Professional Networking
For every Preparatory Track, we organise optional field trips for our delegates to have the opportunity to build their networks and gain a deeper understanding of diplomacy, International Relations and lobbying in the real world.
Leiden MUN delegates are exposed to a variety of geopolitical perspectives that expand their understanding of diplomacy and multilateral relationships by partaking in our Professional Networking programme as this allows them to engage in debate with high ranking officials such as the Assistant Secretary-General to Kofi Annan, Dutch foreign ministers, former UN conflict mediators, and Ambassadors.
Embassies and Ambassadors
We always organise at least two Embassy visits per Prep Track. Previous visits include trips to the Embassies of the USA, Bangladesh, Israel, Iran and the Taiwanese Representative. We have also had the honour of inviting Ambassadors to intimate, round-table discussions with our delegates. Such Ambassadors include those of Costa Rica and Georgia
Lobbying and Public Relations Firms
Alongside visiting Embassies and Ambassadors, we have made several visits to lobbying and public relations firms including BKB Amsterdam and The Hague Corporate Affairs where delegates took part in enriching one-day training programmes. Trips to these locations have been very insightful for delegates to understand what lobbying looks like in practice. Of course, we teach Lobbying and Negotiation in our Skills Labs, Mock Sessions and our Personal Development Programme mentoring scheme, but hearing first-hand experiences from professionals in the field is an unparalleled experience we are proud to offer our delegates.
Networking abroad
When the Harvard National MUN (HNMUN) delegation travels to Harvard’s conference, we always spend a few days in New York City in the days preceding the conference. Here, we organise guided tours to the United Nations Headquarters, the Dutch Permanent Mission to the United Nations, and the Permanent Mission of the country Leiden MUN is representing at Harvard. These trips offer an even further aspect to our Professional Networking programme, and delegates always speak highly of the lessons and connections they make during these events.
Amongst the professionals we have been grateful to meet with during past delegations include:
Professor Jagdish Bhagwati
(Economist at Columbia University, New York and former Special Advisor to the GATT, WTO and UN);
Professor Michael Doyle
(Professor of International Affairs, Law and Political Science at Columbia University, New York and former Chair of the United Nations Democracy Fund);
Professor Franz Baumann
(Former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and visiting Professor at NYU);
Professor Niels van Willigen
(Associate Professor at Leiden University and Senior Analyst in the Peace & Security Section of the Global Governance Institute).
Samantha Power
(US Ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama)
Sven Koopmans
(Dutch Member of Parliament and former UN conflict mediator)
Che Lee
(Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in The Hague)
Karin Eliyah-Pery
(Diplomat at the Israeli Embassy in The Hague)
Saied Asadi
(Minister at the Iranian Embassy in The Hague)
Haya Alfarra
(First Secretary at the Palestinian Mission in The Hague)