Why Model United Nations is to be considered as Meritorious program for Johnson County Community College.
JCCC Model United Nations program meets key JCCC strategic goals:
1) in promoting global awareness by expanding curricular and extracurricular offerings.
2) Ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion are key components in all JCCC programs and initiatives.
3) Champion environmental sustainability
4) Encourage strategic risk-taking that is based in critical thinking and is in the best interest of the community.
JCCC Model United Nations program meets the key JCCC strategic goal of strengthening cultural and environmental initiatives that promote a responsible and enlightened community. The program promotes the educational value of a diverse community, the political and social enhancement that an insight into diversity and multiculturalism and global perspectives gives, and the ability to cross lines of difference in order to develop full lives and successful futures.
Diversity: Learning About One Another Participation in the JCCC Model United Nations also teaches students that they are members of a global community. Through engaging activities that unite students around a common cause, the program is an excellent tool for meeting the objectives of multicultural education. According to James Banks, the major theorists and researchers in multicultural education agree that the movement is designed to restructure educational institutions so that all students, including middle-class white males, will acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to function effectively in a culturally and ethnically diverse nation and world (1993). Banks adds that multicultural education helps all students, regardless of sex or race, “to become more knowledgeable, caring, and active citizens in a deeply troubled and ethnically polarized nation and world” (1993). Banks, J. “Multicultural Education: Development, Dimensions, and Challenges.” Phi Delta Kappan. September 1993.
The JCCC Model United Nations program is well designed to address environmental issues at the global and regional level, with an objective to coordinate development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under constant review as well as to direct the attention and actions of governments and the international community to emerging environmental issues. JCCC Model UN sums up this function clearly by stating that it the purpose of Model United Nations is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling students to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. JCCC Model UN students debate about a wide range of issues regarding climate change, resource efficiency, and environmental disasters among others. As one of the most prominent environmentally proactive institutions in the world, United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) has played a significant role in developing international environmental conventions, promoting environmental science and information, and illustrating the way those can work in conjunction with policy. The UNEP works on the development and implementation of policy with national governments and regional institution and works in conjunction with environmental Non-Governmental Organizations.
In November 2011 JCCC Model UN students participated in a Model United Nations conference in Chicago and participated on the simulation of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. A positive outcome of the sustainable conference was the increased awareness that we’ve brought to the issue of global sustainability. Those of you that have been following this blog all year have learned many ways to reduce your impact on the world – and it can be doing something as small as recycling an aluminum can, or keeping the plastic fruit labels out of our drains. There are plenty of important ways to introduce sustainability to your own life.
A portion of the UN’s attention is given to initiatives that establish groundwork for self-empowerment and community development. Both of these items are crucial in ensuring that space for people to live out their freedom and responsibilities is created and protected. True progress in self-empowerment and community development is made when the human person is allowed to unleash his/her creative potential.
JCCC Model UN portrayed Cuba at the simulation along with around 200 student delegations representing different countries, discussed, researched, and proposed solutions to improve rural development and sustainable agriculture practices. Although each delegation had a slightly different take on these issues, reference was made to key UN reports, and discussion was based on framework provided by Agenda 21 and the Education for Rural People Initiative, among a multitude of other initiatives.
Agenda 21, one of the cornerstones of UN sustainable development, is a “comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.” Portions of the document focus on strengthening the role of NGOs, recognizing the role of local farmers and communities in the development process, and engaging women in sustainable and equitable development. Through the plan, the UN encourages creation of local and village organizations, whose prevalence can lead to decentralization of the decision making process. When the government’s role is reduced, through decentralization, the ability of human potential to flourish is much greater.
Education can foster the need for decentralization and promote sustainability of locally based initiatives. Unfortunately, not all people have access to this education, lessening their ability to compete on the global or even local market. The Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has fostered the Education fro Rual People Initiative (ERP) which aims to overcome the urban/rural gap in education, to increase access to and the quality of basic education for rural people, and to build awareness of rural education in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Decentralization can be the first step to greater community involvement, notes the ERP. Once a skill is learned it can be shared with those nearest to them. This “locals teaching locals” method, a byproduct of the decentralization system, is an efficient pedagogical style which unleashes power to communities rather than large government education entities. The principle of subsidiarity is a key component of the education and sustainable development process as it recognizes the ability of perfectly capable human beings to operate effectively.
For example, Goal #1 states “We will inspire successful learning!” Reallocated monies will fund projects pertaining to this goal, including support for developing programs in Instruction and Continuing Education as well as intervention strategies, such as onboarding/orientation sessions and success coaching, to help students succeed in class.
