Meet Jamie
A passionate politics student and active member of the University of Nottingham’s United Nations Society. From lively debates to building confidence in public speaking, Jamie gives us a glimpse into the fun and friendly atmosphere of a course-related society and how it has added to his university experience.
The mood within the General Assembly is tense. The great powers are throwing accusations at each other, blaming others for the current crisis. Tensions are high. The world stands on the precipice of total annihilation, and then the session draws to a close and the group of United Nations delegates head for a local pub in Nottingham.
This is a weekly experience for members of the university’s Model United Nations (MUN) Society. Every Thursday, we debate a key international issue, from the current crisis in Taiwan to climate change. Participants turn up, choose any country, and represent their view on the issue. MUN offers the opportunity to improve critical thinking and public speaking skills by defending views that you may entirely disagree with. Even though we often fail to agree, just like the real United Nations, it is a great way to learn more about how the world works and to have some fun along the way.
A diverse group of students
Our society includes people from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines, so whether you are studying Politics and International Relations or a STEM student, everyone is welcome. We begin the year by training new members, introducing our rules, and discussing different styles of debates. Ahead of every session, we release a study guide introducing the topic, and there is a presentation before we start the debate to ensure you are up to speed.
Social highlights
Alongside our weekly sessions, we tend to host a social event and another event every month. Since the start of this year, we have tried our hand a pub golf and we joined the Politics Society in a pub quiz. We have also travelled to Loughborough to compete against their MUN society, and we were very lucky to host an event for the US Presidential Election.
Our premier event is our annual conference, NottsMUN, which is usually held in March. The society welcomes students from universities across the UK and Europe to Nottingham for a weekend of debating the world’s biggest issues. Alongside the conference, we normally have two social events that provide attendees with a fantastic taste of our city’s vibrant nightlife.
Join the United Nations Society
Despite discussing some of the world’s most complex and difficult issues, we are not too formal or strict, we share a common interest in global affairs.
Follow us on Instagram @nottsmun, WhatsApp, and Discord.
If you have any questions, you can email us at model-united nations@uonsu.com.
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