Nineteen KUFS students and three faculty members participated in the annual Japan University English Model United Nations (JUEMUN) at Notre Dame Seishin University, Okayama from June 28th to 30th. Joining over 163 delegates from 18 countries, the delegates simulated a UNESCO meeting. Along with students from Japanese universities, students also joined from universities in Canada, Ukraine, and Germany. The delegates had a wonderful opportunity to share and cross over cultural experiences and a solid understanding of each other.

JUEMUN is an annual, collaborative, and student-organized conference. Since its inception in 2010, JUEMUN has grown into a well-established English MUN experience for university students. JUEMUN participants bring various backgrounds and perspectives to make an exciting, engaging, and unforgettable UN simulation. The conference is organized by a volunteer team of university students, staff, and teachers from several host universities, who believe that JUEMUN is a wonderful way for students to learn about the most challenging global issues our world faces today by representing the government of a nation, other than their homeland, at a simulation of United Nations meetings.

The agenda of the JUEMUN 2024 was “Education for Sustainable Development”, and focused on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The agenda also included discussions related to 5 other SDGs, which are SDG12: Responsible Consumption And Production; SDG13: Climate Action; SDG14: Life Below Water; SDG15: Life On Land; and SDG16; Peace, Justice And Strong Institutions. Delegates were divided into large meetings, smaller committees, and regional blocks. During sessions, delegates delivered speeches, presented proposals, and collaborated in committee meetings to write draft resolutions on the agenda topics.

JUEMUN is an important member of the numerous and diverse global communities that have come together to try to make the world a just place for more people. JUEMUN and other international youth conferences play considerable, often underestimated roles, in encouraging students to find ways they can usefully contribute to the global community. Friendships formed among conference colleagues, destined to last a lifetime, will serve the interests of peace.

JUEMUN 2025 will be hosted by Kyoto University of Foreign Studies from June 27th to 29th on the KUFS campus.