May 25,
2017, Cairo – For the eighth year in a row, Cairo International Model United
Nations team at The American University in Cairo (AUC) was recognized with the
Outstanding Delegation award, the highest award at the National Model United
Nations (NMUN) Conference in New York City. In addition, AUC’s Cairo
International Model Arab League team participated in the 34th U.S. National
Universities Model Arab League at Georgetown University and won four Distinguished
Delegation awards for different councils.
"This
is quite an achievement," said Walid Kazziha, political science professor
and faculty adviser to both CIMUN and CIMAL at AUC. "Compared to
previous years, the results achieved this year exceeded all expectations and
raised the name of our institution higher than ever before."
This
year marks a particular feat for CIMUN, as the University sent two teams to
represent two delegations at the New York conference. President Francis J.
Ricciardone held a reception this month to recognize the teams’ success at
the conference.
Both
teams were awarded first place, and individual awards were presented to AUC
team members. The Best Delegation Award in the Security Council went to Ziyad
Rushdy, accounting major. Two Position Paper Awards were awarded to Marwan Al
Sayed, actuarial science major, and Reem El Hadidi, political science major,
who participated in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at the
conference.
“It
is very difficult to win first place, especially with two different teams
competing against a large number of universities that prepare for the
conference as part of their academic curriculum. Our students prepare outside
class time and have been winning for several years now,” explained Omar Zaky,
CIMUN secretary-general and a political science major.
The
conference is held in high regard because of the level of academic training
many university students carry with them. Though AUC’s CIMUN is considered as
an extracurricular activity, it is one of the three oldest entities on campus,
boasting a great deal of experience. The
two AUC teams this year represented the delegations of Monaco and Kenya. A
total of 41 AUC students, including the CIMUN High Board traveling along as
head delegates, competed as part of these two delegations. Students were
prompted to research foreign policy and discuss various topics within different
councils modeling those of the United Nations.
For
many students, this competition represented an opportunity to travel abroad and
compete on an international level for the first time or, at least, visit New
York for the first time. “To be put in a new competitive environment and come
away with such an achievement is a magnificent thing. This competition
demonstrates the ability of AUC students to thrive in a competitive environment
and their capability of working well individually, with guidance to continue
developing,” explained Zaky.
CIMUN
and its High Board, comprised of students Omar Zaky and Omar Rezk, Professor
Walid Kazziha and graduate adviser Nour Shafik are responsible for selecting
the students who will attend the NMUN conference and providing necessary
training.
“At
CIMUN, we try to raise issues that are ongoing in Egypt and around the world
and provide people with a safe environment to express themselves. Students
learn how to research, debate, lobby, respect others’ opinions, negotiate and
speak publicly,” noted Zaky.
At
Georgetown University’s 34th U.S. National Universities Model Arab League,
AUC’s CIMAL team received the awards for the Distinguished Delegation for the
Economic Affairs Council; the Social Affairs Council; the Heads of State
Council and the Joint Defense Council.
In
each of the councils, two AUC students were honored, and the whole team was
honored with the Distinguished Delegation Group Award granted to AUC. AUC’s
team, made up of 14 students, competed against 400 students from 22 American
universities. The awards were determined by a popular vote for individual
councils and by a committee of judges for the group award.
Students underwent a rigorous process to ensure
that they have the knowledge and skills necessary for the conference. "We
put together trainings that would prepare us for the event, including a mock
conference," said Aly Amer, head delegate of CIMAL and a double major in
political science and integrated marketing communication. "All AUC
students showed great competence when dealing with the academic content of theconference."
The
conference was academically and socially beneficial to student participants.
"It was definitely a plus for us as AUC students to gain insight from
people coming from the region being discussed," Amer noted.
"Interactions were not limited to the conference room. We actively
built friendships, since we were all doing something we feel passionate
about."
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