Taking part in your first MUN conference can be a daunting experience. To make it easier, the OxfordMUN 2020 committee have put together a list of the 5 most common mistakes made by first-time delegates.
1. Being intimidated by complicated procedure
It is common for first-time delegates to feel too intimidated to speak up out of fear that they will make a mistake with the formal committee procedure. However, at your first MUN conference, the most important thing to do is to speak; this is a vital first step towards improving your confidence and engaging with your committee. The Chair will never tell you off for making a mistake, especially if they are aware that this is your first MUN experience. A MUN conference is about learning, and the only way to learn is to have a go and get stuck into the committee debate.
2. Forgetting to research your country position
When researching for a MUN conference, it is easy to get swept up in researching your committee topic, and forget to look into your country's stance. It is extremely important that you are aware of your country's ideological position on both committee topics so that you are able to represent their views as accurately as possible. The views of your country might not match up with what you yourself believe, but this is all part of the fun of taking part in a MUN conference.
3. Thinking you have an 'irrelevant' country
If you've followed the advice above and performed in-depth research on your country, you might find yourself thinking that your country has nothing important to contribute to the topic at hand - but this is far from the truth! Every country, big or small, has a vested interest in the topics debated at MUN conferences. Just because you have been allocated a smaller country does not mean that you have to take a backseat in the committee; in fact, it is even more important that the smaller countries speak up to avoid the debate being dominated by larger and wealthier countries.
4. Being intimidated by experienced delegates
At every MUN conference, there will be a minority of experienced delegates who attempt to dominate the committee room. Whilst these delegates tend to be the most vocal, this does not mean that they are any more skilled at MUN than anyone else in the room. In fact, it is often the quieter delegates, who make sensible and informed points and work with others to construct resolutions, who will succeed most at a MUN conference.
5. Not speaking to other delegates
One of the best parts of MUN is meeting people from all over the world with whom you share common interests. Whilst being thrown into a new social environment can be intimidating, it is important to get to know your fellow delegates and forge social connections in order to get the most out of your MUN experience. Networking with other delegates is also an integral part of the diplomatic process, and can enable you to form blocs, write resolutions or construct amendments.
If you avoid falling into these traps, you will no doubt have a successful and enjoyable time at your first MUN conference. Good luck!