The OG team at Chongqing No.8 Secondary School for the Opening Ceremony of the MUN Conference
The OG team was thrilled to return to Chongqing for the second year of OGMUN-Chongqing No.8 Secondary School Model United Nations Leadership Academy and Conference, a week-long experience for delegates to build their diplomatic skills, before applying them to the world of MUN. For OG directors, this programme was a great opportunity to help first time delegates develop their research, public speaking and leadership abilities, as well as exploring the vast, futuristic city of Chongqing. Read on to hear about the team’s highlights!
Director Ed explaining the workshop task to a delegate in the MUN Academy
OG Secretary-General Luca Moretto and Director-General Charlotte Allen, alongside directors Gustė Domskytė, Joel Freedman, Sixuan He, Ed Johnson, Sienna Mathur and Benjamin Waterer, taught specialised workshops alongside WELAND International, advising delegates on topics such as the most effective ways to research and formulate position papers, how to command a room through harnessing public speaking skills and the intricacies of Rules of Procedure. OG Directors created a welcoming environment in which beginner delegates could make meaningful progress, developing their English language skills as well as growing into more confident, articulate, persuasive individuals.
Director-General Charlotte addressing delegates and guests at the MUN Conference Opening Ceremony
The conference element of the week’s programme featured four committees: the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - conducted in Mandarin - the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Debating topics ranging from the global threat of mass displacement to removing corruption and maintaining the sustainability of host cities of the Olympics, delegates got stuck into complex issues, working in blocs to carefully formulate working papers and draft resolutions.
Directors sharing their experiences of Oxford’s culture to delegates at the cross-cultural exchange workshop
The OG team getting stuck in at the delegate social, performing a rendition of OneRepublic’s ‘Counting Stars’
Delegates were also treated to lectures by Professor Wang Suolao of Peking University and Ambassador Gao Youzhen, former Chinese ambassador to Qatar, respective experts in their fields who shared their thoughts on the most pressing geopolitical issues in the Middle East. Additionally, an evening of the programme was spent facilitating a cross-cultural exchange workshop, in which directors discussed Oxford’s culture, their own cultures, and the nuances of cultural exchange, appreciation and appropriation throughout history. Delegates also shared their own thoughts about Chinese culture, culture shocks and ongoing debates, such as the controversies surrounding artefact repatriation - all valuable discussions that we hope delegates use to shape their own understanding and take forwards in future intellectual deliberations.
Secretary-General Luca delivering closing remarks at the MUN Conference Closing Ceremony
The Closing Ceremonies of both the Academy and Conference recognised delegates that had made impressive contributions: for their levels of participation, demonstration of potential and leadership of debate. In his closing remarks, Secretary-General Luca highlighted to delegates the importance of taking not only the memories of the week with them, but also their new found confidence to continue engaging with new ideas and contributing positively to the world around them.
“Each and every one of you has made significant contributions to your committees, and you should absolutely take pride in that fact.”
The OG team sitting at the MUN Conference Opening Ceremony
Hosted by Chongqing No.8 Secondary School, and delivered in partnership with WELAND International, the OG team are hugely grateful for the generous hospitality of the school and the outstanding organisation and support provided by the WELAND team: their coordination, expert translation assistance and warmth ensured a hugely successful Academy and Conference.
Alongside the Academy and Conference, the OG team hugely enjoyed taking the opportunity to explore Chongqing. To see buildings stacked up against steep cliffs and skyscrapers and residential buildings intertwined with roads and monorails was incredible; this was best captured through the viewpoint at TESTBED2 Erchangwengchuang Park, which provided the OG team with a skyline perspective of the city. Exploring areas such as Jiefangbai and Ciqikou Old Town, the team enjoyed shopping, trying local teas and snacks, and embracing the vibrancy the city had to offer (albeit with many handheld fans to combat the heat of 40+ degrees celsius!).
Directors at the viewpoint at TESTBED2 Erchangwengchuang Park
Directors enjoying a hot pot al fresco!
The team hugely enjoyed seeing the spectacle of the Chongqing 1949 immersive theatre performance, which documents the liberation of Chongqing on a 365 degree rotating, layered stage, and also loved visiting key tourist spots, such as Hongya Cave and Liziba Station, seeing the Saturday night drone show, and playing plenty of mahjong! As well as seeing the city from all angles - from the river on a cruise, from the air on cable cars and from the ground in many DiDis - the team attempted to take on the famous spicy food of the city (with some team members faring better with the numbing Sichuan peppercorns than others!).
The OG team taking a riverside walk down the Jialing River, with the famous Qiansimen Bridge in the background
The OG team on a buggy taking a tour of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Enjoying traditional tea at Wenshu Monastery
Following the week spent in Chongqing, the team were treated to a weekend in neighbouring Chengdu, the global home to giant pandas in China. The team loved visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (with many a panda souvenir being bought!), and also enjoyed exploring the historic Wenshu Monastery and Wuhou Shrine Museum and Gardens, home to beautiful bamboo groves and ancient stone tablets. Having hot pot on Chunxi road, finding our way down the winding passageways of Kuan and Zhai Alleys and exploring Jingjiang - and, of course, indulging in a KTV session or two - brought the trip to a lovely close.
OGMUN-Chongqing No.8 Secondary School Model United Nations Leadership Academy and Conference 2026 was an unforgettable experience, and we are incredibly thankful to WELAND International and Chongqing No.8 Secondary School for organising and facilitating such an amazing opportunity, and to every delegate who made it possible. The team cherished our time in Chongqing and Chengdu, and is hugely looking forward to being back for future editions of this programme.
