Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its annual Model United Nations (GMUN) conference. This milestone event gathered more than 1,300 participants from 25 countries. It marked a significant achievement in global diplomacy. Themed “Managing Global Power Shifts in an Age of Crises: Responding to Political Transitions,” the conference aimed to engage youth in serious diplomatic discussions.
The event welcomed secondary school students, advisors, and volunteers from across the globe. It took place at Qatar Foundation (QF), where Dr. Abdulnassir Al Tamimi, executive director of student services at QF Higher Education, opened the proceedings. He emphasized the power of youth voices in shaping the future. “Every major movement in history has been driven by young people who dared to dream of something better,” he stated.
Dana Al-Anzy, a GU-Q alumna and head of strategic partnerships at Education Above All, delivered the keynote address. She shared her own journey and the impact of MUN activities on her career. “These are not just abstract resolutions you debate on,” she remarked, stressing the real-world significance of the decisions young leaders make. She encouraged the delegates to remember that their words have power. Their choices could affect others’ lives.
The conference lasted for three days, offering a platform for 981 high school students, 144 advisors, and 100 volunteers to collaborate on resolving global issues. The event featured engaging debates on international challenges and global power dynamics.
A key highlight of the event was the leadership of MUN Deputy Secretary General Nagla Abdelhady, Class of 2025. She has participated in GMUN for all four years at GU-Q and expressed her passion for MUN as more than just an extracurricular activity. She described the conference as a platform for inspiring and being inspired.
Jibin Koshy, educational enrichment manager at GU-Q, pointed out that the conference’s growth reflects its impact on students locally and internationally. Since GMUN’s inception in 2005, it has empowered over 9,000 young leaders. This year’s conference was the largest yet. Moreover, it included AI tools to support student preparation.
In addition to the MUN sessions, the event featured the Higher Education Excellence Symposium. It offered valuable insights to 144 high school counselors and educators. The symposium covered topics such as transformative learning, AI in education, and ethical leadership. Through these various initiatives, GU-Q continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of global leaders.
