ITUMUN2025 Conference Sought Solutions to the World's Critical Issues

At the 8th ITUMUN Conference held this year, delegates from ITU, other universities, and high schools gathered at our Ayazağa Campus from February 6-9 with the aim of finding solutions to the world's critical issues from their perspectives.

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) hosted the ITUMUN2025 Conference from February 6-9, which is implemented by university and high school students as a simulation of United Nations conferences. ITUMUN 2025 was organized within the scope of the Youth Services General Directorate University Student Clubs Cooperation and Support Program (ÜNİDES).

The Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center (SDCC) and the Central Classroom (MED-A) on our Ayazağa Campus provided nearly 500 university and high school delegates with the opportunity to gain experience in foreign language development, diplomatic skills, and international relations by addressing global issues in 10 different UN Committees and the UN General Assembly simulation during the ITUMUN2025 Conference.

ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal visited the ITUMUN2025 Conference at MED-A on February 8, 2025. Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, who visited and observed the work of ten different UN Committees within the conference, emphasized that besides the contributions of this simulation to students in terms of public speaking, general knowledge, and awareness, one of its most important contributions is to take responsibility in solving the needs of today and the future.

Our Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal stated that as ITU, they attach great importance to their students gaining a solution-oriented perspective on global issues, becoming academically strong individuals, and developing themselves through peer learning. Prof. Dr. Mandal thanked the ITUMUN family for this valuable organization and wished success to all students participating in the conference.

The committees working at the ITUMUN Conference are as follows:

- Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN)

- Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL)

- Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW)

- Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

- Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

- Global Compact (UNGP)

- BRICS+ Summit

- Security Council (UNSC)

- Historical Crisis Committee (HCC)

- World Trade Organization (WTO)

MUN at ITU and around the world

Model United Nations (MUN) Conferences are simulations of United Nations conferences conducted by university and high school students. In these conferences, participants can take on roles such as committee director, delegate, and organization team member. Most delegates represent the country assigned to them in a specific committee, as in the United Nations, and contribute according to their country's perspective in the decisions made. At the end of the conference, an official document called the resolution proposals is written for each discussed topic, listing solutions that will serve the common goal. One of the biggest contributions of these conferences, which have English as their official language, is supporting language development; similarly, committees are also opened in Turkish, Arabic, German, and such languages. MUN conferences were first implemented at Harvard University and are now held in many parts of the world, with the number of interested participants increasing day by day.

The MUN Club at Istanbul Technical University was established in 2013. The ITUMUN Conference organized by the club combines the UN experience with the ITU experience.

The club's mission is to increase participants' awareness of cultural, social, economic, and political issues in world history through research, discussion, and problem-solving methods; to help nurture academically strong individuals by offering practical experiences in foreign language and history.

The club's vision is to announce the social achievements of its experienced and enthusiastic students alongside the technical achievements of Istanbul Technical University, to elevate the name of ITU, and to become one of the leading names in the MUN community, first in Türkiye and then in the world.