Prem Tinsulanonda International School hosts Northern Thailand's first Model United Nations

MAE RIM, Thailand - March 28, 2013 - PRLog -- On 15 March 2013 the international schools of Chiang Mai met at Prem Tinsulanonda International School (Prem) for a significant event.  The date marked the beginning of Northern Thailand’s first ever two-day Model United Nations (MUN) conference.  

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

Prem is at the forefront of a growing wave in international schools.  It is a four-programme IB school (IB DP, IB MYP, IB PYP and IBCC) which has embraced environmentalism.  It has adopted the AtKisson Compass Model on Sustainability.  The school and its parent corporation – the Traidhos Three-Generation Community for Learning – also have a river barge programme, a sustainable and educational farm and an impressive variety of other educational initiatives.  But where Prem really crests that wave is in its specific intent to build its students into active leaders.  Awareness of human, environmental, economic, political and ethical issues is no longer the sole benchmark in progressive education.  Training, and enabling our students to meet and manage the challenges of tomorrow, are the new imperatives.  This is the key distinguishing feature of Prem.  It can be found within the programmes offered to, and the expectations demanded of, its students.

Prem students took the lead in every way at the Chiang Mai Model United Nations.  A student Executive Committee was established, and students drafted their own job descriptions and areas of responsibility.  They designed, managed and delivered an exceptional event in which over 200 students from Chiang Mai international schools participated.  They decided upon format, content, rules and procedures.  They arranged scheduling, support staff, catering and registration.  They built websites and chaired committees.  Grade 11 student General Assembly Chairman, Ha Gyu Jin (Daniel), summarised the role of student leadership and participation by announcing to the student General Assembly during the conference’s opening ceremonies that “The MUN is not about perfection.  What we are aiming for is an excellent experience”.  That experience was student-generated.  That experience was highly laudable.

Chiang Mai International Schools Sign Charter for Model United Nations

The event was also significant because the opening ceremony witnessed the signing of a Chiang Mai United Nations (CMMUN) Charter, which now commits all international schools in Chiang Mai to the vision of building tomorrow’s leaders.

Initiated in 2007 by Andrew MacLachlan (Prem teacher and MUN co-ordinator), the collaboration of like-minded educators has finally managed to create a structure and educational experience that will outlive the tenure or charisma of individuals.  A signed Charter will govern future events.  The international schools of Chiang Mai have now made it their policy to ensure that the CMMUN will become a significant and permanent part of their academic and co-curricular educational offerings for their students.  Witnessed by diplomatic representatives, school leadership, teacher coordinators and the student delegates of the CMMUN, the signing of the Chiang Mai Model United Nations Charter was a great way to signal the beginning of a collaborative conference and also the beginning of a collaborative commitment on the part of Chiang Mai international schools.

Authentic Learning

When topics are relevant, evident and touch our students, the learning experience is amplified. The theme for this CMMUN conference was Minorities Report: an examination of the world’s minority groups.  With militarised minority separatist groups in the Shan State of Myanmar, economic and social disparity in Thailand for groups like the Lahu, issues of statelessness for the Rohingya, Thai programmes like OTOP (One Village, One Product) and local NGOs fighting exploitation and human trafficking in Chiang Mai, it was a natural choice.  Add to this mixture a core of dedicated educators, motivated and involved parents, an active, talented and tuned in expatriate community and a supportive United Nations regional office just a stone’s throw away in Bangkok and you have the makings of a very valuable experience.  When learners were asked to use this background to examine similar issues in Mali, Syria or the Amazon rain forest, they based their discussions on a strong foundation of prior knowledge and first-hand experience.  These are the individuals the 21st century will be calling upon to lead.  

Recipe for Success

The CMMUN “Minorities Report” conference was a resounding success.  It focused on developing student leadership.  It highlighted the advantages of collaboration between like-minded educational institutions and announced the decision to make this collaboration formal and permanent.  And it provided a truly authentic background, context, theme and format under which the students of today must develop those aptitudes they will require to be the leaders of tomorrow.  The only question for Prem and CMMUN is ‘What’s next on the menu?’

AJ MacLachlan, OCT, MEd, BEd, BA (H)