Conference Papers

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The first part of this paper describes the structure and function of the National Collegiate Model United Nations Conference, the oldest and largest student-run academic role playing simulation of its kind in the world. This conference is held annually in New York City during the week before Easter and is attended by approximately 1,800 students from about 160 colleges located mainly in the U.S. and Canada but also in such other countries as Germany, Japan, and Egypt.

The second part of this paper reports on the results of a survey designed to determine what students feel they learned through preparing for and participating in the National Model U.N. Conference. Survey questionnaires were given to a dozen advisors attending the 1996 conference and 148 (about 80%) were returned; this survey response group constitutes about 8% of the delegates in attendance.

The survey results indicate that students feel that Model U.N. participation is a valuable educational experience. The response to eight general questions ranged from a high of 98% who strongly agreed or agreed that "I would recommend participation in a Model U.N. program as a valuable educational experience to friends and relatives" down to 75% who strongly agreed or agreed that "participating in the Model U.N. program was the best educational experience of my college years." The percentage of respondents who circled items on a list of eleven skills or lessons learned ranged from a high of 84% who circled "caucusing and negotiating skills" down to a low of 38% who circled "writing."

The survey results generally confirm the opinion the authors have had during their total of forty-three years of Model U.N. advisor experience: participation in a well run Model United Nations Conference is worth the considerable time, energy and expense involved because it is an excellent educational experience.

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Teaching Politics is published by William J. Ball (ball@tcnj.edu)