An MUN adventure off the beaten track

Milan, Lisbon, New York, Berlin, London… the destinations of previous Model United Nations (MUN) conferences have certainly been impressive. But this time, our intrepid MUN enrichment students swapped the big city circuit for something a little different: a conference at Institut Montana, in the picturesque Swiss town of Zug.

With 180 delegates from 10 schools, representing countries including China, Jordan, Brazil, the USA, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden, the conference offered all the international exchange and lively debate that makes MUN so rewarding, but in a rather more intimate setting.

The journey itself was part of the adventure. Staying in a youth hostel in Lucerne alongside fellow delegates, the students travelled each day by bus and cable car up Zugerberg to reach Institut Montana, spectacularly situated 1,000 metres above sea level. It was certainly a novel way to get to school!

But as any experienced school traveller knows, the real value of these trips is rarely found in the hotel stars or the tourist attractions ticked off along the way. It is in the conversations on the bus, the shared meals in the dining hall and the time spent together back at the hostel. Away from the familiar routines of school, these are the moments when friendships develop, connections are made and shared experiences become lasting memories.

Of course, there was plenty of serious work, too. Representing South Africa and the United Kingdom, respectively, our Grade 7 delegates took part in committee debates, considered amendments to resolutions and gained valuable experience of the procedures and diplomacy that underpin Model United Nations.

Sometimes, stepping away from the well-trodden path makes for the most memorable experiences. We asked Oscar Gunnervall (7c) and Fredrik Moskovitz (7b) to share their highlights.

Oscar Gunnervall, 7c – Delegation of South Africa

"We arrived at Zurich airport on Thursday morning and headed straight to the hostel to get our rooms. We then took a long bus ride to the foot of Zugerberg and caught a cable car up to the school, Institut Montana, which is 1,000 metres above sea level.

"The opening ceremony marked the start of the conference, and over the next few days we spent our time debating whether amendments to different resolutions should be made. At the end, the chairs read letters from the conference box and brought the meeting to a close.

"We also enjoyed a night out in Lucerne on Saturday. The whole trip was really fun!"

Fredrik Moskovitz, 7b – Delegation of the United Kingdom

"We had some downtime when we first arrived in Zurich, which gave us a chance to explore the city. The next day, we worked on our speeches in a Starbucks while waiting for the bus to the conference.

"Everyone at Institut Montana was really welcoming, which was reassuring. We also had Halloween night off to explore Lucerne. We visited the Lindt chocolate stores twice!

"The debate and conference were great, and I learned a lot about MUN procedures and the importance of forming blocs. Overall, we had a fantastic time, and Mr Logan made sure there was plenty of fun and laughter along the way!"