Thanks to everyone who helped make the January 2012 SUNY Model EU in Exeter, UK such a big success!
SUNY Model European Union from BEA Submitter on Vimeo.
We had nearly 150 participants from 15 different schools from across New York, the EU and candidate countries in 2012, from places as far apart as Jamestown, New York and the island state of Malta, from Ithaca to İzmir, Turkey. Join us!
SUNY Model EU is a project funded by the Institute of European Union Studies at SUNY (IEUSS), through the Office of Global Affairs, SUNY System Administration. Like many international simulations, students and universities represent country delegations in preparing to attend a European Council Summit. Usually, these delegations are comprised of four person teams, with each student playing an actual political figure from that country’s government. These roles are generally the Head of Government (Prime Minister or President), the Foreign Minister, the country’s ambassador to the EU (COREPER II), and a Finance Minister. Larger teams can also bring an additional deputy minister for Europe or deputy Prime Minister. Host teams will generally Chair the Head of Government and Foreign Minister meetings, playing the roles of Council President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs. Additional delegation assignments also play the role of the European Commission and Secretariat, as well as the SUNY Model EU Press corps.
Once assigned “roles” country teams work to prepare a single page proposal for an item to be discussed at the summit, and submit it to the presidency team a little over a month prior to the simulation and the presidency team works with the secretariat to generate an initial agenda of items to be debated in each functional group setting. We try to debate the most important and timely issues confronting Europe, from the crisis in the Eurozone, to the military action in Libya, and problems integrating recent immigrants into European society. Students debate the issues and come to common positions on items before them, working first in small groups (of just their partner ministers) before putting the final conclusions of the presidency to a vote of the whole.
Model EU has proven to be an enormously rewarding experience for our past participants, and a visit to our SUNY Model EU Facebook page will confirm this. Students from all over the SUNY system and northeast have an opportunity to meet and work with students from all over Europe, to learn about one of the most complex and important actors in the international arena today, and to develop their social capital in learning how to present their views before both a small group and plenary setting. Smaller than most Model UN simulations, it is a more participatory experience for all those that do come, and there are fewer “spectators” given the small size and the importance of each country in EU Council decision-making.
The 2013 SUNY Model EU will be held, for the first time, at the SUNY Global Center in NYC, April 11-13, 2013. The SUNY Global Center, at 116 East 55th Street, is in one of New York City's most distinguished landmark buildings and is a specially designed facility for an innovative 21st century global classroom experience. Details regarding registration and accommodation for the 2013 simulation will be posted in June. Stay tuned for details!
Country assignments and rooms at the conference hotel are allocated on a first come, first serve basis, so register early to reserve your place! There is no minimum number of students required to form a campus delegation. Journalism/communication majors are encouraged to join our SUNY Model EU Press Corps, which produces daily newsletters, as well as a conference blog and video of the simulation itself. We can accommodate up to three 4-5 person country delegations, as well as several additional students who may serve in the Model EU Press Corps. We can also help a single student from your school join another delegation from other schools if you do not have enough to field a full team.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the possibility of your school sending a delegation of students to SUNYMEU 201, as part of a course or as a club. The SUNY Model EU Office provides academic support for both students and faculty advisors, including a SUNY Model EU Manual (available for downloading from this site this fall), so there is no requirement that faculty accompany students. Faculty research panels and workshops are organized to parallel student meetings and promote cross SUNY and international collaboration among colleagues participating.
If you would like more information, please contact me at our SUNYMEU office at (845) 257-3558 or at dowleyk@newpaltz.edu. Below you can download the study guide materials, registration forms and informational brochures! Check back soon for this year's agenda items and don't forget to join us on Facebook.
Registration forms and 2011 Simulation Brochure with Preliminary Program:
2013 Faculty/Student Model EU Registration Form
» Library Resources on the EU
» SUNY Model European Union Facebook page
Model EU 2010: Limerick, Ireland at the Opening Ceremony
Delegation from Exeter University, UK
The Conclusions of the SUNY MEU Presidency 2011
Best regards,
Kathleen M. Dowley
Associate Professor of Political Science at SUNY New Paltz
Director, SUNY Model EU
(845) 257-3558
