“The more you give to a MUN, the more it gives back to you.”

Regarding MUN, it's not just about networking—it's about forming lifelong friendships and creating unforgettable memories. Núria is one of the people who has truly impacted my MUN journey. If I remember correctly, we first crossed paths at the EuroMUN 2024 venue. I had known about her before, as she’s an active member of the MUN Society at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF).

Núria is a Spanish law student at UPF who recently moved to Geneva to study abroad, focusing on International Humanitarian Law—a subject I can’t help but envy! Naturally, I’ve already asked if I can visit, not just to see the fantastic “UN city” but also to share some Raclette.

Núria’s MUN journey is as impressive as it is extensive. It all began during her first term at university. “UNSA Barcelona organized courses about the UN, and through one of these courses, I won a scholarship to attend the Amsterdam Model UN conference,” she explained. Motivated by the inspiring stories she heard from her peers, she was excited to dive in. 

Since then, she has served as the USG of Academics three times and held the role of Secretary-General for UNSA Barcelona. She’s also participated in numerous conferences, including EuroMUN 2023, where she took on the role of chair for the first time.  “Each conference has been a valuable learning experience,” she noted.

Curious about her advice for those new to MUN, I asked what she would recommend for first-time participants. “My main advice would be to do thorough research,” she emphasised. She mentioned the importance of reading UN reports and the study guide, adding, “Preparation is crucial for defending your position during the conference.” Núria also reminded me of the importance of MUN's social aspect. “It’s where you connect with others and engage in MUN.”

I asked which role she preferred based on her experience in various roles at different conferences. After a moment of thought, she said, “I prefer being a chair, especially in beginner committees.” We share this sentiment! Nuria loves seeing delegates grow throughout the sessions.

She is particularly fond of European affairs committees and enjoys those focused on international security, like the UNSC and NATO. 

Discussing the traits of a good chair, Núria highlighted the importance of empathy. She enjoys chairing beginner committees and believes explaining the procedure rules is crucial. “It’s important not to judge delegates based on their performance,” she advised. She also stressed the significance of communication with your co-chair and the need to review the Rules of Procedure to prevent potential issues thoroughly. When writing a study guide, Núria recommends consulting various sources, including UN documents and recent updates on the topic. We also chatted about the tedious process of reviewing position papers. Núria shared a helpful tip: “Sending an email outlining the formalities and structure the paper should follow makes everything much easier when it’s time to review them.”

Núria has utilized MUN Command several times throughout her MUN career. “It allows you to manage all aspects of the conference efficiently, from proposals to documents,” she explained, noting that the statistics feature makes the chairing process much more effective.

Though she has chaired all her conferences in English, I was curious if she’d consider chairing in Catalan. “Chairing in Catalan can be fun and a bit challenging, especially when it comes to translating specific terms,” she said. We then found ourselves laughing over how daily MUN terms would be translated into Spanish, one of our mother tongues—terms like “Caucus Moderado” (moderated caucus) and “Punto de información” (Point of Information). 

We also touched on the history of MUNSA. Núria explained that UNSA Barcelona created MUNSA during the COVID-19 pandemic, and MUNSA 2022 marked its first international edition. “We had to explain how to manage delegations, and using mymun made everything so much more effective and organized,” she said. Initially hosting 120 delegates, MUNSA has since expanded to 140 for the upcoming edition. I wish her the best of luck for this year’s conference!

As someone who has served as the SG of UNSA Barcelona , Núria explained the responsibilities of such roles: “I had to ensure everything was managed correctly, from representing the association at conferences to overseeing funding and making sure the money was used wisely.” It sounded like a challenging job, but with her passion and dedication, she’s done an excellent job, which clearly shows.

On a lighter note, I asked Núria about her favourite MUN memory. She fondly recalled the punishments and the delegate dressed as a cow from KaMUN 2023. Moreover, Núria reflected on how MUN has helped her build confidence in public speaking, networking, and understanding global challenges.

As we wrapped up our chat—definitely more of a chill chat than a formal interview—Núria dropped an absolute bombshell. Out of nowhere, she casually mentioned that soon it would be her last conference. My jaw practically hit the floor. “Wait, what? You’re done with MUN?” I immediately went into full persuasion mode, throwing out every reason under the sun why she couldn't just walk away from the MUN world. Like, who’s ready to give up the adrenaline rush of debate, the late-night bonding socials, and all the epic memories? She might be calling for her grand finale, but I’m not buying it. I’m hoping she’ll get FOMO, and we’ll see her back in action soon enough. Because, let’s be honest, who can actually resist the pull of another conference?

Photo: Imanol Olite y Santi Ramos.