Late last term, Year 9 students from across the College took part in a Model United Nations General Assembly. This unique immersive experience unfolded across all three campuses, with 50 students from the St Kilda Road Campus joining their Year 9 peers at the Elsternwick Campus.
A Model UN is a full-day simulation of the United Nations General Assembly, where students act as ambassadors from various countries, engaging in discussions on pressing global issues. This year’s session focused on the topic of Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, with the goal of fostering dialogue, negotiation and diplomacy to find the most balanced solution.
Each student was assigned a country represented in the UN and, in the lead-up to the event, researched their country’s stance on AI. Wesley’s Digital Learning Practice team presented on the implications of AI, covering its impact on humans and daily life beyond the experience of familiar tools like ChatGPT. This background helped students create well-informed arguments aligned with their countries’ perspectives.
With a fully recreated UN General Assembly setup, representatives from the Model UN organisation adjudicated the event, and students followed official UN protocols throughout the day. At the conclusion of the debate, the students voted on a new AI resolution statement.
Stepping into the shoes of their assigned countries with such an authentic simulation really helped them to understand different global perspectives on a significant current issue, and to appreciate the goals of the UN.
