Issues that confront can help us bond

The 22-year-old has won several awards in municipal and national English oratory and debate competitions, which, he says, were a result of the knowledge and materials he digested in the process of preparing for and attending these events.

BIMUN, now one of the most influential conferences of its kind in Asia, has had a big impact on Tang's career path, and is also the reason why Spanish major Huang Wanqing chose to study at CFAU three years ago.

Huang says: "I started my Model United Nations journey as I entered high school six years ago. I really longed for the chance to take part in a conference that involved real diplomats."

For the 21-year-old, these events sparked her interest in politics and history, and motivated her to take subjects like military history and regional studies of Eastern Europe.

Besides, she also found that when she was representing a certain country at these committees, she had to make clear the country's position on the topics by studying related background information and interpreting its cultural stance, which widened her horizons and enabled her to understand and admire cultural diversity.

"The skills we use to negotiate and compromise at these events also help me get to know how to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds more efficiently in daily life," she adds.

Prak Sopheak, an international relations major from the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia who has participated in BIMUN twice, agrees.

"The event requires me to put myself into the shoes of the country that I am supposed to represent. In this way, I start to stand by the interests of the country, put forth well-founded motions and persuade other delegates to back them."