IGUMUN 2026: Students Address Global Challenges

The second Istanbul Gelisim University Model United Nations Conference (IGUMUN 2026) was held. Through the United Nations simulation, students debated global issues among themselves and developed their diplomatic skills. At the event, which took place at Istanbul Gelisim University on May 2-3, students acted as United Nations delegates and examined global challenges in four different committees. In addition to IGU students, participants from Gökkuşağı Koleji, Süleyman Nazif Anadolu High School, Avcılar Anadolu High School, Büyükçekmece Anadolu High School, Beşiktaş Anadolu High School, and Şehit Batuhan Ergin Anadolu High School took part in the MUN. After two days of sessions, certificates of appreciation were distributed to students at the closing ceremony. The event concluded with a musical performance by students.

“A Place Where Ideas Are Spoken Freely”

Zeynep Çağlar, an English Language and Literature student who served as Secretary General of the IGUMUN committee, shared the following:

“MUN, Model United Nations, is essentially a simulation of the meetings held at the United Nations. Just as representatives at the UN discuss global problems, students discuss global problems in our committees. It is a place where ideas are spoken freely. In this way, people learn to take responsibility, to speak respectfully, and to respect different views. People become more engaged after this conference. When you attend MUN and leave, you are a different person. There are students who have attended multiple times. It is not just a debate event, it is one that develops you in every sense.”

Yemeni student Khadeja (Hatice) Saleh added:
“At a Model United Nations event, students can step out of their comfort zones, break down the walls in front of them, speak as they wish, and voice what they fear without shame. This conference helped me see the world differently; I heard the world from different perspectives. We realized that there is no problem we cannot solve through communication and dialogue. As the IGU team, we created a very professional working environment. We worked in a setting that truly felt like a real UN committee.”

“We Saw That Problems Can Be Solved Without War and Violence”

Mehmet Fatih Topatan, a first-year English Language and Literature student, noted that the event achieved its purpose and made the following remarks:

“Model UN is a project created to show that students can solve world problems. IGU has participated in this project this year with great preparation. As someone who was on the organizing committee, I can say that there is truly a massive team behind this project. Our main purpose is to show that the world's problems can be solved through dialogue. Many committees are formed for this purpose, many representatives are designated. These people know that we can solve some problems without war, without violence, without anyone getting hurt. Our aim here is to prove to people that the world can be a better place simply through conversation and understanding.”

Four Topics Addressed in Four Committees

Sinem Çay, a student of both English Language and Literature and Turkish Language and Literature, commented on the topics discussed at IGUMUN:

“We had 4 committees: the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), the Women's Council, the Council of Europe, and the World Health Organization Council. Different topics were addressed in each, and different perspectives were discussed. I think it is a very important step for developing communication skills, recognizing one's own confidence, and contributing to one's career development. The more you attend, the more you gain. Participation in English-language sessions improves speaking skills. In Turkish sessions, it encourages more academic speech.”

Gita Rosandic, a Croatian student from Gökkuşağı Koleji Bahçelievler Campus, shared her impressions:

“It was a very good committee, it went very well. We had good conversations with all the delegates. In the committee, we addressed the topic of women's rights and discussed how to solve the problems. I saw the different perspectives of our delegates representing their countries. It broadened my perspective. It impressed me greatly. I learned many new things.”