University of Sharjah launches 4th model UN meet
The College of Public Policy at the University of Sharjah has inaugurated the fourth edition of its Model United Nations Conference (UOSMUN 4.0), organised by the university's Model UN Student Association.
The three-day event, themed Empowering Global Voices, Shaping a Shared Future, has drawn widespread participation from university and high school students across the UAE, offering a dynamic platform for diplomatic simulations and immersive learning experiences.
UOSMUN serves as an academic incubator for aspiring leaders, enabling participants to engage in realistic simulations of UN bodies such as the General Assembly, Security Council, International Court of Justice, and World Health Organization.
This year's conference introduces an Arab-focused committee addressing contemporary cultural colonialism, alongside committees tackling disarmament, climate change, refugee crises, and medical misinformation.
The model UN conference serves to inculcate in students the virtues of aspiring leaders.
Over 10 committees are entirely student-led, reflecting the programme's emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and leadership development.
Prof. Youssef Haik, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Acting Dean of the College of Public Policy, underscored the conference's role in equipping students with practical insights into global governance.
'Initiatives like UOSMUN deepen students' understanding of international relations while sharpening their critical thinking and decision-making skills,' he stated.
Prof. Eid Kannan, Dean of Student Affairs, highlighted the university's commitment to extracurricular activities that foster professional growth: 'By empowering students to articulate solutions to real-world challenges, we cultivate globally conscious leaders capable of driving meaningful change.'
Dr. Shyamal Kataria, Chair of the International Relations Department, emphasised the event's focus on nurturing innovative problem-solvers.
'The diversity of committee topics — from climate resilience to combating disinformation — prepares students to address multifaceted global issues with creativity and rigor,' he noted.
The conference's student-driven structure reinforces skills in public speaking, negotiation, and research, aligning with Sharjah's vision to position itself as a hub for impactful education and research. By simulating high-stakes international dialogues, UOSMUN 4.0 aims to instil a culture of cooperation and forward-thinking leadership among participants.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
UN special rapporteur denounces aid delivery as cover for violence in Gaza
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, criticised the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's aid delivery system, calling the use of 'aid distribution' a form of 'humanitarian camouflage'. She described it as 'an essential tactic of this genocide' in a post on X. 'History will prove right those who had sounded the alarm, and it will be of no consolation: the damage is done,' Albanese wrote, placing blame on what she called the 'moral and political corruption of the world we live in'. The statement comes amid repeated reports of deadly Israeli gunfire near aid distribution points in Gaza, where hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access humanitarian assistance.
Gulf Today
13 hours ago
- Gulf Today
UAE President, VPs receive Eid Al Adha greetings from leaders of Arab, Islamic states
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan received congratulatory messages on the occasion of Eid Al Adha from Kings, Presidents, and Emirs of Arab and Islamic states. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, also received similar congratulatory messages on the occasion. UAE President exchanges Eid Al Adha greetings with regional leaders President Sheikh Mohamed also exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings today in phone calls with Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait; King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain; and King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. During the conversations, the leaders conveyed their best wishes for ongoing health, happiness and prosperity. They prayed that the occasion would bring continued blessings to their peoples, and that their countries would enjoy lasting peace, stability and progress. They also expressed their hopes for stability and prosperity for Muslim nations and the wider international community. WAM
The National
13 hours ago
- The National
Five more reported killed near Gaza aid centres as operations resume
Five more Gazans were killed on Sunday by Israeli gunfire near centres run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, official Palestinian media reported, as the aid group reopened several distribution points. In Rafah, four people were killed and 70 others wounded by Israeli army fire near an aid centre west of the southern city, the Wafa news agency said. In central Gaza, one person was killed and others hurt near a distribution centre at the so-called Netzarim Corridor. The foundation said it reopened several distribution centres in the territory on Sunday, after blaming Hamas for the closure of its operations the previous day. The controversial US and Israel-backed group began work about two weeks ago after Israel eased an aid blockade on Gaza. Its operations, which bypass traditional humanitarian groups, have been condemned by the UN and established charities, who say they place Gazans in danger. The group says its work aims to bypass Hamas, which it accuses of stealing aid, but its distribution points have been blighted by violence, with the Israeli army accused of firing on civilians near the centres. The foundation said on Sunday on Facebook that it had opened a distribution point in the Gaza Valley, before later posting that the site had closed after completing its work. Later in the day, it said another two centres would open at noon in the Tal Sultan area, also known as the Swedish Village, and the Saudi neighbourhood. On Saturday, Gaza's civil defence agency said six people were killed in another shooting near an aid distribution centre in Rafah. The Israeli military said its troops fired warning shots at people it said were 'advancing in a way that endangered the troops'. Dozens of others have been killed in recent days around the Rafah site. The foundation on Saturday accused Hamas of making 'direct threats' that 'made it impossible' to operate in Gaza without endangering lives. 'Hamas is seeking to return to a broken regime it previously controlled and exploited – by diverting aid routes, manipulating distribution processes, and presenting its own agenda on the basic needs of the people of Gaza,' it said on Facebook. Gaza's government media office said the foundation's operations have 'utterly failed on all levels' and that Hamas was ready to help secure aid deliveries by the UN. Little is known about the foundation. Other aid groups have said its operations endanger civilians by delivering food through narrow, militarised corridors. Israel has described its methods as a way of circumventing Hamas, which Israel accuses of pilfering aid. Israel has faced mounting international criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the UN has warned the entire population faces famine. Israel imposed an aid blockade on the besieged enclave on March 2 and has only relaxed it in recent days. Twenty months into the war, negotiations over a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked. A brief truce collapsed in March and Israel has since intensified operations to 'destroy' the Palestinian group. The Israeli army on Saturday said its military operations in Gaza city resulted in the killing of Asaad Abu Sharia, who was reportedly head of the Mujahideen Brigades. The armed group is close to Hamas ally Islamic Jihad, which Israel has accused of being responsible for the deaths of hostages seized from kibbutz Nir Oz near the Gaza-Israel border on October 7, 2023. The Israeli army said Mr Abu Sharia was 'directly implicated' in the killings of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, a young family who became a symbol of Israel's hostage crisis. Hamas on Saturday released a photograph of one of its remaining hostages, Matan Zangauker, appearing to be in poor health, along with a warning that he would not survive. His mother, Einav Zangauker, speaking at a protest in Tel Aviv, said 'I can no longer bear this nightmare'. Meanwhile, an aid boat with 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is nearing Gaza in an effort to highlight the plight of its residents. The Madleen, organised by an international coalition, is sailing with the aim of breaching Israel's naval blockade on the enclave and delivering aid, organisers said. They are expected to reach Gaza by Monday. In 2010 a commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar attempt to breach an Israeli naval blockade, left 10 civilians dead.
