From Arctic security tensions to state surveillance and the future of Western Sahara, 71 student delegates debated some of the world’s most pressing issues at the fifth edition of student-run conference UvAMUN.
The fifth edition of UvAMUN brought together 71 delegates from across the Netherlands and beyond, for two days of debate, diplomacy and international collaboration at our very own Roeterseiland campus. While most participants were Dutch students, the conference also welcomed delegates from Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Poland, Russia and several other countries, reinforcing UvAMUN’s growing international character.
Months of planning went into making this student-led conference a success, and we sat down with Secretary-General Joey, who played a central role in organising this year’s event. Reflecting on her journey into Model United Nations, Joey explained that her first experience was as a delegate during UvAMUN’s third edition in 2024.“My first MUN was also a UvAMUN,” she says, adding that what makes the conference distinct is that it “still has that cozy and homey feel to it.”
Secretary-General Joey’s responsibilities extended far beyond overseeing debate proceedings. Her role involved leading the board of directors, coordinating between the conference team and Machiavelli and managing one of the most challenging aspects of organising an event of this scale: the budget. When asked to estimate how many hours went into organising the conference, Joey admitted that the workload was too extensive to quantify. “The last two weeks before the conference it was the only thing that I was doing every day. Lots of late nights, printing and picking up merchandise and stuff.”
Planning for the conference began roughly six months before the big day. The initial budget was set at €6,000, but the organising team managed to deliver the event for around €4,000, whilst keeping ticket prices affordable for students. Joey explained that the organizing team worked to keep the conference accessible while maintaining what they described as UvAMUN’s welcoming atmosphere.
Many people live in situations that are affected by the issues that we talk about in our committees.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Future on the Frontlines” focusing on some of today’s most pressing geopolitical challenges. “Many people live in situations that are affected by the issues that we talk about in our committees.” Across committees, delegates debated issues ranging from Western Sahara’s political future to state surveillance technologies, Arctic security tensions and historical crisis simulations based on the War of the First Coalition.
The event was supported by 16 chairs and around 10 volunteers. Many of the participants were first-time debaters, something Joey described as one of the conference’s greatest successes. “A lot of people walked out of this conference inspired to do more debating.”
Model United Nations also has a social aspect that is often not considered; it is more than just a debate competition. “It’s not just a hobby but also a community,” she said, explaining that participants often spend entire weekends debating, socializing and getting to know people from different universities and backgrounds.
Organising UvAMUN was also a significant personal challenge. As the largest event she has been responsible for to date, the role required balancing finances, logistics and communication across multiple teams while making sure that the conference was running smoothly for participants. “Days before the conference I was having nightmares about how it could all go wrong,” Joey admitted. “But after it was over it was quite a sweet feeling to see that everything had worked out.”
The conference’s success was also the result of collaboration between the six-member board of directors who supported the event throughout the weekend. According to Joey, one of the strengths of this year’s organizing team was the diversity of experience there was within it: some members had extensive MUN background, whilst others brought fresh logistical ideas and new perspectives that proved valuable in the planning process.
Looking ahead, Joey believes editions of UvAMUN could benefit from additional training opportunities for chairs before the conference begins, helping ensure all committees operate with the same level of preparation.
As a final note Joey added that the diplomatic and communication skills developed through MUN should not remain within the conference setting. “These diplomatic skills that they gained for MUN (…) should not be left behind at the conference doors.”
As UvAMUN looks ahead to a potential sixth edition next spring, this year’s conference demonstrated not only the growing scale of student-led diplomacy at the University of Amsterdam, but also its continued ability to inspire a new generation of debaters, organizers and globally minded students.
Laia Fernandez-Areste is a university student in Amsterdam. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Amsterdammer.
Stelios Malliarakis is a university student in Amsterdam. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Amsterdammer.
