Bears Win Worldwide

January 1, 2023

Baylor’s Model UN team in Kyoto, Japan — Baylor’s Model UN team made a cultural visit to Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, Japan

In November, seven members of Baylor’s Model United Nations Team traveled to Kobe, Japan, to participate in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) Japan conference. The team was named an overall Outstanding Delegation, the highest team award given at Model UN conferences.

When it came to the competition, the team represented Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania in four committees that simulated the work of the United Nations General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Security Council and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Committee.

In addition to being named an Outstanding Delegation, every member of Baylor’s team received individual recognition with some delegates receiving multiple awards. The team received Outstanding Position Paper Awards in three out of the four committees in which it participated. These awards recognized research completed in advance of the conference. Additionally, the team received Outstanding Delegation Awards in three out of the four committees in which it participated in recognition of work done in committee at the conference.

The team won nearly every award they could — but even more important than the wins the team brought home to Baylor was the exceptional educational experience afforded by the conference, which was just the second international conference held outside the U.S.

“Participating in Model UN has been a great way for me to connect with peers and further develop my mediation skills. I’m honored to be a part of this team that has excelled,” said sophomore Isabella Zarat.

Over 300 students from more than 40 universities around the world participated in NMUN-Japan 2022, which was co-hosted by the Kobe City University of Foreign Studies.

“This is an amazingly gifted group of students. I’m so proud of the work they’ve done and the accolades they’ve achieved. Beyond the awards, I want to emphasize the academic experience is unparalleled. The students’ work on issues related to international peace, security and development were enriched by the cultural experiences offered by the conference and by working alongside students from different parts of the world,” Baylor Model UN sponsor, Senior Lecturer and Political Science Undergraduate Program Director Rebecca Flavin, Ph.D., said.