News
Model UN activity being promoted to develop leadership skill in students
By Muhammad Yasir
KARACHI: Leading universities and higher educational institutes are increasingly introducing an activity of Model United Nations (MUN) as an emerging extra-curriculum and highly engaging practical activity to develop skills of leadership among students to perform well in their academic, social and professional lives.
The activity has been organised all over the world for last many years at higher schools and universities including 400 international events since 2012. Similarly, in Pakistan only a few universities and higher education schools organised Model UN - namely Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Institute of Business Management (IoBM), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), PAF KIET, University of Karachi, SZABIST, Dawood Public School.
Model United Nations (MUN) programmes for past so many years aimed to provide an opportunity to students for enhancing their skills in various areas mainly in research, report writing, public speaking and presentation, thus greatly helping students in their studies as well as personal development. In addition to this, the platform imparts to students soft skills such as holding dialogues with colleagues, tolerance for conflicting ideas and argument and negotiation on common causes.
Recently, Dawood Public School (DPS) held a three-day event of MUN named Dawood A-Levels Model United Nation (DALMUN) in which more than 400 students participated from different schools including a group of students from Hyderabad. The DPS management professed their delight at the significant increase in the number of participants since the DALMUN was started two years ago, with this year’s registration figures being four times higher than the initial summit.
DPS A-Levels Principal Huma Thaver reiterated the importance of such programmes in developing students’ critical thinking capacity. “They are not just familiarised with research and information sharing techniques; these youngsters are, essentially, learning how listening to and properly questioning matters, and actually understanding a problem before working on solutions,” she said.
Explaining the basic format of the summit, which is an educational simulation competition that deals with diplomacy and international relations, she said the DALMUN was stringently based on the United Nations’ format and offers invaluable exposure for students. “We give our students the chance to take all decisions regarding DALMUN independently. The management does not interfere in the organising or the actual conducting of the programme,” said Thaver.
“We do help out in arrangements and rehearsals, and also our input on matters, but decisions are never imposed upon the students. The main aim is to provide an environment where youngsters can grow as individuals – identify their strengths and weaknesses – by learning the nuances of diplomacy and working as a group,” she added.
Students participated earlier in the Model United Nations found themselves confident and high achievers whether it comes to their professional performance or social engagement. They believe that participation in the event helped them building up confidence of public speaking and skills of creative and analytical writing and research. Besides, positive attitude and tolerance are the characteristics of their personalities, which they learnt from such platforms.
Zoya Altaf, a professional and an ex-student of SZABIST who participated in Model United Nations during her studies, said that she gained tremendous and valuable experience through participation at the specific event that entailed multiple tasks and activities. The events helped her build up demonstrably those skills which have been useful in her professional duties, she said. “It provided me an opportunity to perform practically whatever we study in theory; hence we got confident and amazing exposure in student life.”
“I have learnt variety of skills through MUN including coordination with fellow committee members, research and report writing for resolutions and documents, project and event management, presentation and public speaking,” she said. “The events taught me such skills earlier which I have been grooming to perform my professional responsibilities.”
Zoya further said that MUNs taught her a lot of soft skills such as confidence, making a valid and factual point across, critical thinking and most importantly listening to others’ point of view. MUNs also provide an outlet for networking in an environment that induces learning and acquiring knowledge from one another, Altaf added.
There is a need to promote the Model United Nations in colleges and schools not only by private educational institutes but such events should also be organised in government colleges and schools.
The Education Ministry of all provinces should also arrange such events at provincial and district levels to provide a practical training platform to students and youth for developing their skills and personalities.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk