The students see Copenhagen as an obvious MUN host since it is home to UN City. The UN offices in Nordhavn, with over 2,000 employees, are one of the biggest UN locations in Europe, and include the regional headquarters of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the international headquarters of the organisation UNOPS.

“It’s a big attraction for Copenhagen and I think that’s something a lot of European universities will consider,” says Gabriel Højskov.

Because beyond all the practical details of organising, they also need to convince students to attend – there are many MUNs to choose from – at university level there are over 170 conferences worldwide.

Inspired by Harvard

The idea of organising a model UN conference in Copenhagen has existed in CBS United Nations for years. But a recent trip to the Harvard National Model UN finally got the students going.

Usually, CBS UN sends delegates to the Model UN conference in New York, the biggest one – and will again this April. But this year, they also organised an “alumni trip”, where eight delegates who had already attended MUN conferences travelled together to a conference at Harvard.

Gabriel Højskov, head delegate for CBS UN on the trip, says the eight students came home inspired to be in charge themselves.

Duarte Carrasco participated on the Futuristic General Assembly committee. Photo: CBS United Nations.

“There are always small things in the rules and procedures, where you think: Why did they do it like this? Wouldn’t it be smarter to do like this? – we get to control that now if we make our own,” Gabriel Højskov says.

At Harvard, the CBS delegates were representing Morocco. The delegates sit on committees where they argue for their country’s stance on certain issues. Viewpoints are not pulled out of thin air or based on the students’ own opinions, but rather require that they research to understand the country’s perspective and formulate a realistic position – which can be a challenging task.

“The ideas you bring to the table are what you are trying to negotiate with the other countries,” explains Gabriel Højskov.

After some days of negotiations, delegates form groups to make working papers which, through discussion, are eventually merged into a resolution where the committee agrees on how to address a problem.

“Can we all, as different countries, come together and make a resolution on that? Seeing the power play is interesting. People really get into the role.”

However, not all the delegates at Harvard impressed the CBS students. In some countries, especially the USA, students can often get credits or grades for participating, which leads to some people trying to talk without making a point or trying to hijack the meeting to present themselves in the best light.

“You sometimes feel they’re trying to put their hands up because they are going for grades.”

Next year though, Harvard will not be on CBS UN’s schedule as the organisation aims to host an event itself in March 2024. Ensuring that the conference embodies the UN spirit of dialogue will be a key goal.

“We want to make a good simulation of the UN where we are as diplomatic as possible and we are really trying to promote the goals of the UN,” says Gabriel Højskov.

Passion for global affairs

Gabriel Højskov says the idea of “a big conference where you talk about global issues with a hundred other university students from around the world” is what first attracted him to MUN. And the organisation is a great way to meet others who share the same interest.

He says his bachelor’s programme, in International Business and Politics, is split between “those who are into business and those who are into politics”. And not everyone is interested in international relations. At CBS UN, he has found friends with a common interest.

Duarte Carrasco joined CBS UN three years ago after having tried a few different student organisations.

“I’ve always been interested in how the UN deals with problems and finds solutions to conflicts. When I saw that there was a CBS UN, I thought, that’s going to be the one. After three years, I’m still here and not going to leave,” he says.

Gabriel Højskov hopes for a career in the UN and says the Model UN is the perfect starting point.

“There are a lot of debates about whether there are things the UN can do better. That’s always an interesting debate, but I think without the UN, the world would be a very different place and the goals of the UN are vital in a global perspective. I think it would be interesting to pursue a career path in the UN and I think the MUN gives a really good taste of that. That’s why I’m a member and I’m really excited to be working towards a CBS Model UN.”

During the trip to Harvard, the students also had time to visit the university. Photo: CBS United Nations.

CBS Students cbsstudent studentlife United Nations