The Kettering University Model United Nations Team (KUMUN) participated in the American Model United Nations International Collegiate Conference (AMUN) from November 21-24 in Chicago, Illinois.

At the conference, KUMUN members represented the delegation of Azerbaijan and focused on topics ranging from ISIL’s influence in the Middle East to the crisis in Syria. Approximately 1,800 students representing 110 schools participated in the conference.

“The most valuable thing is to challenge yourself to go in front an audience to speak,” said Zhaxi Nima, public relations chairman for KUMUN. “We have to challenge ourselves to develop the skills to convince other people of our beliefs.”

As Azerbaijan, the 12 members of Kettering’s team who attended were placed on committees to work on the following issues including cyber security, terrorism, agricultural development, food security and nutrition, chemical weapons, migrant issues and the crisis in Syria. Students were tasked with collaborating with representatives from others nations to draft resolutions that are domestically and globally beneficial.

“When you speak with students from different backgrounds and colleges, it expands learning beyond the borders of the Kettering community,” Nima said.  “When we experience these events, we come back to Kettering and see things more broadly and are more open-minded.”

Before the conference, members of KUMUN had to familiarize themselves with Azerbaijan, a nation on the shores of the Caspian Sea, to accurately represent its interests and potential legislative desires. Last year at this same conference, Kettering represented Bulgaria and next year they will be Egypt.

Egypt is one of 15 countries on the United Nations Security Council, which will provide Kettering students with more decision-making and legislative power in 2016.

“Engineering is a very small community that shares similar values and attitudes,” Nima said. “Interacting with students from different majors and with different attitudes and beliefs helps build communications, negotiations, networking and leadership skills.”

KUMUN is also scheduled to participate in the annual Model United Nations competition at Harvard University in February 2016. Last year marked the first time that KUMUN won an award at the Harvard conference.

Additionally, in Spring 2016, the Model UN Team will host the second-annual KUMUN Conference at Kettering University on Saturday, April 30 2016. This is a Model UN Conference for collegiate and high school students in the area. Anyone interested in attending next year should contact Zhaxi Nima at nima2421@kettering.edu.