From April 19 to 21, the 14th Model United Nations Conference of South China University of Technology and the Greater Bay Area Youth Model United Nations Conference were successfully held at the Guangzhou International Campus. The conference was hosted by South China University of Technology and co-organized by the School of Foreign Languages and the Model United Nations Association of the university.

The conference featured four committees: the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis Linkage Committee, the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the Main Press Center, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The committee chairs were Ruan Lixin from the School of Future Technology, Zang Chiyu from the School of Intellectual Property, Yan Yiyun from the School of Public Administration, all of South China University of Technology, and Lin Yuying from the School of International Studies at Jinan University. Over 200 delegates from 52 schools across the Greater Bay Area participated in the conference, including representatives from Sacred Heart Canossian College (English Section) in Macao, Kao Yip Middle School in Macao, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou No. 6 Middle School, South China Agricultural University, South China Normal University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jinan University, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Xiamen University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Sun Yat-sen University.

The opening ceremony showcased the efforts of youth from the Greater Bay Area in actively contributing to global governance. During the guest speech session, Guan Chunlan, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Guangzhou International Campus, highlighted the campus’s commitment to local internationalization and its student-centered talent cultivation model. Deng Xuepeng, Chairman and Academic Advisor of the Guangdong Provincial Model United Nations Conference, affirmed the role of youth from the Greater Bay Area and emphasized the importance of Model United Nations conferences in cultural heritage preservation. Liu Yingsi, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Foreign Languages, reviewed the highlights of the university’s recent efforts in cultivating talent for international organizations and encouraged youth from the Greater Bay Area to step onto the broader stage of global governance. Che Siqi from the School of Foreign Languages presented certificates to the winners of the Kapok Cup International Organization English Debate Competition and the Translation Competition. In the exchange and sharing session among youth from the Greater Bay Area, Long Rui, an intern at the United Nations Global Compact from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Guan Yanting, a recommended student at the School of Law, Renmin University of China, from the Macao Model United Nations Association; and Li Yanze, an outstanding participant in the Chinese International Civil Servants Capacity Building Program from South China University of Technology, shared their experiences on how Model United Nations activities have aided them in applying for positions at international organizations, as well as their expectations for such activities. At the conference launch ceremony, Huang Yuxin, Secretary-General of the Model United Nations Association and a student from the Department of Tourism Management, delivered a speech. Zhang Yuntian, Academic Director of the conference and a student from the School of Microelectronics, presided over the gavel-presentation ceremony for the four committees. Guan Chunlan announced the official opening of the 14th Model United Nations Conference of South China University of Technology and the Greater Bay Area Youth Model United Nations Conference.

The Model United Nations Conference serves as an important practice in the university’s cultivation of talent for international organizations and a key platform for nurturing global governance capabilities among young students. During the conference, delegates engaged in negotiations, consultations, and debates across committees based on significant international issues and in accordance with United Nations procedures, ultimately achieving international cooperation. This activity helps cultivate young talent familiar with international rules, knowledgeable about key issues, and skilled in negotiation, laying a solid foundation for students to deeply engage in international governance in the future.

It is reported that as a member of the United Nations Association of China (2023–2028), South China University of Technology’s Model United Nations Association has successfully organized 14 important regional Model United Nations conferences, involving tens of thousands of delegates in total. Additionally, the association has actively cultivated and organized thousands of members to participate in external conferences, winning awards such as the Best Organization Award at the China Model United Nations Conference and the Best School Delegation Award at the Asian International Model United Nations Conference. Many conference delegates have gone on to undertake volunteer and internship work at international organizations, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Children’s Fund.