as lifetime friends. I also learned and experienced the benefits of teamwork and realize how important teamwork can be in environment like NMUN.
After participating in Rider's National Model United Nations, I truly believe that this will probably be the best experience I will have in college. I feel I have benefitted academically by my increased knowledge of international affairs, and personally by the increase in confidence and maturity. I must admit that before the conference I was very skeptical and even at times cynical. I had assumed that everyone would do better than us because we were so inexperienced. But the unity and friendship that formed in this delegation had/has a lot to do with our success. I only have good words to say about everyone (well, mostly everyone). The people that were involved in NMUN this year were the best; I would not have changed anything.
Once again, I would like to conclude
by saying that this was a great experience, of which
I will never forget. The fact that I was able to speak extemporaneously
to a group of strangers has made me feel more self-confident and more mature.
I recommend this program to anyone interested in foreign affairs.
The National Model United Nations was the most beneficial class overall that I have had in my four years of college.
It not only increased my knowledge of world events, but I also witnessed first-hand the real machinery that works behind the scenes. It was a chance to really delve into the diplomatic processes - something I have always wanted to do. Besides the above benefits, the NMUN has definitely enabled me to debate better (with or without notes in front of me), listen to other viewpoints better, and, most importantly, to have more confidence in myself. I gained a wealth of experience that will help me in my job and my life.
The NMUN required much more
work than any one of my other courses; however, the work was very interesting
and not at all tedious (as in some of my other classes). The effort
I put forth for the NMUN was enjoyable, making the extra work acceptable.
The benefits of participating in the Model UN are almost too numerous to mention. The chance to work with a group of highly motivated individuals on a project that has relevance and importance is probably the greatest reward. Also, learning to express your own views before a large group of strangers and then having to negotiate matters with others who have differing opinions is something that is very useful outside of the Model UN. Attending committee meetings in New York help you broaden your horizon and understand the value and limitations of the real United Nations. Besides, we met a lot of great people in New York and we had fun throughout the whole projects.
Academically model UN gave me a greater
understanding of World Affairs through the required background research
that I did in preparing for the NMUN. It also gave me valuable hands
on experience in dealing with people which is very important to a future
Accountant. I believe I put in more effort for this course than all
but a few of my advanced accounting courses.
I can't even begin to list the benefits
of this course because there are so many. I've learned from my participation
to speak more efficiently, to communicate one to one, to manipulate, to
take charge, to speak in front of many people.
I benefitted from the 1981-1982 Model United Nations experience in several ways. First of all academically, I feel the Model United Nations course was the most educating course I have had here at Rider. The reason is because this course dealt with the current issues of great importance to the world community, which I must live in, and its existence. The question of Poland for example is one which may greatly alter the present structure of the world community, thereby greatly affecting me.
In other respects, I benefitted from this experience personally and professionally. I learned and thoroughly enjoyed the part of a team member. It greatly developed my social skills because I had to coordinate and compromise with other team members. Professionally, Model UN helped me to improve my projection and presentation skills.
This course required a great deal
more than most courses I have encountered. This is due to the fact
that you were asked to use many more aspects of yourself than just your
mind in achieving success. NMUN required you to use your projection
skills during simulations and when giving speeches. You were also
required to use your creative skills in having to role-play another country's
position. You were also asked to draw upon your diplomatic skills
when trying to achieve results by persuading members of the delegation.
In addition, you also had to use a great deal of your own common sense
when caucusing with members from other delegations.
The benefit derived from NMUN was two-fold: firstly, a gain in world knowledge; and secondly, training in public speaking and interpersonal cooperation. The amount of overall knowledge and understanding of the world political scene, (through both simulation and the preparation for committee) would rival that of any course. Because it is gained through individual research and active participation in simulations and committees, it is much greater a part of our retained learning than lectures and presented readings.
Simulations provide training few
people receive unless they take a speech course. Committee was a
lesson in "forum" etiquette and the necessity to relate well to others.
The ability to make friends was a must, and one learns quickly that standing
alone (e.g., the delegate from USA, U. of Dayton, in UNCTAD I) is futile.
Overall, these properties make NMUN the best learning.
The benefits that I received from participating in the model UN are numerous. I learned a lot about Political Interaction. This I consider very important because any Political Science major needs to know behind the scenes as well as factual information. I also learned a great deal about the world situation as it exists today and the problem it confronts. But I feel what I mostly learned was how to be self-confident about my abilities.
In comparison to other 3-credit courses,
Model UN required a little bit more effort than the other classes I've
had. The reason for this is that the student became the teacher and
the teacher was the observer. This was quite a change from the typical
role of a student that I was used to.
I benefitted greatly from my participation in Model UN, both academically and personally. I learned a great deal about major world issues from our class simulations, and from the New York Conference. I learned how the United Nations really works and more importantly, I learned the importance of behind the scenes work in large committees. I also learned how to speak on an issue extemporaneously, as opposed to speaking from a written speech. This is especially important for me as I hope to become a lawyer, who must frequently speak "off the cuff".
Model UN was both academically and intellectually stimulating, as I now know more about world events and their significance and the workings of the UN than I ever thought I would know. The reasons for this were the variety of issues we covered in class simulations and even more importantly, the practical experience gained in New York. It was from this that I gained the most knowledge on the inner workings of the United Nations.
The most worthwhile
benefit I derived from participation in NMUN, however, was a great boost
in my self-confidence. I must admit that when I walked into
my first committee meeting I thought, "here I am from Rider College competing
against the top schools in the country--how can I possibly compete against
them?" I quickly proved my doubts wrong, however. Not only
was I as well versed as anyone from Brown, Princeton, or Columbia, but
I actually found myself being better prepared and acting as a better negotiator
than most any delegate in my entire committee. By
the end of the conference, I no longer felt intimidated by these "Ivy-Leaguers",
and I found myself feeling very proud to say that I was from Rider College
as a result of the reputation we had gained. As a result of this,
I feel confident that I will be able to deal with these people on an equal,
or even a superior basis in my career for I now know that I am just as
able to succeed as well as anyone from a "top name" school.