Founder · Harvard & John Maxwell certified
Jihad Yaacoub
Founded The Council twelve years ago. Harvard and John Maxwell certified. Leads the academy’s delegations and exchange programs across the US and Europe.
For students · 10 sessions · Beirut
Harvard Model United Nations
Prepare for the world’s most prestigious student diplomacy conference, and learn to win the room at Harvard.
Who this is for.
Harvard MUN rewards preparation. This is who will get the most from it.
This is for you if
- You are preparing for your first conference, or your school’s delegation
- You freeze, rush, or lose your thread when you have to speak
- You want the credential to mean something on a university application
- You can commit to ten consecutive weeks
This is not for you if
- You are looking for a first introduction to leadership: start with Life Skills
- You want a certificate without attending
- You are looking for general public speaking more than committee work
- You cannot attend at least eight of the ten sessions
What you’ll leave with.
- Write a position paper that a chair remembers
- Open a committee with a speech that sets the agenda
- Build and hold a voting bloc under time pressure
- Handle a hostile point of information without losing the floor
- Draft and amend a resolution in committee language
- Use the rules of procedure to steer the committee
- Argue a position you personally disagree with, convincingly
- Recover when a speech goes badly, in front of everyone
How it’s structured.
Each session builds on the one before, from the rules of the floor to a full simulation and a written evaluation.
The floor, and how it works
Rules of procedure, committee roles, and what chairs are scoring.
Research and the position paper
Finding a country’s real interests, and writing them into a paper that gets read.
The opening speech
Structure, timing, and the first ninety seconds. Filmed and reviewed.
Points of information
Taking hostile questions without conceding the argument.
Blocs and negotiation
Building a coalition, trading concessions, and knowing when to walk away.
Resolution drafting
Preambulatory and operative clauses, amendments, and committee language.
Crisis
An unannounced crisis session. You are interrupted, timed and opposed.
Full simulation, part one
A complete committee run at conference pace, with external chairs.
Full simulation, part two
From resolution to vote. Faculty observe and score against the rubric.
The record
A one-to-one written evaluation, plus your conference preparation plan.
Who teaches it.
Open cohorts.
| Intake | Starts | Deadline | Places | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | February 10, 2027 | January 20, 2027 | Open | Apply |
Common questions.
What does it cost, and is there any assistance?
Fees are shared on request within one working day. A limited number of partial places are available each intake. Mention it when you apply; it will not affect the decision.
Does my child need any experience?
No. Most delegates arrive having never spoken in a committee. The first three sessions assume no prior knowledge, and the group is placed by experience level in week one.
What happens if a session is missed?
Materials are shared and a faculty member runs a catch-up. Delegates who miss more than two sessions usually move to the next intake, so the group keeps its pace.
Is the conference fee included?
No. This program prepares delegates for the conference. Travel and conference registration are quoted separately, and you receive the full figure before you commit.
Are sessions in English or Arabic?
Sessions run in English, because the conference does. Faculty explain in Arabic or French where it helps, and no delegate is held back by language confidence.
What does my child leave with?
A written evaluation against a fixed rubric, a completed position paper, filmed speeches from weeks three and nine, and a preparation plan for the next conference.
Where ambition finds its bearing.
Applications for Spring 2027 close on January 20, 2027.