The Model UN encourages students success by having them adopt the habit of the examined life, to reflect upon themselves in relationship to others or teamwork, to take risks, to participate actively in political life and to accept responsibility for their actions. In addition, it encourages students to participate and accept leadership roles.
Model UN is not a program just for International Affairs or Political Science students. The broad nature of the skills learned cut across nearly all majors and it is valuable for any major if the student has an interest in the functions of international negotiation and policy-making. Former Secretary-General Daj Hammarskjold stated: “everything will be all right when people stop thinking of the United Nations as a weird Picasso abstraction and see it as a drawing they made themselves.” (Childers, p. 8) A first step in the process of understanding that will lead to a clearer understanding of the UN is education.
Collaborating with other students to tackle relevant issues is a strong appeal of the program. JCCC Model United Nations fits an essential feature of cooperative learning, students working together to accomplish shared goals where students are given two responsibilities: to learn the assigned materials and make sure that all other members of their group do likewise (Johnson and Johnson 1988). Research demonstrates that for high-level cognitive learning outcomes, such as identifying concepts, analysis of problems, judgment, and evaluation, less-structured cooperative techniques may be more effective than traditional individualistic techniques (Slavin 1989).
Slavin, R. E. (1989). Research on cooperative learning: An international perspective. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 33(4), 231-243.
In addition, cooperative learning promotes leadership, higher achievement, greater motivation, more positive interpersonal relations among students, more positive attitudes toward the subject area and teacher, greater self-esteem and psychological health, more accurate perspectives, and greater social skills (Johnson and Johnson 1988).
Johnson, D.W. and Johnson, R.T. “Unleash the Power of Cooperative Learning.” The School Administrator. March 1988. pp. 21-24. See also Rau, W. & Heyl, B. S. (1990). Humanizing the college classroom: Collaborative learning and social organization among students. Teaching Sociology, 18, 141-155.
Goal #2 states “We will innovate!” Reallocated monies will provide funds for the new Center for Innovation and the faculty and staff involved in its projects, also highlighted at the All-Staff Meeting.
JCCC Model United Nations is innovative via utilizing experiential learning method.
Experiential Learning “Student receptivity and the demonstrated pedagogical value of experiential learning or ‘learning-by-doing,’ has resulted in the growing use of simulations and games in the field of international relations.” (Hazletin and Mahurin, p. 149) Hazleton, William A. and Mahurin, Ronald P. “External Simulations as Teaching Devices.” Simulation and Games. June 1986. pp. 149-171. In this “learning-by-doing” approach students can, through the Model UN program, be involved in the vital decisions made in the international affairs arena by diplomats and world-leaders daily. This first hand involvement leads to a deeper understanding of world issues and the context these issues are negotiated and resolved within.
Experiential learning opportunities are an integral way for JCCC students to gain insight into the world of work, explore vocation, and participate in servant leadership.
Model United Nations as an experiential learning opportunity:
- add more meaning to academic studies by giving students a chance to apply theories learned in classes to “real life” situations;
- to identify those interdisciplinary skills gained from the classroom that are utilized and applied in a particular workplace (i.e.,research, writing, public speaking, conflict resolution) ;
- and to develop an understanding of the broad base of knowledge and skills which may be applied creatively to a myriad of life experiences. http://wilderdom.com/experiential/ExperientialReferences.html
Goal #3 announces that “We will lead!” Reallocated funds will support a new compensation study that will take into account excellence in faculty teaching and involvement in student engagement college-wide as well as individual employee impact on student success. It also will help us implement a customer relationship management system that will help us track relationships with students at all stages of the student lifecycle.
JCCC Model UN student contribute to the overall success of the learning environment at the college. Model UN students are prepared and willing to partake in class activities, student organization functions. They help mentor their classmates and encouraged their success.
Students develop confidence and leadership skills through experience. Model UN conferences are opportunities to practice research, public speaking, teamwork, negotiation, and writing skills in a safe and structured environment. JCCC Model UN also teaches business skills – running the Metro Kansas City Model United Nations conference is like running a small business that involves finding “customers” (delegates), developing a “product” (the conference), and managing peers. JCCC Model UN provides students with the learning and leadership experiences that are viewed favorably to admissions officers. The depth of these experiences serves as possible material for personal essays and interviews.
And Goal #4 says “We will engage in quality operations!” Budget reallocations will fund support to people and programs who increase effectiveness, provide a small amount of additional support for the new Legal Services department, implement the first phase of our new rebranding initiative, accommodate growth and increases in existing licensing costs and maintenance of our video conferencing system, provide a stable and secure information technology environment, expand our print management efforts, and enhance both the web portal and the data warehouse.
