GEMS World Academy – Dubai welcomes Ban Ki-moon and Dr Heinz Fischer

Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Dr Heinz Fischer, the 11th President of the Republic of Austria, spoke to students during the Model United Nations Conference

GWA’s largest Model United Nations Conference to date, held 8-10 March, saw the return to the school of celebrated statesman Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, joined by Dr Heinz Fischer, the 11th President of the Republic of Austria. The annual three-day event saw more than 730 students from 25 schools across the UAE gather at the IB continuum school in Dubai to debate key topics around this year’s theme of ‘Catalyst of Our Generation: The Technological Revolution and Youth Engagement in Political Issues’.

Highlights 

• GWA’s largest MUN Conference to date involves 730 students from 25 schools
• 2024 event marks fourth visit of eighth UN Secretary-General to Dubai school
• Attending students also have opportunity to hear from 11th President of Austria

“The United Nations is an integral part of our international political system. By engaging in a simulation of the United Nations and by being active contributors and participants, young people can get closer to the United Nations and see how important it is to negotiate in a constructive manner and how many problems can be solved through negotiation”.

Dr Heinz Fischer

The student-led Model United Nations Conference is held at GEMS World Academy – Dubai every year. It is designed to closely simulate the UN and enable students to learn more about the principles of the UN and how it functions. Students discuss and debate the most significant dilemmas facing the world with the aim of developing innovative solutions to mitigate these.

Topics discussed over the course of this year’s event included:

• Regulating cryptocurrencies and ensuring financial stability
• Digital transformation and inclusive growth
• Integration of technological solutions in mitigating climate change and enhancing global trade resilience
• E-commerce and digital trade regulations