AUB Model UN Conference: Bridging the Lines Between Politics and Interest

Yehya Iskandarani and Selina Riachi

AUBMUNC, known initially as BEYMUN, has continually evolved and is now in its most influential and transformative form yet. This evolution stands as a testament to the growth of this small university-led initiative, recognized for its academic impact and prestigious reputation. Over more than a decade, successful editions have brought together dedicated thinkers from various disciplines to achieve significant milestones, culminating in the 2025 edition, which drew over 650 delegates.

Today, AUBMUNC has achieved objectives once unthinkable, including securing scholarships and internship opportunities for awardees and attaining recognition from a UN body. Behind the scenes, AUBMUNC operates within a hierarchical system that assigns everyone a clearly defined role and level of authority, facilitating the smooth preparation of the conference. Within this structure, the rigorous process of topic selection, committee proposals, and approvals all take place.
 
1)    Procedures for Topic and Committee Selection:
Topic and committee selection at AUBMUNC are assigned to the Committees Team, which consists of coordinators, a consultant, and an Under-Secretary-General. Each person proposes ideas based on clear criteria that ensure both their relevance to current international politics and their feasibility within the conference’s resources. The chosen topics reflect the United Nations’ core values and strategic goals, anchored in international law and the Sustainable Development Goals, to advance global peace and security and to safeguard universal human rights. For instance, one of the expert committees at AUBMUNC’26 is the US House, which will address the public release of the Epstein files. This topic was chosen because it enables delegates to identify gaps in existing anti-corruption laws and to propose stronger legislation to prevent further abuse of power. This case aims not only to uphold accountability and justice but also to underscore the urgent need for robust confidentiality safeguards, appropriate use of sealed proceedings, and measures to restore public trust in officials.
 
Subsequently, topics are assigned to specific mandates or committees. These committees are selected based on their capacity to address the issues at hand, their level of authority, and their influence over the subject. For instance, UNICEF was chosen amongst multiple UN bodies for its dedication to upholding the rights of children, particularly those from marginalized communities, and its commitment to maintaining equality, development, health, and inclusivity.
 
 
2)    Voting Upon the Approval of Committee Proposals:
During this stage, the panel of committee coordinators evaluates all submitted topics and committee proposals. The evaluation involves a joint voting procedure to determine the top 30 approved committees, which are presented to delegates as the official AUBMUNC Committees list. It is essential to note that these committees are handpicked in accordance with clearly articulated criteria, including their capacity to produce fruitful policy-oriented debates and to tackle non-repetitive resolution clauses. For instance, one of the topics for AUBMUNC 2026, which falls under the mandate of the International Symposium of Global News Networks (ISGNN), aims to determine ethical boundaries for leaking classified government documents. Delegates, representing various news outlets, will discuss one of the most salient questions of modern-day journalism: when does the public’s right to know end and state confidentiality begin? Representatives must engage in debate to conclude the conference with a list of resolutions to address this multifaceted topic.
 
3)    Prioritizing Delegate Experience and Satisfaction:
As previously established, the final list of topics and committees is selected in compliance with criteria that emphasize current political relevance, consistency with international law, and the potential to generate productive debate. However, the real driver behind every stage of topic and committee selection – from proposals to the approvals and voting procedure – is delegate experience and satisfaction. The Committee’s team consistently strives to ensure that each delegate enjoys and benefits from the conference.
 
As delegates from a variety of schools and universities in Lebanon and abroad flock to AUBMUNC, the Committees team works meticulously to construct a final list of topics and committees that appeals to delegates of all proficiency levels and preferences. Committees are assigned beginner, intermediate, or expert labels to guide delegates in choosing based on their age and Model UN experience. Moreover, each set of committees includes a diverse spectrum of topics that caters to a wide range of interests.
 
This year, the beginner set deals with topics as elementary as human rights and climate change, and as niche as aviation and the entertainment industry. In line with this wide variety, the intermediate set addresses economic topics and historical events, such as the 1973 Chilean coup. Furthermore, the expert set explores topics including organ trafficking, proxy conflict escalation, and the future coordination of mass migration to planet X-47 following imminent planetary collapse. It even encompasses a special session in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that calls on members to discuss the proposed Super League.
 
The high degree of diversity is the highlight of AUBMUNC 2026. Considering committee registration is the starting point of AUBMUNC, it can either make or break the experience. By ensuring that delegates from diverse backgrounds can find at least one committee that appeals to them, the team ensures delegates enjoy the conference at every stage. The team’s success in prioritizing delegate experience and satisfaction is reflected in the increasing number of delegates AUBMUNC attracts each year.
 
 
Starting as a small university-led initiative ten years ago, AUBMUNC has grown to become a renowned MUN conference, recognized locally and internationally for its academic impact and prestigious reputation. It has achieved objectives once unthinkable, including securing scholarships and internship opportunities for awardees and earning recognition from a UN body. Year-long preparations take place to ensure the smooth flow of the conference and the quality of the delegate experience and satisfaction. This preparation includes the Committee’s team, which is tasked with creating topics and committees for the large number of delegates attending the conference. During each stage of the topic and committee selection, the team prioritizes political relevance and diversity and aims to cover all performance levels and interests. Through its delegate-centred approach, the team ensures that all conference attendees enjoy their experience and that MUN enthusiasts keep coming back every year.

About the Authors
Selina Riachi is a senior in Media and Communication, and Head of Communication & Committee Coordinator for AUBMUNC.
Yehya Iskandarani is a junior in Biology Premed, and a Committee Coordinator for AUBMUNC.