Our Delegation in the German Parliament

Author: Brady Voss | Major: Finance | Semester: Fall 2023

Hello! My name is Brady Voss, and I am a current senior at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, majoring in finance with a double minor in economics and marketing. This fall semester, I was able to participate in a trip to Erfurt, Germany with the University of Arkansas’ National Model United Nations team.

I chose this program because it was an incredible opportunity to develop my professional and academic skills at an international level. Academically, I further developed my research and analysis skills as I prepared an in-depth position paper as a delegate for the country of Bolivia, where I addressed major environmental concerns of the UN Environmental Assembly. My research required a thorough understanding of major UN agreements, resolutions, and historical policies that pertain to the issues, which helped bolster my proposal. The paper was rewritten numerous times throughout the semester, as I prepared for the conference in November, and it contained three proposals for solutions to major issues that demonstrated my problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. Professionally, this program is an excellent opportunity for career networking as universities from all around the world are competing in Erfurt. There were nearly 500 students from 12 countries and 4 continents. Some of the countries included the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Germany, The United Kingdom, Japan, and many more. Building relationships with other students in this program is one of the greatest benefits of Model UN. It was an experience to learn from individuals from other countries and to hear about how they would approach an issue with diverse solutions. Many of the international students challenged me to rethink the way I would solve certain problems that our working paper or resolution paper faced. It also allowed me to work in a collaborative manner that juggled numerous perspectives and ways of approaching certain aspects of the paper. The class and instructor were instrumental in helping develop and prepare me for the in-person conference. If it were not for Dr. Robert Stapp’s guidance, our team would not have excelled as well as we did, walking away with two Outstanding Delegation Awards. This class differs from others at the university because it requires collaborative effort and preparation for the course of the semester that culminates in the Model UN exercise of committee sessions.

There were a multitude of memorable experiences from my trip to Germany. Some of the things that stood out the most to me were the architecture, food, and cultural events. One of the coolest aspects of Germany was the different styles of architecture, which ranged from Heimatstil to Gothic. Many buildings were designed to curve with the road and there was a unique blend of modern Bauhaus with gorgeous gothic cathedrals. Also, I was able to try many traditional German cuisines, such as bratwurst, schnitzel, and mulled wine. On top of this, after the program was over, I traveled to Munich and Salzburg, Austria to experience the historic Christmas markets, which were filled with many stands selling traditional food, drinks, and Christmas decorations.

I would highly recommend other students apply for the National Model United Nations team with Dr. Stapp. This program will help students develop their research ability, public speaking, communication, and leadership, alongside an international perspective on a global stage. Beforehand, I wish I had looked into the conference more to understand the entire order of events and how to effectively collaborate with other delegations. The first thing I plan to do when I get home is spend time with my family! Unfortunately, the Model UN international conference is over Thanksgiving break, and I was unable to spend it with my family. Other than that, I could not advocate for this program enough!