What is MUN?
Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation for students that imitates the United Nations in its General Assembly, Security Council and International Court of Justice.  This activity encourages thinking and working internationally, in roles that takes students ouside themselves, to consider the problems of others from others’ points of view.  From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, as delegates, ambassadors or judges, they debate issues on the international agenda.  MUN students research problems, plot strategy, prepare resolutions negotiate with supporters and adversaries, resolve conflicts, issue judgments, while correctly navigating the UN's procedure s – cooperating with others to resolve problems besetting any on our planet.  They devise well-informed propositions, commanding majority support, on issues concerning for example:

  peace and security 
  fundamental rights 
  the environment 
  health and welfare 
  economic and social development
  international collaboration

For over 50 years, teachers and students around the world have benefitted from learning through MUN activity, thus strengthening signficant life-skills, such as:

  Communicating internationally through the medium of a second language 
  Independent, in-depth research on issues of concern 
  Team work and leadership 
  Working to deadlines 
  Speaking and writing to persuade and convince 
  Formal public speaking 
  Detailed discussion and debate, focusing on decision-making for problem solving 
  Democratic consensus building 
  Conflict resolution and the maintenance of peace
  Chairing meetings structured by an agreed agenda and timetable 
  Public relations and journalism

What is JMUN?
The Hisar School JMUN has been the first of its kind in the world.

This conference is a special, junior version of MUN, which is more usually dedicated to university-level and high-school students.  It is a three-day event for inexperienced youngsters from the 11 to 14 age group.   JMUN provides a series of introductory workshops, training pre-lycée students in all the skills and knowledge required for successful participation in a simplified, mini-MUN conference that follows.  No prior knowledge is needed, be it of the United Nations or conference procedure, UN rules and language or the topics for debate.
All communication is in English, with structured support constantly available from teacher-advisors and student organisers.  JMUN an intensive, immersion activity, that provides excellent opportunities for rapid language development, with substantial gains to be made in confidence.  As such, it is suitable for students whose English is at the Council of Europe’s ‘B’, or intermediate levels of language proficiency.

Besides this, commitment, enthusiasm and willingness to work in an international context with other students, in teams, is all that is needed.

All workshops and conference events are organised and run by experienced, committed MUN student enthusiasts, from lycée clubs in our own and other internationally-minded MUN schools of high standing.
Hisar School JMUN is affiliated to THIMUN, the world’s senior MUN conference in The Hague, Netherlands. THIMUN is itself, officially affiliated to the United Nations in New York. (See: www.thimun.org)

Comenius Programmes: Europe in the classroom
Comenius programmes are part of the European Union’s overall educational development and support programme, Socrates.  Turkey has been a full member of Socrates for many years.  Projects focus on different phases of school education, from pre-school to lycée.  They are relevant to all concerned with education: students, teachers, educational authorities, parents’ associations, non-government organisations, teacher-training institutes, universities.
The Programme aims to develop knowledge and understanding, fostering positive, critical appreciation of European cultures, languages and values.  Through projects, participants improve basic life skills and competences for personal development, employment and active citizenship in their future world.
They have the following, common goals:

  To increase mobility amongst students and staff in schools in Socrates Member States, including Turkey;
  To foster partnerships between schools in different states, with at least 3,000,000 overall, involved in joint activities by 2010;  
  To encourage language-learning, innovative Information and Computer Technology-based activities, and better teaching techniques and practice; 
  To enhance the quality and European dimension of teacher-training;  
  To improve pedagogy and school management ;

With the following priorities:
  Deepening motivation for learning and skills in learning-to-learn: 
  Improvements in language learning, greater literacy, making science more attractive, supporting entrepreneurship and developing creativity and innovation  
  Digital educational content and services  
  School management  
  Addressing socio-economic disadvantage and reducing numbers leaving education  
  Participation in sports  
  Teaching diverse groups of students  
  Early and pre-primary learning