Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) should be proud, one of its students had the opportunity to demonstrate the ability of diplomacy at international level. Ari Nova Firnanda, student of class 2010 of Cartography and Remote Sensing Faculty of Geography UGM, between 16-19 February 2011 was present in the event of the Nanyang Technological University Model United Nations (NTU-MUN) held at NTU Singapore.
NTU MUN has been organized by Nanyang Technological University since 2006. NTU MUN is a simulation of the UN official session to train students and university students in lobbying and negotiating as normally happens during the UN General Assembly. The event this time was followed by students from various levels of education, ranging from high schools to university: they came from several countries, such as USA, Iran, Malaysia, Zambia, Indonesia, South Korea, and India.
Ari Nova Firanda mentioned that in the simulation six topics were selected. These are considered to be a global problem which are complicated and still not resolved. The topics in question are Somalia Piracy, Diamond in Sierra Leone, The Situation in Gaza, Global Financial Crisis, Ethanol-A Viable Fuel, and Accession of Turkey to the Europe Union (EU). "A number of issues were considered in the protracted settlement process. It is expected that participants of NTU MUN 2011 can develop ideas through discussions and produce concrete applicative resolutions," he said.
In this activity, Ari Nova Firnanda presented papers and socialized geography approach in analyzing the six topics. Many students of International Relations following the event were finally able to understand about the importance and power of geography approach in analyzing international affairs.