Dhaka University National Model United Nations 2017 in Dhaka

Benefits

MUNs have more practical advantages than any other form of public speaking exercise, simply because it involves so many people at once.

1. It teaches you research methodology: When I started MUNning the first and possibly the best advice I got was “Do your research well”. The sheer washout I pulled off in committee worked wonders in reinforcing the ideology that no matter what you do, have the prior knowledge pat down beforehand. Also reading through 200-page documents would seem daunting to a beginner and MUNning taught me how to skim through and identify relevant information, skills I use in my academic life all the time.

2. It teaches you teamwork: MUNs are a great way to learn how to work as a team and use the collective wisdom to your advantage. The group’s collective intelligence is always greater than the sum of its individual parts, and MUNs are a great demonstration of this. What you may lack in oratory skills someone else could cover and what they make lack in research you could cover up so that in the end everyone wins.

3. It’s a good of understanding policymaking: Most people take politics and lawmaking for granted. Being immersed in the process through MUNs gives you an idea of what it really is like at the top and the psyche of our lawmakers. MUNs give a whole new perspective on analyzing the world around us, the laws behind it and its socioeconomic implications.

4. Gratification: This is not really a benefit but it’s a huge morale boost. This might take some time so keep MUNning but once in a while, you will get the opportunity to absolutely destroy someone in committee in the most brutal way allowable in parliamentary language. The *mic drop* feeling you get after that is what makes MUNning worth it.