Success on an international stage

UNSW has sent the largest delegation of any Australian university to a model United Nations event in The Hague, extending students' skills in international relations and diplomacy.

For the second year in a row, UNSW students took part in the Harvard World Model United Nations, which involves around 2,500 students from more than 150 universities.

The event gives students the opportunity to test their knowledge of international law and policy and use their diplomatic skills.

The UNSW delegation represented Bangladesh and Colombia on an array of committees tackling issues such as the weaponisation of space and human rights in Tibet.

The students spent two months preparing for the event and many were successful in persuading the rest of their committee to produce resolutions that served both their country's interests and resolved the crisis at hand.

"We learn a lot about international law in class, but to see it work in the real world makes you realise just how difficult negotiations can be," says delegate Nesha Balasubramanian, a 19-year-old student in her second year of International Studies/Law.

"The other really exciting thing is that we were in The Hague - the epicentre of international justice," Nesha says. "It was one of the most exciting times of my life and gave me more of an idea of what it would be like to be a diplomat."

"The ultimate goal of this project is to bring the WorldMUN conference to UNSW," says Jessie Ingle, the head delegate for the 13-member UNSW team. "We are very grateful to UNSW for its support in helping us get this far."

The delegates received some financial assistance and support from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the UN Society at UNSW.

For more information, go to the UNSW United Nations Society website.