Vienna, 12–14 February 2025 – More than 300 students, between 14-19 years old, from 38 different schools across Austria, Germany, Türkiye, and Russia gathered at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna) and the Vienna International Centre (VIC) for the Model UN Vienna 2025 conference.
This year’s conference featured a broad spectrum of critical topics, ranging from the ethical implications of autonomous weapons systems to the challenges of sustainable wildlife and the debate over a UN Security Council reform. Throughout the three-day event, students engaged in rigorous debates, honing their negotiation and public speaking skills. Their efforts culminated in the final General Assembly at the VIC on the last day, where resolutions were presented and discussed.
Sonja Wintersberger, Officer-in-Charge at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, who welcomed the students to the VIC and commended the students for their dedication: “With your participation and discussions over the past days, you have taken an important step in understanding diplomacy and cooperation. Your enthusiasm brings us all a small step closer to solving global problems.”
Ambassador Gabriela Sellner, Austria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, highlighted the importance of youth involvement in politics and encouraged the students to maintain an interest in global affairs.
The students received inspiring words through a video message of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in which he underscored the importance of unity when facing current global challenges.
Maximilian Janka, Secretary-General of Model UN Vienna 2025, emphasized the value of the conference: “The location of the VIC as well as the many different topics allow students to gain a realistic insight into the work of the UN.”
Christine Dierk, Public Information Officer at UNIS Vienna conducted a workshop for students in the Press Committee, providing insights on the fundamentals of journalism, information integrity, and responsible social media reporting. Reflecting on the session, she said: “The lively interest in political topics and today's media world has shown me that the students are very concerned about factual and critical reporting.”
Through articles, videos, and photography, student journalists representing the Press Committee captured key moments, providing insight into the deliberations and resolutions. Franz Perko, responsible for media and communications at Model UN Vienna, said: “The students showed commitment from the very first moment of the conference and found a great balance between humour and seriousness in their articles, videos, and photos.”
The Model UN Vienna 2025 conference successfully provided students with a unique, hands-on experience in diplomacy, advocacy, and global cooperation. As the world continues to face complex international challenges, initiatives like these empower the next generation of leaders to engage with pressing issues and work toward sustainable solutions.
