PO2MUN: Model United Nations

Module code: PO2MUN

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Sarah Von Billerbeck, email: s.b.k.vonbillerbeck@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module, taught across both semesters, explores the structure and function of the United Nations in a changing global context. After a rigorous introduction to the UN, its primary organs, and its main activities, diplomacy will be experienced first-hand as students engage with the processes and institutions of the UN and the role of member states within it. Students will put their knowledge, understanding, and diplomatic skills to the test when they seek to analyse, debate, and strive to reach collective agreement on key global issues, both in an in-class simulation and representing the University at a Model UN conference in the UK. Students will work independently, in groups, and as a cohort, helping them to understand the importance of both their own contributions and teamwork. 

Please note: Attendance at the conference is a compulsory element of the module. The School of Politics, Economics, and International Relations covers the cost of registration and students are asked to contribute £300 towards the cost of the trip (travel, accommodation, etc.). 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the structure and purposes of the UN and its relationship with individual states;
2. Demonstrate understanding of the different international diplomatic mechanisms that operate within the UN system and its overall decision-making process;
3. Apply their understanding of the relationship between individual states and the UN through debates, policy writing, and essays;
4. Confidently participate in simulations on contemporary political topics with other students.

Module content

Topics to be addressed will include: 

• Theoretical Approaches to the UN 
• The Roles of the Secretary-General and the Secretariat 
• The UN Security Council 
• The General Assembly and ECOSOC 
• The UN and Member States 
• Peace and Security 
• Human Rights 
• Environment 
• Negotiations at the UN 
• Model UN Rules of Procedure and Tactics 

This content is indicative and may be subject to change. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered through 10 lectures, 7 two-hour seminars, and three days of travel to an MUN conference in the UK. Students will prepare for lectures by doing a set of readings of academic and primary texts. Subsequently, two interactive seminars provide training on model UN rules of procedure, delivered in collaboration with the Reading University MUN Society. Students will then prepare for the in-class simulation and the MUN conference through online and text-based research about their assigned country (possibly in teams), preparation of a position paper, working papers, and draft resolutions, and through review of the rules of procedure. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs