BIGMUN: Young people show the way to peace – piece by piece
BIGMUN, Birkerød Gymnasium Model United Nations, is Birkerød Gymnasium’s annual UN role-playing conference for students. Each year, the conference gathers over 300 students from all over the world. The role-play lasts for five days and is a realistic simulation of the actual UN, complete with a dress code, an opening ceremony, a general assembly, committees, a security council, and country delegations.
The main purpose of the conference is for students—here referred to as delegates—to debate real-world challenges, write solutions in the form of resolutions, and vote for or against them. The fundamental premise of the role-play is that students do not represent their own country but instead immerse themselves in the politics and values of another nation. Therefore, the role-play is not just an opportunity to explore the world of diplomacy, practice English, and gain a deeper understanding of the UN’s internal mechanisms—it is also an exercise in stepping into someone else’s shoes. This makes it a true learning experience in democratic citizenship: students engage with different perspectives and learn to view problems and opinions from multiple angles.
BIGMUN has become a long-standing tradition at BG, with high participation rates and with great success. From the first group of students who started BG’s MUN club and attended a conference in 2009, to the 10th-anniversary event where HRH Crown Princess Mary opened the conference, to today, where BIGMUN has established itself as the largest MUN conference for high school students in Scandinavia. There is no doubt that the conference is a remarkable event, but the most impressive aspect is that it is entirely student-run. A selected group of students forms the core of BIGMUN’s organizing committee, meeting every Wednesday from August to February to discuss and finalize the theme for the next year’s conference, strategy, logistics, budget, and all other practical considerations. A group of BG teachers supports them as coordinators.
Considering the current global situation, this year’s BIGMUN conference seems particularly relevant. The theme for this year, “Achieving Peace: Piece by Piece,” is unfortunately more pressing than ever, given the many diplomatic crises governments worldwide are facing and our own ministry’s statements about an increasingly uncertain future. The UN, NATO, and international diplomacy are on many people’s minds. Every year, BIGMUN welcomes schools from around the world, and this year, we were especially proud to host a school from Ukraine and a group of young people who, despite immense adversity and living in a war-torn reality, remain motivated to help build a better and more peaceful world.
"If the UN did not exist today – we would have to invent it." – Holger K. Nielsen
It is a tradition to invite prominent figures from the world of Danish politics to speak at BIGMUN’s opening ceremony. This year was no exception, with both former leader of the Social Democrats, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Taxation and Minister of Finance, and President of the UN General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, and former leader of the Socialist People’s Party, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and UN Special Envoy, Holger K. Nielsen, in attendance. Both speakers addressed the students, emphasizing the need for the UN, especially now, as international politics shifts course faster than most can keep up with. They also highlighted that achieving peace is no easy task—peace negotiations require small, deliberate steps toward sustainable solutions, which demand perseverance, cooperation, and belief in the UN’s core ideal: peaceful international collaboration. Drawing on their extensive experience within the UN, both speakers shared insights that the delegates would later try to emulate during the role-play.
When asked what they gain from participating in BIGMUN, students highlight several key aspects. A role-play like BIGMUN creates opportunities to put theory into practice—how do you debate a topic convincingly? How do you draft legal language, and how do we interpret international conventions? How do we find innovative solutions to concrete problems? Through intensive research and the realistic framework of the role-play, students gain insight into the political realities of the “adult” world.
This year’s Secretary-General of BIGMUN, Vedhika Krishna from 3u, states it clearly: "Being in the position of Secretary-General allowed me to reach a larger audience of people than I would have ever imagined. I met so many new and inspired students who displayed a passion for international relations and were driven to make a change. Thanks to the variety of committees and topics we have at BIGMUN, I was introduced to such a large scope of discussion that was guided and debated by fellow peers. It was so fulfilling to see how people around my age carried themselves with such purpose, putting their differences aside to focus on world peace."
Nikolai Kaaber Haarit, also from 3u and this year’s Head of Press, added: "I now see the unique culture and community BIGMUN has created and realize that my generation does want to effect change. So now I would answer, that BIGMUN acts as a reminder of the potential our generation has."
Thus, BIGMUN is not just a conference where academic knowledge is put into practice - it is also an opportunity for Birkerød Gymnasium’s students to meet peers from across the globe. These peers may come from different cultures and backgrounds, but they all share a common goal: intercultural understanding, collaboration, and a mutual desire for a better future for all.
A big thank you to this year’s BIG Ten students, who have once again created a memorable conference, leaving a lasting impact and hope for future leaders and decision-makers. We look forward to next year!