MUIMUN 2012 will be the sixth Model United Nations (MUN) conference organized by Münster University students in the City of Peace – but it was certainly not without any effort that this formerly small project became such a great success.

It all started with a Venezuelan Trainee working in the Innovation Office (Arbeitsstelle Forschungstransfer), Antonieta Alcorta Rosales, who had taken part in several MUNs and was convinced of the value such an experience could have for every student:

‘Taking part in a MUN is something every person should do at least once in order to learn and experience world politics and recognize ways in which each one can help to make this world a better one.’

Soon, Mr. Wilhelm Bauhus, Director of the Innovation Office, was convinced of this approach and helped gaining the support of the University’s Chancellor and faculty members – the first important step towards a MUN in Münster. Until today, Mr. Bauhus is one of the most important supporters of MUIMUN.

No own conference without experience – as the interest began to rise, a delegation of eight students was selected to take part in TEIMUN (The European International Model United Nations) in The Hague in April 2005. The following year, sixteen students composed the WWU delegation for Harvard WorldMUN in Beijing. Awarded with four ‘Diplomacy Awards’, the team arrived in Münster full of energy and great ideas for their own MUN conference.

Finally, in 2007, it was time for the first MUIMUN conference. A group of 25 students, together with many others who supported and helped in one way or another, took care of every detail and gave their best to assure that everyone had a wonderful experience during the very first MUIMUN. 160 delegates from 37 countries enjoyed these five days as much as the organizers did. The Scholarship Programme, one of MUIMUN’s main goals, was a complete success being able to allow participation for six students from developing countries.

During the following years,the number of delegates participating in MUIMUN, the number of lessons learned by the organizational team and the amount of fun everybody has during the conference week grew in equal parts. In 2010, MUIMUN established a new unique feature: the Next Generation Programme. For the first time, a number of selected High School students was able to join the conference, surprising everyone with their profound knowledge of international politics.

Last year, the team together with all participants and supporters celebrated the big five years anniversary conference – and there’s no end in sight. Everytime a new organizational team starts its work, everytime the MUIMUN baton is passed from one team to another, it is difficult to imagine that there will be a next conference – maybe even better than the previous one, due to all the fresh ideas new team members bring in. But in the end, there always is a new conference spreading the MUIMUN spirit in all corners of the world.

We are looking forward to MUIMUN 2012!