Côte d’Ivoire 2024/25

I expect both personal and professional benefits from my participation in FAUMUN. Through international collaboration with students from all over the world, I can learn about different new perspectives and arguments on challenges facing our society. I will hopefully build long-term connections with people I hope to meet again during my professional career. FAUMUN also gives me the unique opportunity to gain a taste of the processes and workings of the UN. This is an opportunity that I would never have through my other university modules. Such an insight will help me especially with regard to my career plans. I can test whether I am suitable for the work of a diplomat and whether I can imagine myself in such a job in the long term. In any case, I will significantly improve my soft skills, as well as my language skills.

The United Nations is a vital institution in our interconnected world, offering a global platform for nations to engage in diplomacy, address complex issues, and negotiate solutions to shared challenges. Through its pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN demonstrates its commitment to resolving critical issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. Beyond these goals, the UN plays a crucial role in preventing conflicts and promoting global peace through initiatives like peacekeeping missions and disarmament efforts. To me, the UN resembles hope for a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. It represents a unique space where nations can come together to address problems too complex for one country to solve alone. It embodies the spirit of international cooperation and shared responsibility, encouraging collaboration of not only governments, but also businesses and individuals, to combat humanitarian crises, uphold human rights, and protect the environment.

For me, the United Nations Organization (UN) means hope and humanity. In a world often characterized by conflict, injustice and crisis, the UN stands as a symbol of tireless commitment to peace and cooperation. It reminds us that in spite of our differences, we can work together for a better future. The UN is a place where voices are heard, where diplomacy and dialog are paramount. It stands up for the rights of the most vulnerable and fights against poverty, hunger and discrimination. Its mission to preserve peace and protect human rights is invaluable. At a time when the world is facing major challenges, the UN is a beacon that encourages us to act in solidarity and work for a fairer world. It inspires us to think beyond national borders and to see humanity as one big family.

I joined the program with the hope to improve some of my soft skills such as public speaking, negotiation and teamwork and leadership combability. I expect to learn much from this course, not only about the UN and the possible future of the world, but also about what some of my strong qualities are and how I can exploit them in the future when searching for a job. I also applied in search of new experiences and community. I believe I will meet many likeminded minds that are as motivated as I am to perform a great job while living a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is exciting to participate in such a unique project while, in the meantime, making new friendships and becoming a better trained professional.

The university could greatly benefit from FAUMUN by showcasing its academic diversity and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. FAUMUN brings together students from various fields of study, creating teams that represent a wide range of expertise. This not only highlights the versatility of the university’s programs but also encourages students from different disciplines to work together, exchange ideas, and find common ground. By doing so, FAUMUN strengthens cross-departmental collaboration and allows students to apply their knowledge in a real-world context. Furthermore, the program enhances the university’s international connections through the interactions with other universities during the simulations. This collaborative experience helps build a stronger academic network, promotes cultural exchange, and ultimately increases the university’s visibility and reputation on a global scale. FAUMUN, therefore, contributes to both the academic and international growth of the university.

I am the byproduct of two lives deeply impacted by a ruthless civil war, and the shattered dreams of my parents inspire me daily to make a meaningful difference in the world. Their experiences taught me that the struggles of some countries, like Sri Lanka, often go unnoticed by the global community. This has fueled my belief in the profound need for an organization like the United Nations, which strives to ensure that no nation’s challenges are ignored. To me, the UN represents a vital platform that fosters global connectivity, encourages dialogue, and provides equal opportunities for countries to address their issues on an international stage. However, I am aware that the United Nations faces significant challenges today, including questions about its capacity to effectively contribute to peace and justice in a rapidly changing world. I see the UN not just as an institution, but as a symbol of hope and potential—a place where nations come together to seek collective solutions. As a delegate, I am committed to engaging in thoughtful discussions to address these challenges and contribute to the UN’s mission of creating a more peaceful and equitable world for all.

FAUMUN is a powerful way of teaching about the UN, its structure, the culture of diplomacy, and how it reacts to world events. Through FAUMUN, our university also gets in contact with a wide range of different universities, which benefits the students as well as the university as a hole by creating networking opportunities and getting to know different styles of education. From my participation in FAUMUN, I expect a fascinating educational experience, where I will learn a lot of skills that are very useful in day to day and more importantly in professional life. I applied because of my deep interest in political discourse and debate and I hope to further my knowledge of diplomacy, negotiation and debate.

