G20 Simulation Game

The United Nations University (UNU) is proud to organize and host its first student simulation game for graduate students. This programme has been designed by three Institutes of the UNU Network and hopes to bring graduate students from across UNU and beyond together to advance their understanding of the international system.

For this first edition, we will simulate a Leader’s Summit of the Group of 20 (G20). Since the Washington Summit in 2008 the Group’s importance has been steadily rising. Following the Great Recession, the G20 has developed into the premiere forum for crisis management and it has contributed significantly towards the stabilization of the global economy. Over the last two years, with the economy back on track, the Group’s focus has widened and Leaders now discuss issues related to international migration, refugee crises, counter-terrorism and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Students will have the opportunity to develop their skills across a range of disciplines including; research, public speaking, teamwork and leadership and, at the same time, they will also get a glimpse of the complexities of international negotiations at the highest level.  

G-20: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union (EU). Spain is a permanent guest.

International organizations (subject to change based on the number of participants): United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WBG), World Trade Organization (WTO), International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Each delegation will be represented by two or three students who will represent Ministers and Sherpas.  The aim of the negotiations is to draft and adopt a Leader’s Communique and Plan of Action by the final session. The agenda and delegation assignments will be given to all participants by the end of December 2017.

As part of the organizing consortium, UNU-CRIS invites 10 students from its partner universities, UGent and VUB, to participate in the simulation game.

• When? 7 – 8 April 2018. Registration desk opens at 08:00 on 7 April.
• Where? The United Nations University (UNU-MERIT), Maastricht, the Netherlands.
• Participation Fee: The simulation will be free of charge (lunch and snacks will be provided), and travel expenses to and from Maastricht will be covered. Students are responsible for arranging their own accommodation.
• Eligibility: Graduate students from Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• How to apply? Send a CV and short motivation letter (max. 500 words) to eramon@cris.unu.edu (subject: Application UNU simulation game) before 15 December 2017.