Model United Nations (MUNs) are events that simulate a wide range of United Nations’ committees, agencies, conferences etc, as well as other International Organizations. Unlike the name stands for, it is not limited to the UN System bodies. There are also simulations of other negotiation forums, such as regional summits or historical committees. Sometimes, even hypothetical committees may be simulated. This kind of event may be directed to undergraduate or secondary students, depending on the purpose of each Model, which can be national or international-wide in scope.

In these simulations, participants – known as delegates – have the opportunity to act as ambassadors of a country (or representatives of NGOs) at a specific committee, representing their countries' interests in the discussion of issues that fall under that body's precise mandate of action. The majority of the students participating in these conferences hail from the Humanities (such as International Relations, Law, Political Science, Social Sciences and Economics); however, students of other areas also frequently participate, especially in more technical committees that are related to their fields of study. The meetings follow strict rules of procedure and codes of conduct, so to make the simulations’ environment the most likely to real international conferences.

Engaging in such an experience is a unique opportunity for academic growth, as delegates not only perform a thorough research of the matters to be discussed, but also study the foreign policy of their assigned country and of the ones that are more deeply involved in the debated topics. MUNs are efficient resources to increase professional and personal abilities, developing skills as public speaking, negotiation, teamwork, cultural tolerance and cooperative learning. All this makes MUNs extremely valuable educational tools and delightful opportunities to meet new people with shared common interests and values.

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