University students from Sarawak and Thailand participate in External MUN.CS Conference

Miri – 17 October 2012 – University students from Malaysia and Thailand debated controversial issues and human rights at the External MUN.CS Conference organised by the Model United Nations Curtin Sarawak (MUN.CS) of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently.

The conference is a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly and other multilateral bodies that focus on world issues.

It was the second time Curtin Sarawak played host to the 2-day event, which saw the participation of 15 students of Curtin Sarawak, as well as student delegates from Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak and Bangkok’s Thammasat University.

Befitting MUN.CS’s motto ‘Bridging Borders, Building Leaders’, the conference’s main objective was to hone and improve the student delegates’ diplomatic and discussion skills. In addition to articulate and challenging debate sessions, it also provided the students opportunities to demonstrate intelligent and creative thinking.

Present at the event were Curtin Sarawak’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Alistair Inglis and Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Ching; the Unit Coordinator for Curtin Business School (Teaching and Learning) at Curtin’s main campus in Perth, Annette Watkins; and academic staff of Curtin Sarawak.

The debate sessions were moderated by Head of the Department of Media, Culture and Communication Ngu Ik Ying and marketing and management lecturer Edeseyi Margaret Ekisowei, both from the university’s School of Business.

Playing the roles of representatives of assigned countries, the students deliberated on policy issues between North Korea and South Korea, as well as human rights issues pertaining to the torture and abuse of prisoners.

To add excitement to the event, the students set up booths to promote their assigned countries and dressed in the national costumes of the countries. In addition, interesting slideshow presentations were shown and samples of the countries’ cuisines were showcased.

According to MUN.CS President Sanjayvarman Ravindran, the MUN.CS organising team worked over several months to ensure the event went off without a hitch. He also hopes that more sponsorship will be obtained so that more delegates from other countries can be invited to participate next year.

This year’s best delegates were Curtin Sarawak students Vigneswaran Duraragh and Hanani Shukri. MUN.CS also awarded Sumayeah Ridah Hasib from Swinburne Sarawak and Thanapat Chatinakrob and Thanachote Rojkanok from Thammasat University for outstanding research and debate.

In Model UN events, students act as ambassadors and give speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, and resolve conflicts in the interest of countries worldwide. They also learn how the international community addresses topics relating to peace and security, human rights, environment, food, economic development and globalisation.

For more information on MUN.CS, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/home.php#!/mun.curtinsarawak.

Professor Alistair Inglis (seated centre), Nicholas Ching (far right) and Annette Watkins (3rd right) posing with academic staff of Curtin Sarawak and the student delegates.

The Thai student delegates from Thammasat University, Bangkok.