DOHA: Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) students have returned from Milan, Italy, after taking part as delegates to the week-long Milan Model United Nations conference.
The 10th forum was held after the opening of Milan 2015 Expo to give a chance to university students to practise diplomacy by simulating the role of a diplomat or chairing one of the committees.
The conference aims to develop skills, including the ability to speak confidently in public, negotiation, skills to form alliances and furthering one’s country’s position and draft diplomatic documents.
GU-Q student Nayab Rana said students were able to interact with people from diverse fields of study, from economics, international relations and law to history, medicine and mathematics.
“I represented France in the Security Council and was able to utilise many of the skills I had acquired during my first year of studies at GU-Q, such as negotiation with other nations, formulation of valid arguments and debating them effectively.”
GU-Q student Eman Thowfeek, who was one of the award recipients at the conference, said it was a refreshing experience to have been able to take part as a delegate representing her university.
“Winning ‘Honourable Mention’ award should be credited to Georgetown for instilling passion for negotiation and debate in me.” This year represents a milestone for Milan, which from the beginning of May started hosting the expo and for the UN which will analyse the current global situation with regard to 2015 Millennium Development Goals and create a new agenda for the coming years. Conference organisers selected a theme ‘Changing course to feed the world’ in line with the message ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’ promoted by the Expo which focuses on issues of exploitation of natural resources, environmental challenges and food production and consumption.The Peninsula