The primary goal of the JCCC Model United Nations is to attract students and to increase student involvement at JCCC and promote an international education experience. (see http://blogs.jccc.edu/mun)
JCCC Model United Nations program meets a key JCCC strategic goal in promoting global awareness by expanding curricular and extracurricular offerings.
http://www.jccc.edu/institutional-operations/strategic-plan.html
Promotes the educational value of a diverse community, the political and social enhancement that an insight into diversity and multiculturalism and global perspectives gives, and the ability to cross lines of difference in order to develop full lives and successful futures.
http://video.jccc.edu/publicvid/voices/CP_DIV_050610.asx
JCCC Model United Nations has developed a partnership with JCCC Honors program.
The Model United Nations program at JCCC satisfies a unique institutional goal. The Model UN encourages students to adopt the habit of the examined life, to reflect upon themselves in relationship to others or teamwork, to take risks, to participate actively in political life and to accept responsibility for their actions. In addition, it encourages students to participate and accept leadership roles.
Meeting the needs to the community via the Metro Kansas City Model United Nations conference. The JCCC Metro Kansas City Model UN (MKCMUN) is a service to the community and to JCCC. JCCC Model UN students run the MKCMUN conference and high school students from all over the metro area attend. The 2011 conference had over 250 students in attendance and has gained a reputation for leadership and excellence. In addition, this event is a prospective student recruitment opportunity for JCCC.
The JCCC Model UN team has done well since being founded in 1997 and today is considered one of the top ranked programs in the country. In the last seven years the JCCC Model UN team has received awards at the last twenty three consecutive conferences they have attended. Most notable are the awards received at the National Model United Nations Conference held at the United Nations in New York City. This past spring April 2011 the team received an Outstanding Delegation award and has received outstand position paper awards in 2009, 2008, 2007, & 2006 as well as Outstanding Delegation awards in 2007, 2008 & 2009 at this conference. These conferences are an exceptional educational opportunity for JCCC students and a chance to highlight the school’s academic excellence. JCCC students prepare for the conference through research for writing position papers & resolutions on the issues, speaking assignments, and participation at their own MUN simulation. A wide variety of majors are represented on this team, such as Political Science, Business, History, Nursing, Education, English, and Science. See team history http://blogs.jccc.edu/mun/join-model-un/jccc-model-un-team-history
Model United Nations is a successful innovative educational program. The primary goals of the JCCC Model United Nations are to attract students, to increase student involvement at JCCC, to promote leadership and to provide an international education experience via the educational tool of simulation. Simulations can be used to provide a fertile learning environment for students. The use of simulated activities in education is widely becoming recognized as an educational tool.
The United Nations is about gathering together different cultures, political systems, and peoples, and giving them the opportunity to try and make the world a better place for our future generations. Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the U.N. General Assembly, U.N. Security Council, or other multilateral body, which catapults students into the world of diplomacy and negotiation. In Model U.N., students step into the shoes of ambassadors of U.N. member states, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe to debate current issues on the Organization’s vast agenda. The students, better known as “delegates” in Model U.N., prepare draft resolutions, plot policy strategy, negotiate with supporters and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the U.N.’s rules of procedure-all in the interest of mobilizing “international cooperation” to resolve problems that affect almost every country on Earth. Before playing out their ambassadorial roles in Model U.N., students compile research and develop policy position papers on the particular global problems to be addressed. The problems are drawn from today’s headlines. Model U.N. delegates learn how the international community acts on its concerns about: peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, human rights, economic development, globalization, and more. Model U.N. “delegates” also look closely at the needs, aspirations, and foreign policy of the country they will “represent” at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, math, culture, economics and science –contribute to the authenticity of the simulation once the actual role-playing gets under way–and ensures a lively and memorable experience.
For over 15 years now, JCCC students have benefited from this interactive learning experience that not only involves students in the study and discussion of global issues but also encourages the development of skills useful throughout their lives: research, writing, public speaking, leadership, problem solving, policy analysis, consensus building, conflict resolution, compromise and cooperation. These skills are sought after by transfer schools, graduate schools (i.e. KU, American University, and Washington University), law schools, non-profit organizations, employers and business with international scope.
Model United Nations is the epitome of a successful educational program. Success is measured via public speaking, leadership, written assignments and conference awards.
