Call for expressions of interest - BISA/FCDO Model NATO 2024
We’re delighted to confirm that in 2024 we will once again be holding a Model NATO in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Up to 31 universities from across the UK will be able to take part and we are calling for expressions of interest from academic leads. This annual flagship event represents a unique experience for students to take part in active learning.
Through their participation in the event, students will learn about how NATO works and the significance of the Alliance for UK and European defence. Simulation events are a recognised model of learning and allow participants access to insights unobtainable in a traditional classroom setting. While Model UN is perhaps the better known, Model NATO too has obtained a permanent presence in the educational calendar – with simulations being run in Washington DC, Bologna, Brussels and elsewhere. Preparation for, and involvement in, a Model is often transformative for participants, inspiring students to embark upon careers and projects in diplomacy, government, non-governmental organisations and the military.
The event will be held at the FCDO in London on Wednesday 6 March 2024. There is no fee to take part thanks to sponsorship from both FCDO and BISA, and all students will be provided with refreshments and lunch. However, each institution will need to cover the costs of travel to and from the event for their students.
The 2024 Model will commence with a crisis alert and will involve three committees formulating a joined-up crisis response. Students will be given a set of briefing materials on national capabilities and policies, and basic information on NATO’s mission and organisation in advance of the event. Academic specialists and -on-site advisers from the FCDO will operate as ‘home government’, issuing instructions if needed, and ready to provide advice if requested. The Model will culminate with an agreed set of actions and close with a plenary session dedicated to the presentation of certificates of participation and delegate awards. A short video showing the highlights from last year’s event is embedded below.
Mark Webber, the academic convener of the event, said:
“Model NATO is a great opportunity for students to network, acquire experience of negotiation and familiarise themselves with the work of the Atlantic Alliance. Responding to a crisis prepares students for some of the challenges they may face in their future working environments. I’m very pleased to be working with BISA again in organising an event which has tangible and lasting benefits for its participants."
If your institution would like to take part, please complete the expression of interest form by the deadline of 14 December at 11.59pm (UK time). You must be from an institution based in the UK.