International conference at Paderborn University
The international and cross-faculty programme "Erasmus BIP-MUN 2024" brought together 140 students and university staff from all over Europe on the campus of Paderborn University. The centrepiece of the project was the "Model United Nations Conference", where participants were able to learn a lot about diplomacy, international relations and the work of the United Nations. The project was funded by the European Union and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
"Model United Nations" (MUN) is an educational simulation. The participating students, known as "delegates", take on the role of country representatives and simulate bodies such as UNESCO. They debate global political issues, negotiate compromises, look for solutions to current problems and write resolutions.
International exchange programme made accessible
In the virtual preparation for the "MUN Conference" in Paderborn, the students already learnt how the United Nations works, what rules such a conference is subject to, how to prepare and research current political topics from the perspective of the assigned country, how to write a comprehensive position paper and how to represent the country appropriately. Over 120 delegates from eight universities from seven countries ended up debating topics such as AI technologies, cybercrime, educational equality and cultural assets. "Although it was the first MUN conference that many of the students had ever attended, they were fully immersed in their role from the second day onwards and quickly learnt a lot from the exchange with more experienced delegates and the chairs," summarises Noa Ibrahim, President of the Paderborn student association "PaderMUN".
Four of the participating universities belong to the European University Alliance COLOURS (Universities of Le Mans, St Kliment Ohrdski Bitola, Ferrara and Jan Dlugosz). Students and staff from the Universities of Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic) and the University of Fulda also took part.
Largest Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) to date at Paderborn University
Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) combine virtual and physical mobility, enabling a low-threshold, inclusive form of international exchange for students and staff. The BIP in Paderborn was framed by an extensive programme of city tours, a day trip to the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum, a campus tour, a visit to the AStA summer festival and other leisure activities.
Denise Parkinson, coordinator of "PaderMUN" and research assistant at the Department of English and American Studies at Paderborn University, was responsible for the content and implementation of the project. Central coordination and organisation was the responsibility of Anke Riebau, Internationalisation Officer at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. "Without the great interest and tireless work of our students, neither the conference nor the BIP could have taken place," said Denise Parkinson and Anke Riebau, thanking the dedicated helpers. The volunteers chaired the sessions, wrote background guides for the preparation of the committees and implemented the planned supporting programmes and social activities. Following the successful kick-off of the BIP in Paderborn, a new application and the "Erasmus BIP-MUN 2025" at a European partner university are already being planned.
This text has been translated automatically.
