Panellists during the seminar.
Doha, Qatar: Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) marked its 20th anniversary with its annual Model United Nations (GMUN) conference, welcoming over 1,300 participants from 25 countries to engage in rigorous debate and diplomacy.
Themed “Managing Global Power Shifts in an Age of Crises: Responding to Political Transitions,” the event invited secondary school youth and their advisers from across the globe to learn more about diplomacy, and educational excellence.
Participants were welcomed to Qatar Foundation (QF) by Dr. Abdulnassir Al Tamimi, Executive Director of Student Services at QF Higher Education. “The world needs your voices, your ideas, and most importantly, your leadership…every major movement in history has been driven by the courage of young people like you, who dared to dream of something better,” he said.
Dana Al Anzy, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Education Above All and a GU-Q alumna from the Class of 2017 delivered the keynote address. She shared how in her own experience, MUN activities changed her perspective and prepared her to make a difference in the world, “These are not just abstract resolutions you debate on,” she said sharing how her work at the UN exposed her to the human face of the policies discussed.
Featuring three days of diplomatic exercises, the conference brought together 981 high school student delegates, 144 advisors, and 100 high school volunteers, making it one of the largest and most impactful MUN conferences in the region.
The student-led event was organised by 80 GU-Q undergraduates, including a dedicated committee playing key roles in the MUN structure. At the helm was MUN Deputy Secretary General Nagla Abdelhady, Class of 2025, who has participated in the event throughout her four years at GU-Q.
“When you are truly passionate about something, you don’t just want to participate in it — you want to share it, expand it, and build momentum for it,” she shared, adding, “MUN was never just an extracurricular for me; it is a platform, a community, and a space where I can contribute, inspire, and be inspired.”
According to Jibin Koshy, Educational Enrichment Manager, the programme’s growth for both local and international students is a testament to its impact on the region. “As a flagship programme since the inception of GU-Q in 2005, GMUN has empowered over 9,000 young leaders to find their voice and commit to building their communities.
“In celebration of our 20th year we have enhanced our offerings, welcoming our largest cohort ever, and incorporating AI to better support students in their conference preparation. It has been my great privilege to lead this programme with our students,” he said. Complementing the MUN sessions, GMUN ’25 also featured the Higher Education Excellence Symposium, offering the 144 high school counsellors and educators who accompanied the students valuable insights into supporting student success.
The symposium included six sessions led by esteemed GU-Q faculty and administrators, including how to offer transformative learning experiences, support diverse needs, engage with the community, lead with AI, and help students stay ethically grounded.
“These sessions are a significant step forward for GU-Q,” said Dr. Ken Grcich, Associate Dean of Students, adding, “We aim to transform the MUN experience into a nexus for secondary school capacity-building around their student’s matriculation into higher education.”
