Cal State East Bay Students win Awards at Far West Model UN Conference

Cal State East Bay students won two awards at the Model United Nations of the Far West, held in San Francisco last week. The group of ten students received the Global Governance in Diplomacy Award for their preparation and performance at the conference and the Outstanding Resolution Certificate for delegates in the Third Committee. 

In addition, for the first time in 15 years, CSUEB students will be chairing a committee at the Model UN Conference in 2024 which is expected to gather around 200 student delegates. The topics include The New Generation of Nuclear Weapons and Power; The Metaverse and Human Security: AI, Crypto and the New Digital Divide; and Comprehensive Security in the Oceans.

“It is so much fun to see the spark in students' eyes when they see that everything fits from the classroom to the conference — the theories we studied, the papers they submitted and the practice of international relations and diplomacy in the conference,” said Faculty Advisor and Political Science Professor Maria Ortuoste.

This year’s session, “A Force for Good: Global Health and Development for a Sustainable Future” addressed topics including human rights and development, pandemic response, intellectual property and technology transfer, and the use of nuclear technologies. During a simulation of a UN meeting, more than 100 college students represent specific countries that are members of the United Nations and attend meetings of various UN bodies.

“It is a forum where people learn to listen, to understand different perspectives and to come to some consensus on issues that are bigger than themselves,” said Ortuoste. “We urgently need young people who bring new ways of thinking that can help us find solutions to the critical problems facing us.”

Delegates represent the interests of their chosen countries as well as the interests of the international community. Cal State East Bay students were delegates of Mexico and Greece participating in the General Assembly, the Third Committee, the World Health Assembly, and the International Agency for Atomic Agency. 

“While countries may have different priorities, MUN has taught me that compromise is always possible,” one student told Ortuoste. “Therefore, I believe that this program is crucial in preparing future diplomats and policy architects in building consensus and working together to ensure equitable and amenable solutions to all.”

Students say the conference not only gave them an understanding of the process of making policies in the UN, but it helped them to improve their research, writing, public speaking and negotiating skills and exposed them to career paths they were not aware of prior to the event. 

Orutoste and her students are already looking forward to next year’s conference.

The Model UN Club is being relaunched at Cal State East Bay and is open to all students in any major who are interested in global affairs. For more information, contact Ortuoste at maria.ortuoste@csueastbay.edu.