Skip To Main Content

Model United Nations 2025 conference hosted by Aiglon College

Model United Nations 2025 conference hosted by Aiglon College
Model United Nations 2025 conference hosted by Aiglon College

On 11 January 2025 Aiglon College became a hub of diplomacy, collaboration, and global dialogue as it proudly hosted a Model United Nations (MUN) conference on campus. This student-led event brought together students from ten Swiss international boarding schools to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Over 120 students representing Aiglon, Brillantmont International School, Collège Champittet, Copperfield International School - Verbier, Ecolint: International School of Geneva, Ecolint: International School of Geneva, Haut-Lac International Bilingual School, Institut Le Rosey, International School of Lausanne, Le Régent International School and La Garenne participated in the event. Each school assigned student officers to lead and chair specific committees. 

The MUN conference theme, "Mitigating Injustices," reflected Aiglon's commitment to fostering a culture of empathy, awareness, and proactive leadership. By engaging in this conference, students had the opportunity to not only sharpen their skills in diplomacy, public speaking, and negotiation but also cultivate a deeper understanding of the complexities of justice on a global scale.

“MUN is a hugely rewarding and enjoyable activity. It reflects character, determination, tenacity and resilience” stated Steve Cook, Director of Character Education at Aiglon. “We are delighted to welcome so many schools to our campus, and the energy and enthusiasm that you all bring.” 

What is MUN? 

Model United Nations (MUN) is an educational simulation in which students role-play as delegates to the United Nations (UN) and simulate UN committees. Participants research, debate, and collaborate to address global issues, just as real diplomats would. The annual conference, hosted each year by a different school, provides students with an understanding of international relations, fosters cultural exchange, and encourages leadership. 

Many of today’s leaders in law, government, business and the arts – including at the UN itself – participated in MUN as students.

“Aiglon College is a multicultural and multilingual community represented by over 460 students from 65 nationalities. The Model United Nations conference, hosted on campus, offered a transformative learning experience for the 52 students who represented the school” stated Alison Abbott, MUN staff advisor at Aiglon. “These ambitious students are developing essential skills like public speaking, critical thinking, and diplomacy while tackling global challenges. They learn to analyse complex issues, negotiate solutions, and build consensus, all while gaining a deep appreciation for cultural nuances in our interconnected world. MUN not only sharpens their team-building, leadership and problem-solving abilities but also empowers them to become empathetic, globally-minded citizens prepared for the challenges of the future.” 

Empowering young minds 

At Aiglon, we believe in empowering young minds to think critically and act compassionately. Our school was founded on a distinctive ethos: the balanced development of mind, body and spirit. This philosophy underpins everything we do at Aiglon, both inside and outside the classroom. 

The committee topics addressed open-debate by the students were: 

  • Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Committee (SOCHUM): Mitigating the impact of deportation on families.
  • Economic & Social Council: Mitigating the impact of economic sanctions on the most vulnerable.
  • United Nations Environment Programme: Mitigating health impacts of pollution, & how this in turn affects children and young people.
  • Security Council: Mitigating the risk of nuclear proliferation in conflict zones.
  • International Court of Justice: Mitigating effects of the south china sea arbitration.

A Secret Summit, focused on considering a new charter for the United Nation, was hosted between selected committees to discuss highly sensitive matters.   

Aiglon has a strong tradition of hosting Model United Nations (MUN) conferences. In January 2023, the school organised an event attended by students from twelve Swiss schools. This year marks the fourth MUN conference Aiglon has hosted. Today, a network of international schools collaborates to offer high-quality one-day events, helping students quickly gain valuable experience.

Beyond hosting, Aiglon actively participates in international MUN events. In January 2024, students participated in the THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) conference, a prominent global MUN gathering. A student delegation will participate in the 57th Annual THIMUN The Hague conference at the end of January. The theme of this conference is “The Impact of AI on Humanity”. 

“I want to start this speech by talking about the power we as humans hold. Power of compassion, power of collaboration, power of mitigation and power to impact” stated Deni (Year 13), Secretary General Chair of the ICJ. “As youth, we might not change the world, but we can build on the foundation we’ve inherited. It’s our responsibility to mitigate conflicts, prevent further harm, and uphold the value of preserving human life. These are ideals that leading intergovernmental organisations sometimes overlook, yet they remain essential. Many of today’s global challenges cannot be resolved solely on a national level. The world’s people need—and deserve—better-coordinated global action.” 

These activities underscore Aiglon's commitment to engaging students in global issues through MUN.

“Do not forget that whatever you do is based on the trust between negotiators” stated Dr. Frank Moser, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “The sentiment that whatever you do in communicating and discussing is between a human being and another human being. If there is no trust there will be no solutions.” 

Future Leaders Speak Out: Youth Perspectives in a World at Crossroads 

As the world navigates rising geopolitical tensions, record-breaking heat, and technological revolutions, global cooperation is at a crossroads, according to the recently published in the second edition of Global Cooperation Barometer by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company. Students participating in the MUN conference had the opportunity to provide the youth perspective for today's changing world. 

  • Activities