4th Macau Model United Nations Conference

The “4th Macau Model United Nations Conference”, co-organised by the Macau Model United Nations Promotion Association, the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macau, and the Macau Centre for Social Development Observation, took place from the 7th to the 10th of this month at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Ilha Verde Campus, attracting over 100 secondary school students from Macau, China, Hong Kong, China, and Canada.

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The event was organised under the guidance of SDSN Youth Hong Kong and the United Nations University Institute in Macau, and co-organised by the Macau Geography and Education Research Association, the Institute of European Studies of Macau, the Macau Ricci Institute, Caritas-Life Hope Hotline of Macau, the Macau Professional Speaking Association, the Macao Association of Teachers Volunteers, the Society of Food and Environmental Health (Macao), Zero Distance Cooperative, the Professional and Graduates Toastmasters Club, the Macau Association for the Advancement of Diversified Development, the Macao Cultural Heritage Reinventing Studies Association, the Macao Heritage Ambassadors Association, and the Macau Language Exchange and Culture Promotion Association.

The Model United Nations programme is centred on fostering a sense of global citizenship among secondary school students. Through simulated UN meetings, it guides young people to analyse global challenges within an international context. This programme not only cultivates students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, but also strengthens their sense of teamwork and leadership potential through the process of negotiation whilst representing the positions of various nations. The organisers hope to use this event to promote the influence of the ‘Model United Nations’ programme within Macau’s educational sector, raise public awareness of its social significance and academic value, and further deepen the dialogue and connections between the local academic community and the international community.

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The conference featured three sessions conducted in Cantonese, English and Mandarin, with themes focusing on the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, the international situation and youth employment. During the event, six academic seminars and three opening and closing speeches were held, with professionals from various fields invited to share their insights with delegates. Topics covered mental health, the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, youth entrepreneurship, the employment landscape and advice on further education in different regions.

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Professor Agnes Lam, Director of the Centre for Macau Studies, emphasised at the opening ceremony that the key to the transmission of intangible cultural heritage lies in integrating it into daily life; Dr Yang Min, a researcher at the United Nations University in Macau, analysed how humanity can balance the use of technology with autonomy in the age of artificial intelligence. Althea Ma, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary-General of the Model United Nations Promotion Association, encouraged participants to think outside the box during the four-day event, to explore issues from a global perspective, and to translate their insights into concrete action. Dr Jacky Ho, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Saint Joseph, called on young people to confront international challenges head-on whilst driving progress across all sectors of society.

At the closing ceremony, Dr Ada Chan, Network Manager of SDSN Hong Kong, spoke about the role of young people in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals; Dr Jacky Ho emphasised the need for new approaches to address international changes; and Leo Lei, President of the Macau Model United Nations Promotion Association, encouraged young people to uphold the spirit of Model United Nations and view the world with empathy.