The Model UN Process

First, high schools from Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties register for the program. Second, the school’s MUN coordinator is given a list of countries available for students to study in preparation for the year’s MUN competition. Schools are encouraged to involve their students in this selection process to develop early “ownership" by the students.

The country assignments are based on a variety of factors, including school preference, previous participation, geographic balance and UN committee (issue) support. For example, Security Council countries can be selected only by schools that have previously participated in SWFLMUN. 

Once countries are assigned, student delegates choose the committee, or issue, they wish to research. The issues set the agenda for the conference. A list of the committees and issues for debate in our 2024 conference, as well as study guides, can be viewed here.

Students register as Model UN delegates in the fall and select up to three countries for their club/delegation to represent and begin preparations for the competition months in advance, assisted in their research by teacher coaches. Students competing for awards prepare position papers on their topics, which are then reviewed and rated by a panel of NCWA members ahead of time. They learn the structure of the United Nations and how to navigate its policies and procedures, including how to draft resolutions.

They advocate positions of their selected countries and negotiate to achieve consensus on the issue being discussed, usually dealing with widely divergent views from the collective countries represented. Students use knowledge gained in researching their assigned country and topic(s) to present their nation's points of view.

Volunteer judges are assigned to a committee and asked to rate the most effective delegates, using guidelines provided by NCWA.  

During the school year, coaches assist students in their research efforts. Issues to be addressed by the respective committees are selected by the Florida Gulf Coast University MUN Club under the supervision of its faculty advisor, Dr. Richard Coughlin, and are based upon current global concerns.

Students prepare their committee research for the annual SWFLMUN conference in March at FGCU. At the conference, judges evaluate the student delegates’ performances at each of the Security Council and committee meetings. Winning teams and individuals are declared at the end of the conference and thousands of dollars in scholarships are distributed.

For more information about SWFLMUN, go to www.swflmun.org

Or, contact Model UN Coordinator Beth Foss at swflmun@comcast.net