About SMUN

Stockholm Model United Nations

Each fall the Stockholm Model United Nations (SMUN) Conference attracts an ever increasing number of top university students from both Sweden and abroad. These students, who represent the very best in their respective fields of study, are selected through a competitive application process, to participate as delegates in a simulation of the negotiations taking place within the UN and other international organisations.

Simulating international institutions

The delegates are presented with real and pressing issues of current international concern, and they are challenged to present jointly constructed – and feasible – resolutions to these scenarios. Annually, more than 150 top university students from around the world are expected to participate in a three day conference.

Supporting tomorrow’s leaders

The SMUN Conference fills a gap in the regular course curriculum by offering ambitious students a forum for practising their speaking skills and negotiations techniques, both important tools needed in today’s global world; for students embarking on international careers, whether it is in business, governments or international organisations, SMUN is a unique opportunity to practice the skills of leadership and cooperation.

The MUN concept

SMUN brings together university students for active discussion and engagement in issues of world politics. The conferences demand much of the students, in terms of knowledge and diplomatic skills; the pay-off, however, is one which benefits the participating delegates for the rest of their lives. SMUN sets the framework within which interest is turned into involvement, and theory is turned into practice.

A Model United Nations conference – also known as ‘Model UN’ or simply ‘MUN’ – is an authentic simulation of the work in a UN committee such as the Security Council, or other regional and international organisations, such as the African Union or the WTO.

A MUN conference is structured as a scenario based simulation, meant to educate and train the participants in fields of civics, communications, and multilateral diplomacy.

During a Model United Nations conference, students take on roles as foreign diplomats and participate in simulated sessions, representing the country appointed to them. To prepare they investigate an issue in depth, to be able to debate and develop solutions to the topic of discussion. During a simulation the participating delegates must employ a variety of communications and critical thinking skills to defend and advance the policies of the country they represent.

In a MUN, existing rules and procedures are followed to a great extent, something which aims at giving the participating delegates a chance to put into practice his/her knowledge while learning how the international system works.

Model United Nations started in 1953 at Harvard University and has since become a global phenomenon. Each year, Stockholm MUN sends a delegation to the WorldMUN which in 2009 was held in the Hague, The Netherlands.