In the last six years the JCCC Model United Nations has received awards at all twenty three consecutive conferences they have attended. Most notable are the awards received at the National Model United Nations Conference held at the United Nations in New York City. This past spring April 2011 the team received an Outstanding Delegation award at the National Model United Nations and has received outstanding position paper awards in 2009, 2008, 2007, & 2006 as well as Outstanding Delegation awards in 2007, 2008 & 2009 at this conference. These conferences are an exceptional educational opportunity for JCCC students and a chance to highlight the school’s academic excellence. JCCC students prepare for the conference through research for writing policy position papers & resolutions on the issues, speaking assignments, and participation at their own MUN simulation. A wide variety of majors are represented, such as Political Science, Business, History, Economics, Nursing, Education, English, and Science. The program also attracts students from professional programs such as Hospitality, Nursing, and Automotive Technology. Students finishing the Model UN program have obtained jobs at leading area businesses such as GM, Kansas City Kansas, and Harley-Davidson.
The Model United Nations program is an example of high quality instruction. The JCCC Model United Nations program includes student participation at three intercollegiate conferences (Chicago, St. Louis and New York), the Metro Kansas City Model United Nations Model United Nations conference, and the POLS 200 and POLS 200 Honors Model United Nations courses offered during each spring semester. These courses also fulfill the cultural diversity requirement. The Model United Nations conferences that the team attends are intercollegiate competitions attended by some of the top schools in the country. The JCCC Model UN provides JCCC an opportunity to highlight its academic excellence by promoting global awareness through expanding curricular and extracurricular offerings. It provides the students with an out of the classroom opportunity to expand their knowledge and to broaden their perspective on the world. The Metro Kansas City Model UN (MKCMUN) is service to the community that JCCC needs to recognize and support. JCCC Model UN students take their knowledge obtained at intercollegiate conferences and are able to share it with area high school students via the MKCMUN.
Model UN is not a program just for International Affairs or Political Science students. The broad nature of the skills learned cut across nearly all majors and it is valuable for any major if the student has an interest in the functions of international negotiation and policy-making. Former Secretary-General Daj Hammarskjold stated: “everything will be all right when people stop thinking of the United Nations as a weird Picasso abstraction and see it as a drawing they made themselves.” (Childers, p. 8) A first step in the process of understanding that will lead to a clearer understanding of the UN is education.
Childers, Erskine. “The UN at 50: Midlife Crisis.” The London Review of Books. Aug. 18, 1994, pp 8-11.
Patrons of the program are JCCC students, area high schools, leading area businesses, regional organizations such as the International Relations Council, Sister Cities, and UNA USA Kansas City, transfer Colleges and Universities. Phillips and Muldoon present a rationale and a step-by-step approach to incorporating Model United Nations (MUN) simulations into undergraduate education. “MUN is an effective mechanism for providing undergraduate business students with the international and multicultural experiences they need to function in a global environment. Moreover, through participation in MUNs, students develop and enhance personal and technical skills, including written and oral communications, research, caucusing, negotiating, and consensus building.”
Phillips, Mary Jones; Muldoon Jr., John P. THE MODEL UNITED NATIONS: A STRATEGY FOR ENHANCING GLOBAL BUSINESS EDUCATION Journal of Education for Business Jan/Feb 96, Vol. 71 Issue 3, pp. 142-152. JCCC Model United Nations has recently developed a new partnership with JCCC Honors program offering POLS 200 Honors course starting spring 2011. New course will fill a need with the Honor program by offering a 3 credit honors course with a focus on leadership and international education.
Program meets key JCCC strategic goals
JCCC Model United Nations program meets a key JCCC strategic goals in promoting global awareness by expanding extracurricular activities and providing international education, community outreach, ensure diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership, collaboration, experiential learning and teamwork experiences.
JCCC Model United Nations program meets the key JCCC strategic goal of strengthening cultural and environmental initiatives that promote a responsible and enlightened community. The program promotes the educational value of a diverse community, the political and social enhancement that an insight into diversity and multiculturalism and global perspectives gives, and the ability to cross lines of difference in order to develop full lives and successful futures.
Diversity: Learning About One Another Participation in the JCCC Model United Nations also teaches students that they are members of a global community. Through engaging activities that unite students around a common cause, the program is an excellent tool for meeting the objectives of multicultural education. According to James Banks, the major theorists and researchers in multicultural education agree that the movement is designed to restructure educational institutions so that all students, including middle-class white males, will acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to function effectively in a culturally and ethnically diverse nation and world (1993). Banks adds that multicultural education helps all students, regardless of sex or race, “to become more knowledgeable, caring, and active citizens in a deeply troubled and ethnically polarized nation and world” (1993). Banks, J. “Multicultural Education: Development, Dimensions, and Challenges.” Phi Delta Kappan. September 1993.
