United Netherlands

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Delegations: '03/'04 | '04/'05 | '05/'06 | '06/'07 | '07/'08 | '08/'09 | Alumni Association

Have you always been interested in the United Nations, its ideals, practices and shortcomings?

Would you like to discuss world affairs with students from different backgrounds and nationalities?

Do you want to develop your debating, negotiating and lobbying skills?

Do you want to be part of a diverse group united by talent and motivation?

Are you looking for a challenge?

Then you might want to consider applying for the United Netherlands delegation!

Being part of the United Netherlands delegation means being trained for half a year in the theory and practice of multilateral diplomacy in various ways. With a group of 30 to 34 bright and inspired students from the Netherlands you will learn how to convince others, speak in public, and lobby effectively. You will receive lectures in international relations from renowned speakers and an intensive training week in New York. Finally you will bring theory into practice by participating in Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN): the oldest, largest, and, arguably, most respected Model United Nations conference in the world. Together with the other delegates of United Netherlands, you will do your utmost best to serve the country you will be representing at HNMUN during four intensive conference days in Boston.

Overview

Participation in the United Netherlands delegation consists of several parts. In the first place, you will attend the preparatory track in the Netherlands, which offers a unique introduction to the practice of international diplomacy and which prepares you for the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) in particular. In addition to lectures, you will receive a thorough training in public speaking, debating and lobbying. We shall also organize several briefings and master classes. Last years, for example, we visited the American embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and received master classes from former Prime Minister Wim Kok, Job Cohen, mayor of Amsterdam, Bert Koenders and Marjet van Zuijlen, (former) members of parliament, amongst many others. You will also attend a training day in problem solving and negotiating in October and participate at the Oxford International Model United Nations in November.

Then, in the beginning of February, we shall go to the United States for two weeks. During the first week, you will receive your final intensive training week and attend some briefings at amongst others the United Nations Headquarters. After the training week you will get a few days off to relax. By that time, you will be completely ready for the Harvard National Model United Nations; the last part and absolute highlight of the United Netherlands program. The preparatory track will by this time have prepared you to debate, negotiate, and lobby for four intensive days. Here you will have the opportunity to show that you are among the world's finest future diplomats.

The preparation track, the training week, and HNMUN together form the unique course United Nations and Multilateral Diplomacy: Theory and Practice (UNMD). The course is equivalent to a BA3 course and 10 ECTS. You will also receive a grade and certificate for the course.

Of course, we expect something back. To make the preparatory track and the United Netherlands participation to HNMUN a success, we need delegates that are committed, participate actively, and are willing to work hard for the project. So, you will need to invest time and effort. We expect from you that you invest twelve to fifteen hours per week in the preparatory track (traveling costs and social activities excluded).

This implies that in addition to the weekly six-hour meetings on Friday, you will have to read and prepare for at least six to nine hours per week. Amongst others, you will have to write short weekly assignments as well as research and position papers. Since practical skills are very important in this course and you cannot practice them by yourself, you are required to attend every meeting (see Preparatory Track for details). Furthermore, as you can imagine, we cannot invite a top-notch international lawyer or visit Foreign Affairs with some delegates missing and others not knowing exactly what it is all about. And, of course, the whole experience is much more rewarding to you if you participate actively and invest sufficient time.

During the whole track, you will receive intensive training, coaching and feedback from two Head Delegates, who carry the responsibility for the delegation. They are highly experienced students who have committed themselves full-time for half a year to ensure you get the most out of this experience.

The UNMD course is a unique university course in the Netherlands because of its high level and its strong practical component. At the end of this course, you should be able to successfully speak in public, debate, negotiate effectively, and know how to lobby. Furthermore, you will have a working knowledge of international law, international economics, and international politics. Finally, you should have a thorough understanding of the matters discussed in the committee you will attend at HNMUN. (If you are puzzled by the abbreviations, get used to it! You cannot read a UN document without encountering a dozen of them.)

