RhodesMRC - HSED 2024

Rhodes Model Regional Co-operation or RhodesMRC is presenting its 14th version with two conferences for university students and graduates and for high school students respectively.

Being academically innovative, RhodesMRC has brought for the first time in its region simulations of the Union of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea Economic Co-operation, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the League of Arab States, the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation or the Organization of American States, along with simulations of the EuroAtlantic Partnership Council or the North Atlantic Council of NATO and the Council of Europe. Before the pandemic, RhodesMRC was one of the largest youth leadership events in the world, targeting high school students, university undergraduates and graduates, young scientists and professionals, for the most satisfying conference experience, assuming the role of diplomats and simulating the proceedings of some of the most important regional International Governmental Organizations, in multiple fields like democracy and human rights, peace building, security, sustainable development, financial and economic cooperation, a.o.

The 14th RhodesMRC 2024 will take place in Rhodes, Greece, October 09-13, 2024, for the university edition – open to both students and graduates -, and October 31-November 04, 2024, for the high school level. 

Students, young scientists of law, political science or international relations and diplomats, or just international relations “fans”, gather together in Rhodes every year to simulate the works of the organs and committees of a series regional international organizations, gaining valuable experience on negotiations and resolution making, while specializing to demanding topics focused on specific regions of the planet.

 For its academic innovation and unique nature, RhodesMRC has received various recognitions: 

• the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms Marija Pejčinović Burić, for 2023;
• the auspices and support of NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division, for 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023;
• the auspices of the Greek Ministry for Family and Social Cohesion, for 2023;
• the auspices of the National Commission for Human Rights of the Hellenic Republic, for 2023;
• the auspices of HAH, the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, in 2019;
• the patronage of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Co-operation and the Secretary General of its PERMIS, Ambassador Michael B. Christides, for 2018 and 2019;
• the patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, for 2015, 2016 and 2017;
• the official support of 18 Embassies and Foreign Missions in Athens for 2017, under the initiative RhodesMRC Embassy Program; 8 Embassies have renewed their support in 2018;
• the official support of the United Nations Regional Information Center for Western Europe, for 2017;
• its inclusion to the official calendar of 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, as celebrated by the World Tourism Organization, being a fine example of academic tourism and an incubator of young travelers that learn to cherish diversity and respect cultural heritage;
• its inclusion to the official calendar of the European Year of Youth 2022;
• distinction as one of the top projects for European Youth in 2013 by the Nantes Creative Generations program in France;
• being the cornerstone of the House of Europe in Rhodes award by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, in 2012.

Our core values are working “towards effective peacebuilding and sustainable development on a regional level” and to “promote regional solutions with global perspectives”. The organizations picked to be simulated and the topics selected to be discussed are always inspired by this central directive, and, from 2017 onwards, RhodesMRC honors and has committed itself to the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals, as set by the United Nations, making the conference indeed relatable with modern challenges while focusing in the various regions, where regional co-operation is indeed a tangible reality.