The JCCC Model United Nations program is well designed to address environmental issues at the global and regional level, with an objective to coordinate development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under constant review as well as to direct the attention and actions of governments and the international community to emerging environmental issues. JCCC Model UN sums up this function clearly by stating that it the purpose of Model United Nations is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling students to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
Experiential Learning “Student receptivity and the demonstrated pedagogical value of experiential learning or ‘learning-by-doing,’ has resulted in the growing use of simulations and games in the field of international relations.” (Hazletin and Mahurin, p. 149) Hazleton, William A. and Mahurin, Ronald P. “External Simulations as Teaching Devices.” Simulation and Games. June 1986. pp. 149-171. In this “learning-by-doing” approach students can, through the Model UN program, be involved in the vital decisions made in the international affairs arena by diplomats and world-leaders daily. This first hand involvement leads to a deeper understanding of world issues and the context these issues are negotiated and resolved within.
Learning Leadership Teamwork
The Model United Nations program at JCCC satisfies a unique institutional goal. The Model UN encourages students to adopt the habit of the examined life, to reflect upon themselves in relationship to others or teamwork, to take risks, to participate actively in political life and to accept responsibility for their actions. In addition, it encourages students to participate and accept leadership roles.
Collaborating with other students to tackle relevant issues is a strong appeal of the program. JCCC Model United Nations fits an essential feature of cooperative learning, students working together to accomplish shared goals where students are given two responsibilities: to learn the assigned materials and make sure that all other members of their group do likewise (Johnson and Johnson 1988). Research demonstrates that for high-level cognitive learning outcomes, such as identifying concepts, analysis of problems, judgment, and evaluation, less-structured cooperative techniques may be more effective than traditional individualistic techniques (Slavin 1989).
Slavin, R. E. (1989). Research on cooperative learning: An international perspective. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 33(4), 231-243.
In addition, cooperative learning promotes leadership, higher achievement, greater motivation, more positive interpersonal relations among students, more positive attitudes toward the subject area and teacher, greater self-esteem and psychological health, more accurate perspectives, and greater social skills (Johnson and Johnson 1988).
Johnson, D.W. and Johnson, R.T. “Unleash the Power of Cooperative Learning.” The School Administrator. March 1988. pp. 21-24. See also Rau, W. & Heyl, B. S. (1990). Humanizing the college classroom: Collaborative learning and social organization among students. Teaching Sociology, 18, 141-155.
Meeting the needs to the community:
JCCC’s Metro Kansas City Model United Nations conference. The JCCC Metro Kansas City Model UN (MKCMUN) is a service to the community and to JCCC. JCCC Model UN students run the MKCMUN conference and high school students from all over the metro area attend. The 2011 conference had over 250 students in attendance and has gained a reputation for leadership and excellence. In addition, this event is a prospective student recruitment opportunity for JCCC. JCCC Model UN students also set up training opportunities in area high schools to assist high schools students in the understanding and preparation for Model United Nations.
Productivity of Program: The development of the Model United Nations program here at Johnson County Community College has allowed students to represent a country of their choice, simulating the procedures and the issues which face the actual United Nations. While only being in existence since 1997, the program has gone on to exemplify itself as one of the outstanding organizations on campus. The majority of students who have participated in this program have gone on to distinguished four-year colleges and graduate schools. Students who participate in this program benefit from leadership development, a greater awareness of international issues, a better understanding of the perspective of other nations in the world, and greater academic capabilities because of the necessary preparation. There is now a dedicated JCCC Model U.N. honors wall on the 2nd floor of OCB and the JCCC Model UN team received a one-time Special Recognition award for its outstanding performance presented by the United Nations Association, Greater Kansas City Chapter, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City on October 24, 2007.
JCCC Model United Nations has been transformed into one of the nation’s top ranked programs. One main reason is the leadership of Dr. Brian Wright who developed the course POLS 200 Model United Nations. This course is designed for students who are interested in learning and understanding international organizations and participating in competitive intercollegiate Model United Nations. The course orients students with the history, structure, and function of the United Nations and those facets of an assigned country. This orientation assists students in their preparation for Model United Nations (MUN) conferences during the spring semester. Dr. Wright is also the treasurer for the board of directors UNA USA Kansas City organization and the Secretary for the board of directors Mid-West Model United Nations in St. Louis. Dr. Wright received the 2007 JCCC International Education Award and JCCC Distinguished Service Awards in spring 2008, 2010 and 2012.
