Hundreds of Georgian Students Initiate Model UN

After participating in a Model United Nations project as an exchange student in the United States, Georgian UGRAD 2006 alumnus Giorgi Tskhekhani knew it was something that could be of great value if he could replicate the project in his home country. With dedication and assistance through the ECA Alumni Small Grants program and the support of United Nations Association of Georgia, Giorgi was recently able to do so, giving an opportunity to more than 230 students from 10 Georgian universities.

Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about civics, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. Students take on roles as foreign diplomats and participate in a simulated session of the UN. Participants research a country, investigate international issues, debate, and then develop solutions to world issues.

The Georgian Model UN project was divided into several steps. The first was the establishment of Model UN classes. The selection process was very competitive, and each university had more than one-hundred applicants. Only 25 students per university were chosen to be enrolled in the Model UN class. The next step in the project was a training of trainers of nearly all 2006-07 Georgian UGRAD alumni conducted by the United Nations Association of Georgia, which became a main partner and supporter of the project.  The UGRAD alumni then conducted several trainings at  the Model UN classes to prepare the students for university-level Model UN simulations.

Following the trainings, university-level Model UN simulations were held, during which three students from each school were chosen to participate in a three-day Central Model UN simulation in Tbilisi. All 30 finalists stayed at the UN House in Tskneti, Tbilisi, where they had additional and intensive trainings and prepared for the Central Model UN, which took place at the Parliament of Georgia.

Giorgi began planning this project after he took part in a Model UN simulation held for UGRAD participants at their mid-program workshop in Washington, DC. “I gained really huge and valuable experience in researching a country, taking on a role of diplomat, investigating international issues, debating, deliberating, consulting, and then developing solutions to world problems. I wanted my Georgian counterparts to gain the same experience and thanks so much to the ECA [Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State] for giving me a chance to realize the project which gives Georgian students a huge opportunity to receive really valuable experience and knowledge.”

In addition to his experience in the US, Giorgi participated in the European Model United Nations, held in Maastricht, Netherlands this past April, as well as the Central and Eastern European Moot Court Competition held in Poznan, Poland in May of this year.

The Global Undergraduate Program (UGRAD) and ECA Alumni Small Grants program are programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State and administered by IREX.