By Ngo Gia Linh and Edeline Luisia
Photos by Caleb Candelaria, Karl Roque and Ken Yamashita
View G30 student Theophilus Sng's NUMUN 2024 video here
For the first time since it began in 2022, Nagoya University Model United Nations (NUMUN) proudly hosted a committee conducted entirely in Japanese, marking a significant milestone on our journey.
Following tradition, Nagoya University Model United Nations (NUMUN) blossomed once again with the arrival of the spring season, hosting its annual event on April 27th and 28th. This year's conference saw a gathering of over 120 high school and university students from diverse regions and countries, representing 13 different nations and 30 distinct schools. Some delegates even traveled from as far as Indonesia and the UK to visit Nagoya University campus. NUMUN continues to offer a unique platform for delegates to immerse themselves in a lifelike simulation of United Nations proceedings, where they assume the roles of diplomats from various nations to tackle complex global issues.
WHO Committee
Japanese UNESCO committee, held for the first time at NUMUN
This year, in addition to the usual three committees - Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced - a Japanese committee was also held. The beginner committee, WHO (World Health Organization), tackled the topic of "Health Tech's Horizon: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Public Health". The intermediate UNHRC (The United Nations Human Rights Council) committee, meanwhile, focused on the topic "Addressing Human Rights Concerns over Immigration Detention Practices". The advanced crisis committee simulated the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ad Hoc Meeting, addressing the topic of "Crisis of Democracy in West Africa". Finally, the Japanese committee focused on UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), discussing the topic of "Enhancing the quality and accessibility of education while preserving cultural diversity".
A discussion at the UNHRC Committee Session
The two conference days went by smoothly. Delegates' discussions were fruitful and chairs did their best to facilitate the conferences the way they wanted them to go. Each committee conference was held according to the pace of all delegates, reducing confusion and encouraging them to participate. Additionally, due to delegates coming from all over Japan, participants were able to network and create connections with many people they would otherwise be unable to meet. The newly added Japanese committee was also a big success, inviting more Japanese participants and serving as a great learning experience for many first-timers.
Crisis Committee - ECOWAS
NUMUN 2024 received tremendous support from the International Academic Forum (IAFOR), the ASEAN Nagoya Club (ANC), RedBull, Nagoya University International Students Association (NUFSA), and Nagoya University Global Engagement Center (GEC). Additionally, Dr. Joseph Haldane, founder and CEO of IAFOR, was invited to deliver a welcoming speech to the delegates.
Dr. Joseph Haldane, founder and CEO of IAFOR, gave a welcoming speech at NUMUN Opening Ceremony
The event concluded with the closing ceremony, where Best Delegates, Outstanding Delegates, Honorable Mentions, and Best Position Papers awards were presented to the participants, recognizing their concerted effort in delivering their viewpoint with diplomacy and dedication. Two students from Nagoya University were awarded Best Delegate (WHO) and Best Position Paper (ECOWAS).
The Award Ceremony
Some of the student organizers
With the awarding of 12 delegates and several honorable mentions, NUMUN 2024 was able to conclude successfully. This year's NUMUN garnered the attention of many, bringing together more than 120 delegates from all around the world and respectable sponsors such as IAFOR. With the addition of a Japanese committee to the roster, the four committee conferences were held smoothly, becoming a great learning experience for all parties involved. We hope that NUMUN 2025 will be able to reach much greater heights-serving as a platform for a wider range of participants to meet and discuss intricate global challenges, and as a valuable learning opportunity for all.
NUMUN 2024 was a great success!