Atma Jaya Participation in HNMUN 2014: The Summary

3/10/2014 12:00:00 AM

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On February 13-16^th, 2014, 7 delegates from Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia participated in Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) that was held by Harvard University students, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. That was the first time for Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia to participate in the event, joining other Indonesian universities which have been sending their delegation to the HNMUN every year, as well as other universities from all around the world in this simulation of United Nations (UN) conference. Each university delegation represented a nation or an international organization, which was determined randomly by the organizing committee.

 

The delegates of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia were divided into 4 major groups of committees, which were General Assembly (GA), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Regional Bodies, and Specialized Agencies. Each group was divided into smaller panels of committee with specific sections, such as Disarmament and International Security and Special Political and Decolonization under GA; Global Health Cluster and Commission on the Status of Women under ECOSOC. The delegation represented Republic of Chile for all other committees beside the Global Health Cluster, in which represented International Council of Voluntary Agencies.

 

In HNMUN, each committee was obliged to discuss a topic that was determined through a debate by the majority of delegates in the committee. The topic of the world problems was brought into working papers as the summary of actions that they believed could solve the problems of the topic discussed in the floor. The working papers were debated for revision and brought back to the floor again as draft resolutions. The drafts resolutions were also debated in needs of any amending before being voted by all committee members to be accepted as a final resolution from the committee. In the process, each representation of a nation or international organization might make or join coalitions under particular working papers, draft resolutions, and the resolutions through their visions, approach, or even geographical similarity.

 

Each committee had a board of Director and a moderator who regulated the debating process. The directors, who had previously provided the participants with substantive materials, would look after each delegate activities and make judgment of it, assisted by other chair members. The judgment was used to determine the candidates for several awards,including the categories of "verbal commendation", "honorable mention", "outstanding delegates", and "best delegates". The awards provided by HNMUN were considered as the most prestigious one among other MUNs in the world.

 

The delegation of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia has not yet won any of the awards this year, but there are exceptional insights earned by the delegation through its debut: the very high atmosphere of competition, the unpredicted techniques of debating, and the challenging debating procedures. The delegation recognized that the insights could not be earned without being directly immersed in the event, even after the guidance and extensive research which had been done before the event. Thus, the delegation believe this year‘s experience will be a distinct benefit to prepare the following delegations for the next years from Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, in purpose of winning the awards provided.

 

Other intangible experience was also earned through the opportunity of being guided by Prof. Dr. F. G. Winarno as a faculty advisor, sharing his experience of being the president of CODEX Alimentarius Commission, the world‘s top food standardization regulation body, under the UN‘s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO). The delegation earned the priceless experience to practice all of the trainings and preparations given since the previous 6 months, from the artistic debating skills and inter-personal manners.

 

Each delegate also earned new good friends from all of over the globe, and had a really good time visiting several educational sites around the congress venue in its very tight schedule. During free time, the delegates took a visit to Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and University of Massachusetts Amherst.

 

The delegation has successfully esteemed its commitment to undergo every session of the event and other activities in the best manner of diligence, politeness, and providence. It was through the enforcement of daily evaluation and prayers, and also the preference of most cost-effective accommodation, transportation, and consumption.

 

Finally, all delegation members humbly praise God for all the health, sufficiency, and smoothness in every preparation, execution, and post-departure process. We really thank Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Faculty of Biotechnology, and other parties that cannot be mentioned one by one for all the supports given so that the delegation could participate in this distinctive event. Hopefully, the experience may initiate the world-scale cooperation sense in Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia students; thus, give birth of world future leaders.

 

 

Report:  Widya Agustinah (Wakil Dekan Bidang Kemahasiswaan FTb)