The preparatory track is aimed at teaching you the necessary skills and knowledge. It consists of weekly Friday meetings, which shall mostly be held in Nijmegen. (Sometimes we will attend lectures in, for instance, Amsterdam or Rotterdam and visit Ministries and embassies.) The first meeting will be in September and the last one in February, just before we leave for the USA. A typical meeting will start on Friday at 11.00 and end at 18.00. You will start with a lecture, from 13.00-14.00 you will have a lunch break and from 14.00-18.00 you will enjoy three trainings in small groups.

The high level of the course is maintained by inviting top professors and by attracting excellent trainers on the one hand and by selecting a small group of bright and motivated students on the other.

You are in principle required to attend all Friday meetings. If you miss more than two meetings, this will affect your grade, if you miss more than three meetings (for any reason) you will be required to write an extra assignment, and if you miss five you will be automatically expelled from the course. We also maintain the right to expel you if you fail to meet other crucial obligations, such as writing a position paper.

Course Outline Preparation Track

Weeks 1-2: Introduction to the UN and MUN
Weeks 3-7: International law, economics, and politics: theory and practice
Weeks 8-14: In-depth country study. In these weeks we shall study the country we are assigned by Harvard MUN in lectures and an embassy visit and you will write your position paper, which is required for participation by Harvard.
Weeks 15-18: Public speaking, negotiation and lobbying. Although you will have practiced these skills a lot, in the last weeks of the preparation track we shall target them individually and provide you with a theoretical framework.

Negotation day

In October you will attend a problem solving training in order to effectively address the complex issues you will be faced with. This training will focus on essential analytical and strategic skills you will need during the preparatory track; they will also prove to be valuable for your further career. It runs for an entire day, including evening, and will test your stamina. This day is one the unique aspects of the course!

Oxford International Model United Nations (OXiMUN)

In November you will be ready for your first real-life MUN experience. OXiMUN at Oxford University will be your first test case where you can show how much you have advanced. This experience will also be highly beneficial for your performance at Harvard.

Training week (New York)

In the week before HNMUN, we will have five days of an intensive final preparation. In small groups, you will discuss and plan your strategy for your committee, determine your potential allies and foes, practice opening speeches, as well as impromptu speeches. Furthermore, you will receive intensive negotiation training during this week as well. In addition, we shall make use of the fact that we are in New York and attend briefings at the United Nations Headquarters and visit several diplomatic missions. During the evening, we shall provide an optional social program. After this intensive week, you will have a few days off before HNMUN to relax and explore New York and Boston.

When you enter the conference area (or arena perhaps) in Boston, you will find yourself optimally prepared for the 55th edition of the Harvard National Model United Nations. This is the oldest, largest and arguably the most prestigious Model United Nations (MUN) around.

What is it exactly?

As in any MUN, the idea behind HNMUN is to let you experience what it is like to work as a diplomat in the UN. Every delegation, such as ours, will be assigned a country (which can be for instance China or Denmark), which it will have to represent in several UN committees, ranging from the Security Council (with 15 countries) to the General Assembly (192 countries). You will represent your country on your own or in a two-man team. Your mission is to seek solutions to global problems, while also successfully looking after the interests of the country you represent. Topics in committees can revolve around threats to international peace, such as "The situation in Iran" or challenges as "Narcotic Drugs" or "Natural Disasters". The result of your efforts will be a resolution which has to be adopted by the majority of present members

Participants at HNMUN are highly dedicated students who attend prestigious universities such as Yale, Chicago, Oxford, University Pennsylvania or Westpoint Military Academy and also many international schools.

Results

Over the last few years, we have managed to develop a strong and balanced preparatory track and to attract the finest students. Whereas in the first year we went, United Netherlands received no awards, in the second year we already received two. The third year we came home with eight individual prizes and became the first European delegation in years to win the award for Best International Delegation. In 2007, United Netherlands received not only the award for Best International Delegation, but also the award for Best Large Delegation!
In 2008 at Harvard National Model United Nations, the United Netherlands delegation won the award for Outstanding Delegation.