From Classroom to The Global Stage: BINUS International Relations Student Becoming SDGs Ambassador through MUN Community Project Code: GR007142

Bina Nusantara (BINUS) University International Relations majors and students developed a community that focuses on Model United Nations (MUN) activities. This community was formed based on a university program called the Initiative Project. This initiative project has been running since 2022. During its journey, the MUN Community began as a Talent Pool that focused on participating in MUN competitions at the international and national levels.

In 2024, this project uses two topic codes, namely: First, ES009, Implementation of Creative Breakthroughs for 5 years by applying the output technology of Lecturer Research Results, which results in community satisfaction or environmental appreciation, by involving students and BINUS partners, as well as targeting SDG categories 4, 8, 9, 16, 17. Second, GR007, Strengthening campus and program positions, making BINUS University a top choice campus – brand equity, cooperation with the media for certain topics.

For the implementation of the two topics, the project was carried out by involving alumni on behalf of Patrick Kurniawan, M.A. who is the 2019 Outstanding Student who currently works at the Habibie Center International institution in the development of Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) cooperation. In addition, Patrick Kurniawan also owns a MUN training institution that is widely known by international and national MUN activists called the MUN Center. 

For topic ES009, we collaborate with the MUN Center, especially with Patrick to develop the MUN Community institution at BINUS University. BINUS MUN Community is a MUN community that aims to strengthen the talent pool in a special MUN Community forum within the BINUS International Relations (IR) department itself, besides that this MUN Community also functions to improve IR branding in establishing talents in high school students through Community Development activities by involving students who excel in MUN to conduct workshops for high school students at Binus branch campuses. This activity is one of the efforts to implement Binus’ Vision “Fostering and Empowering the society ” as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially pillar 17 Partnership for the goals. It is hoped that this activity can open insights to high school students that the future of the world is built based on positive cooperation to achieve common goals. Through socialization from the MUN Community, it is hoped that high school students will be inspired to improve their skills in diplomacy, discussion, persuasive negotiation to be able to solve community problems at local, national and global levels effectively. 

source: https://www.instagram.com/muncentre?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== 

We conduct MUN training and workshops for high school students through the “brand” BINUS MUN Community. This year, the target output of the project on this topic is to conduct 1 MUN simulation socialization activity with participants from high schools from the Binus campus in Malang. But the realization is that we did three times with one time at Binus Malang with an additional two times at Binus Bandung.

MUN Socialization at BINUS Malang

MUN Socialization at BINUS Malang #1

MUN Socialization at BINUS Malang #2

For the GR007 topic, we are working with the MUN Center to continue the progress from 2022, and 2023 to position IR BINUS in the most prestigious arena in MUN competitions. So it is expected that IR BINUS will get recognition and positioning at the international level through competitions at the international level. In the 2024 initiative project, the target is to get 3 championships. The competitions that we focus on are Harvard International MUN in Taiwan, National University of Singapore (NUS) by getting 2 types of awards and several international competitions held in Indonesia such as Jakarta MUN getting 1 award, VETAMUN (Veteran University) getting 2 awards, JOINMUN (UGM) getting 1 award and several national level championships such as LSMUN (London School) getting 2 awards and IRUDMUN (Undip) getting 2 awards.

Ayisha Imana Rahman Awarded Best Delegate at SMUN 2024

The award belongs to a number of our talents, namely Ayisha Imana Rahman, Gilang Fata Syabana, Amalya Putri Sanira, Edward Johanes Nathan, Axell Fonzie Cahyadi, Okta Widhayana, and Henanda Ariq Zaki Fadilah. Ayisha Imana Rahman has won Best Delagate at Singapore MUN at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) council with the topic “The Question of Managing Marine Mineral Resources and Ecosystem-based Adaptation”. This topic and discussion is in line with the 7th pillar SDGs affordable and clean energy and 13th climate action. 

Gilang Fata Syabana awarded Best Delegate at VETAMUN 2024

Gilang Fata Syabana awarded Outstanding Delegate at Singapore MUN at the European Council with the topic “The Question of Reasserting European Unity and a Coordinated Response to The Migrant Crisis”, Best Delegate at VETAMUN at the United Nation International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) council with the topic “Addresing Child Poverty and Inequality to Foster Global Stability and Sustainablity by 2030”, and Honorable Mention at JOINMUN at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) council with the topic “Economic Progress and Environmental Safeguarding: Reassessing the Challenges of Global Sustaiable Circular Economy Financing”. The topics discussed are aligned with various SDGs pillars, such as the 1st pillar of no poverty, the 10th reduces inequalities, and the 8th decent work and economic growth.

Amalya Putri Sanira awarded Best Delegate at VETAMUN 2024

Amalya Putri Sanira was awarded Best Delegate at VETAMUN at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) with the topic “The Future of Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Possible Pathway to Peace” and Honorable Mention in LSMUN at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) council with the topic ‘Protecting Privacy Rights In The Digital Age-Privacy and Freedom of Expression’. The discussion in these topics is in line with the 16th pillar of the SDGs on peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Axell Fonzie Cahyadi Awarded Honorable Mention at LSMUN 2024

Edward Johanes Nathan was awarded Verbal Commendation in Jakarta MUN at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) council with the topic “Revisiting Principle of Sustainable Cultural Tourism”. Axell Fonzie Cahyadi was awarded Honorable Mention at LSMUN on the council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the topic “Establish Universal Access to Digital Infrastructure”. The topics under discussion are aligned with various SDGs pillars, such as the 8th pillar of decent work and economic growth, 9th industry. innovation and infrastructure, and 11th sustainable cities and economic growth.

Okta Widhayadana was awarded Honourable Mention and Best Position Paper at IRUDMUN at the European Union (EU) council with the topic “AI Influence in Democratic Process and Data Regulation”. Henanda Ariq Zaki Fadilah also awarded Verbal Commendation at IRUDMUN on the same council and topic. The discussion in this topic is aligned with several pillars of the SDGs, namely the 9th pillar of industry, innovation, and infrastructure, the 10th reduced inequalities, and the 16th peace, justice, and strong institutions. 

Training as well as the development of talent pool ecosystems and participation in MUN competitions at both international and national levels are activities that are closely related to SDGs issues. Almost all themes of the MUN competition are related to SDGs issues, therefore the participation of International Relations students in the MUN competition is one of the implementations of the SDGs pillars in pillar 17 of the partnership for goals, especially in improving education and skills, both hard and soft skills in diplomacy, negotiating, discussing in a persuasive way to achieve common goals in community issues at local, national and global levels.