I have always tended to be in my comfort zone and therefore stuck to my familiar routines. However, since I started university, I have been opening up to new people, new experiences, and new insights, which has made me more reflective, open, and diverse. Therefore, in FAUMUN I see the opportunity to further engage in unfamiliar spheres and to educate myself further on various global topics. On top of that, the work of the UN has always fascinated me which is why FAUMUN offers a great opportunity to learn more about the complexity of diplomatic relations, peacekeeping missions, and global connections. This interdisciplinary project will broaden my horizon and make me more aware of global issues and present topics. 

The United Nations is an organization that brings together a wide range of countries to collaborate on solutions for both regional and global challenges. It aims not only to address current issues but also to develop long-term strategies for challenges that affect our planet and future generations. The importance of the UN is evident in the critical topics it addresses, such as world hunger, human rights protection, and maintaining global peace. The UN’s primary focus is on improving the well-being of people around the world, prioritizing human welfare over economic or political power. For me personally, maintaining world peace is the most crucial aspect of the UN’s work. Political tensions and armed conflicts have the greatest impact on ordinary people, and history has shown us that the cost of war on civilians is unbearably high.

The FAUMUN project benefits the university in several ways by engaging students in global issues, which in turn makes them aware of cultural diversity and other perspectives. By organizing conferences in Erfurt, Bamberg, and Berlin, students benefit from extremely important networking opportunities with fellow students from various institutions. FAUMUN deliberately develops students‘ intercultural competencies through debates that are based on real-world issues, so that they can learn the critical thinking, communication, and negotiation skills necessary for their professional life. It also encourages students to become more aware and responsible citizens who participate effectively in their local communities. This experience-based learning not only enriches their knowledge of international relations but also helps them to acquire leadership skills and a sense of civic duty, thus enhancing both the academic life of the university and its contribution to society.

I believe that the Intergovernmental Organization, the United Nations, serves as a forum for dialogue and negotiations, fostering countries to work together on solutions to maintain peace and resolve other crises. It is particularly fascinating how diplomats from various countries with different cultural backgrounds and attitudes come together and finally reach a consensus or compromise. Over the past decades, the UN has seen several significant successes, including humanitarian assistance in conflict regions and the adoption of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) that aim to eradicate poverty. All of these measures contribute to the overall improvement of the world. Through initiatives like the FAUMUN delegation, knowledge about diplomacy and international relations is passed on to the next generation in the hope that they will also continue the process of making the world a better place for everyone.

Model UN places strong emphasis on problem solving, critical thinking and diplomacy, all of which are crucial skills for navigating the complexities of international relations. Due to its practical nature, I believe it is able to transfer knowledge and teach soft skills like no other course in university. This experiential learning approach makes it uniquely effective at transferring knowledge and fostering essential soft skills. What makes MUN truly unique is its ability to give participants a tangible glimpse into the life of a diplomat. For me personally, I hope to improve my public speaking abilities and presentation skills through speech and negotiation training. Apart from that, I am keen on meeting likeminded people from other faculties who I would have never met otherwise. The fact that this course requires you research the political stance of different countries and current topics of political interest excites me greatly. This process of research and preparation is incredibly rewarding for me as it not only deepens my knowledge  of international relations but also keeps me informed on the most pressing political topics of our time.

I have applied for this opportunity to learn more about the working methods of the United Nations and the role of diplomats. My primary goal is to deepen my understanding of international relations and diplomacy, gaining first-hand insights into global decision-making processes. This experience will allow me to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. The diverse language and rhetoric training offered is an excellent way to enhance communication skills, which are crucial in the business world and essential for effective diplomacy. Moreover, the chance to engage in real-world scenarios will improve my ability to navigate complex negotiations and discussions. I see this as an invaluable opportunity to further my personal and professional growth, making me better equipped for future challenges in the international arena.

Coming from a politically active family, and always being interested in politics and diplomacy, I have applied to FAUMUN in the hope of getting to know new perspectives and positions on different political and societal topics. I’m looking forward to exchange ideas with different people, coming from all across the globe, getting to know their different concerns about the future and hearing the different suggestions, on how to deal with them. I’m eager to learn more about the processes behind international politics and the inner workings of the UN. Furthermore I hope to become better at giving speeches and learning about negotiation techniques and applying them in the different MUNs, spread over the Term. Finally I’m thankful for the opportunity, to connect myself with different people from other faculties and building friendships along the way.