Last week for five days, global issues were debated and negotiated in Dresden. The student association "elbMUN" (Elbe Model United Nations e.V.) invited students from all over the world to this year's UN simulation.

During the conference, participants represent a country's delegation in selected UN councils or committees and negotiate resolutions on the world's most pressing challenges. Some of the topics this year were the situation of women in humanitarian crises and international conflicts, environmental sustainability, the International Monetary Fund and other relevant issues of global importance.

© Ilaria Franceschetti

The primary motivation for the participants is to acquire soft skills and language skills, learn diplomatic procedures and gain information through exchanges with other delegates from different cultural and social backgrounds. Having fun should not be neglected either! For many students, however, the participation was also about gaining experience to be able to work one day in global and international organizations.

© Ilaria Franceschetti

This goal is often also pursued by the students of the International Relations program at the Center for International Studies (ZIS), a "lighthouse" of internationalization at TU Dresden. Some of them founded the association and organized the event with the utmost care, formality and seriousness, without disregarding the smallest detail, such as the venue of the opening ceremony. It took place on 12 April in the Saxon Parliament.

The conference offered by this young and committed students for like-minded people was an experience for all involved that they will certainly not soon forget, marked by active dialogue, confrontation and inclusion.