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Connected: IMUN’s New Season Kicks Off in Rome

Connected

Connected: What does it mean to be connected when every global crisis reaches our doorstep? More than 1,200 high school students will explore this question from November 16 to 19 in Rome at the 19th edition of the Italian Model United Nations (IMUN), which kicks off the 2026–2027 season of United Network, Europe’s largest organization for youth leadership development, affiliated with the United Nations.

For four days, the students will serve as delegates in eight committees modeled after United Nations bodies, each addressing one of the major issues of our time. Each student will be assigned a country, whose position they must understand and advocate for. The proceedings will take place entirely in English and will follow UN rules of procedure: speeches, negotiations, alliances, and mediations will lead to the drafting of resolutions, which will be voted on during a large plenary session with all participants on the final day. Then, on Thursday, November 19, the closing ceremony will take place at the Brancaccio Theater, featuring a speech by Ruben Bondi, chef and content creator, FAO Goodwill Ambassador, who will share his journey and speak about talent and soft skills, and a performance by singer Eddie Brock—the stage name of Edoardo Braschi—who participated in the 2026 Sanremo Festival.

The theme that will guide the entire 2026–2027 edition stems from an observation: air, water, food, climate, and health transcend borders, and behind every global challenge there are always other people. No one can escape this connection; everyone can decide how to experience it. Students are asked to reject indifference, look up from their screens, exercise critical thinking, and make their voices heard.

The eight committees meeting in November will translate this into very concrete dossiers: discussions will focus on freedom of expression and human rights in the digital age, the protection of personal data across national borders, and the protection of journalists in conflict zones. Also on the agenda are funding for sustainable e-waste management and the recovery of rare earth elements; the fight against hunger in war-torn regions; children without legal identity; the impact of discrimination on the judicial system and prison life; and cities reimagined through a gender lens.

Behind the simulation lies a specific educational philosophy: United Network guides each student in recognizing, developing, and nurturing their talents—whether creative, logical-mathematical, communicative, or emotional—through experiential and inclusive learning pathways. Soft skills are the lever through which that talent takes shape: public speaking, negotiation, critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and time and stress management. At IMUN, as in other projects, students gain hands-on experience through a “learning by doing” approach, following a mandatory in-person training course and under the guidance of a young staff composed of college students who have personally gone through the same programs. The vision is of a future in which every young person has the tools to fully express themselves, discover who they are, and understand how to contribute to the common good. This talent is meant to be nurtured for everyone, without exception: that is why the organization provides over 1,000 scholarships each year to support families.

“Connected” is a word that young people use every day. At IMUN, they discover another way to be connected: listening to those who think differently, forming a position, defending it, and finding common ground. It is in that moment that each person’s talent becomes visible—first and foremost to themselves,” says Riccardo Messina, President of United Network Europe.

Starting in 2025, all United Network simulations will include a training module dedicated to artificial intelligence, curated by philosopher Andrea Colamedici, founder of the Tlon cultural project and professor of Prompt Thinking at the European Institute of Design. The course covers the basics of AI, critical engagement with these tools, and their ethical implications. The use of AI during the simulations is governed by a code of ethics adopted by the organization, based on transparency, accountability, and the centrality of the individual.

Following the Rome kickoff, the IMUN High School season continues in January with five regional stops and a second edition in the capital:

  • Turin, 12th edition: January 11–13, 2027
  • Naples, 14th edition: January 12–14, 2027
  • Venice, 8th edition: January 18–20, 2027 (in collaboration with the Benedetti Tommaseo Institute)
  • Milan, 10th edition: January 20–22, 2027
  • Catania, 11th edition: January 21–23, 2027
  • Rome, 20th edition: January 26–29, 2027

The program then expands to the international level with MUNER New York: between February and March 2027, Italian students will participate in the Global Citizens Model United Nations (GCMUN), in two simulation sessions (February 17–19 and March 11–13), engaging with peers from around the world and meeting with Italy’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

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