HOW MODEL UNITED NATIONS ENHANCES MY CHILDREN’S INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
By Michelle Sanders, ACS Hillingdon Parent
Michelle Sanders, parent of two students currently studying at ACS Hillingdon
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to travel the world and be engrossed in other cultures. Seeing the world’s diversity from a young age aided my development as a student. Now, as an adult, I realise that it has made me more understanding and empathetic as a person.
In my current role as Canada’s representative to the United Nation’s (UN) International Maritime Organisation (IMO), I work with colleagues from all over the world to ensure Canada’s interests are effectively represented in negotiations on the safety, security and sustainability of international shipping.
In my job, understanding others and respecting different viewpoints are vital in our discussions. Without the empathy and ability to appreciate other perspectives that I learned from a young age, I may not have the career I do now.
I moved to the UK with my family in August 2022 for my job. I was excited for my two sons, who are now in Grades 10 and 12 (Year 11 and 13 in the UK), to have a taste of the international experience and be exposed to different cultures like I was when I was growing up. I hoped that it would help them develop the same skills and perspectives I now have. However, I also recognised that this change is a big one – the biggest change of their life so far. I couldn’t help but worry that this move might destabilise their education and development.
Before we moved, I knew that the education system would be different to what my children were used to. So, it was a focus for me to ensure that my children attended a school that offered a curriculum that would both ease their transition to the UK, and contribute positively to their international learning experience.
Of all of the schools we researched, ACS International School Hillingdon stood out most. As a school, its approach to education provides a solid foundation for the development of true global citizens, which is shown through the International Baccalaureate (IB), its commitment to its Model United Nations (MUN), and its students from all over the world.
MUN at Hillingdon
As my job was the reason for the move to the UK, it was a given that it would be a topic of discussion at home. These discussions piqued the interests of my sons, so it was perhaps not a surprise that, after learning about ACS MUN programme and the opportunities MUN can provide, both decided to take part. The programme seeks to replicate the professionalism and function of the United Nations and gives students the opportunity to discuss and debate the most pressing, ongoing geopolitical and socioeconomic issues. Not only does ACS Hillingdon host its own community MUN events, it also provides opportunities to go abroad and take part in MUN conferences.
From an intellectual perspective, I think MUN suits them both very well. They’re smart, curious children who want to learn how the world works, and MUN is perfect for that. I also was part of MUN at my schools, so I can identify with their experiences and see how it also relates to my job today.
My sons are not necessarily considering international relations or diplomacy as career prospects; from what they tell me, they’re more interested in helping solve the world’s issues in other ways, such as through sciences and academic research. However, that doesn’t mean that MUN is in any way a waste of time. The insight that they have gained participating in MUN has opened their eyes and mind to how society works, the importance of considering and understanding different perspectives and circumstances, and how we deal with a crisis as a global community.
Global mindedness
The world is full of different wants and needs. As a teenager, MUN gives you the opportunity to experience those differences organically and gives you a balanced view of the world. It offers growth both academically and interpersonally by creating an environment that allows young people to learn vital skills such as collaboration, problem-solving and public speaking, while giving them an understanding of geopolitical dynamics.
On top of that, MUN has shown my children that their perceptions can be wrong, and it encourages them to look at the sources behind their thoughts and feelings. Overcoming our differences and ensuring that everyone is considered and respected is more important than ever, and I have always wanted to make sure that my children develop that understanding.
Preparing my children for the future
In an increasingly politically volatile world, it’s easy to feel nervous to stand up for what you believe in. That’s why I think it’s vital that schools teach respect for culture, diversity and inclusion. Children of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow, and we need to ensure that they have the foundational building blocks of how to be a global citizen because without it, we won’t reach our goals as a society. Student-led projects, like MUN, not only aid academic development and interpersonal skills, they also mimic real-life jobs which give young people a mature outlook on the issues that they face. As a result, they’re able to tackle important, serious discussions and show them the respect they deserve.
And so, as I reflect on our time since moving to the UK, I truly believe that MUN has been a transformative experience for both of my children. It has helped them adapt during a period of change in their lives, and thanks to ACS Hillingdon’s internationally focused environment, they’re able to meet other students who are also experiencing a new city, school and culture.
To me, the most notable skills my children demonstrate as a result of everything they’ve learned is that they’re able to have difficult conversations, maintain civility, engage in discussion and remain empathetic. People can go their entire lives not realising the power that respect and diplomacy has, and I am grateful to the MUN framework and ACS Hillingdon for helping cultivate these skills and perspectives in my children.
