The National Delegation and The United Nations and Multilateral Diplomacy (UNMD) Course
The UNMD course concept, generally considered to lie at the origin of United Netherlands, has been designed to teach both the theory and practice of international relations and diplomacy to talented students. The theoretical part of the course lasts half a year and involves lectures on international matters by renowned speakers, intensive training in public speaking, lobbying and negotiation, and a final training week in New York at the Foreign Press Centre. The practical aspect of the course is embodied by participation in the Oxford international Model United Nations (OxiMUN), and ultimately the Harvard National Model United Nations in Boston, considered to be the oldest, largest and arguably most respected Model United Nations conference in the world.
Approximately thirty students can participate in the course every year. Participants are drawn through a selection process which consists of three rounds and takes place twice a year. The selection procedure is organized in three rounds and is open to all students attending a Dutch University. It involves a test-simulation of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a simulation of the Security Council (SC), and an interview. Delegates are required to attend weekly six-hour meetings on a fixed day and are expected to invest 12 to 15 hours a week in the preparatory track.
The preparation track, the training week and MUN conferences together form the United Nations and Multilateral Diplomacy: Theory and Practice course. The course is equivalent to a (Dutch) BA3 course and is academically accredited with 10 ECTS through the Radboud University. Participants are trained, coached and given feedback by two Head Delegates carrying the responsibility for the Delegation.
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