QUEEN’S STUDENTS ATTEND MODEL NATO TO MARK THE 2019 LEADERS’ MEETING  

09 December 2019

Six students from the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics took part in a Model NATO event in London last week (02 December 2019) to mark the 2019 NATO Leaders SUMMIT.

The event, organised by the British International Studies Association (BISA) in conjunction with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), aimed at enhancing the understanding of world affairs, of around 100 undergraduate students from across the UK.

The 15 invited universities, which included Queen’s, King’s College London, Birmingham University and London School of Economics, learned how NATO works and why the Alliance continues to be the cornerstone of UK and European defence.

The Model NATO scenario centred on coordinating a NATO response to a crisis management scenario, in this case, a huge shift in a tectonic plate in the Mediterranean Sea which resulted in massive loss of life.

The Queen’s team represented the Netherlands and Romania and received advice from Dutch and Romanian diplomats at NATO as part of their preparations. The team was made up of second and third year students that were selected from a strong field of applicants from the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics.

The students included Dakota Reid, Isobel Meharg, Maeve Devlin, Conor McNally, Adam Farhan Bin Salmaan Hussain and Patrick Geddis. They were accompanied by Professor Alister Miskimmon, Head of the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics.

Professor Alister Miskimmon said: “I was delighted that Queen’s was invited to participate this very prestigious event. We sent a very strong team of students to take part in the Model NATO and they performed brilliantly. Working alongside diplomats in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was a fantastic insight into the world of diplomacy.”

Simulation events such as Model NATO are an internationally recognised method of learning and give participants access to insights unobtainable in a traditional classroom setting. And they often inspire partakers to follow careers in diplomacy, government and military service.

The Queen’s team representing the Netherlands which included Isobel Meharg, Adam Farhan Bin Salmaan Hussain and Patrick Geddis were awarded an Outstanding Delegation Award.

Speaking in October ahead of the Model NATO, Professor Mark Webber, Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham, Chair of the British International Studies Association and NATO specialist said: “Running a Model NATO fits perfectly with BISA’s objective to promote and develop International Studies.

“A Model involving a crisis simulation is a text-book example of experiential learning and we’ll be able to provide students with a unique experience that allows them to be active learners.”

“We hope that the BISA/FCO Model NATO will have a lasting outcome, in particular in raising the awareness and self-confidence of students. Many of those attending the Model will have no prior academic knowledge of NATO as it’s not widely studied in UK university curricula, and perhaps only a rudimentary general knowledge culled from news reporting.

“Preparing for, and participating in, the Model, and taking advantage of a pool of learning materials specifically provided for the event, will be a unique educational experience.”

Taking place in the Locarno Room in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, during the packed day of activities, students had the opportunity to talk to, and learn from, UK Government officials and diplomats. 

The closing address was delivered by Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and Head of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service.

An account of the 2019 Model NATO by Professor Mark Webber can be found in 05 December issue of The Conversation.  

For media enquiries please contact Zara McBrearty, Queen’s Communications Office, on telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 3259.

Caption (L-R): Patrick Geddis, Adam Farhan Bin Salmaan Hussain, Maeve Devlin, Conor McNally, Dakota Reid and Isabel Meharg.

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