The IMUNA Foundation

What is the IMUNA Foundation?

The International Model United Nations of Alkmaar – abbreviated as IMUNA – is an annual international youth conference organised by students of the Murmellius Gymnasium in Alkmaar. The organisation is structured in the IMUNA Foundation. The Foundation strives to simulate the United Nations as accurately as possible by debating solutions to issues of an international character in separate forums. The fundamental document of the United Nations, the UN Charter, is the basis for the debates held at the conference.

The committees, in which each debates a separate range of issues, take part in the plenary session, called the General Assembly (GA). The GA is not the only organ represented at IMUNA, the Security Council (SC) and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) are also fully represented. The Security Council dedicates its sessions to international peace and security, and ECOSOC to global economic and social issues. The UN functions within world politics. However, world politics does not solely function within the UN.

When the IMUNA Foundation tries to simulate the UN as accurately as possible, it also seeks to reflect the realities of world politics. To enhance the educational value of the conference, another organ was added to its range of committees and councils. The North Atlantic Council, which is the principal decision-making body of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), was added – thus broadening the global political horizon of IMUNA. Students from secondary schools around the world gather at the Murmellius Gymnasium to represent a member state or organisation of the United Nations. While proclaiming entirely different policies from their own, all students cooperatively strive to consensus on solutions to various global political, military and economical problems.

The Organisation

The Executive Staff is responsible for the day-to-day running of the conference. This organ consists entirely of students attending the Murmellius Gymnasium. These students all have extensive Model United Nations experience and possess excellent organising skills. An adult Board of Directors, consisting of teachers and MUN Directors from the Murmellius Gymnasium, oversees the Executive Staff. The Board of Advisors is an advisory organ assisting the Executive Staff. Its members all have deep knowledge of the UN and Model United Nations. Additionally, an Audit Committee monitors the Foundation’s finances and ensures financial transparency and accountability.

A Bit of History

The first IMUNA conference was held in 1994. It was, as it is now, entirely organised by students attending the Murmellius Gymnasium. Since this first session, IMUNA has steadily grown and acquired a true international character. In 2024, IMUNA celebrated its 30th anniversary. Furthermore, delegations from the organising school, the Murmellius Gymnasium, have attended many other MUN conferences, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Thanks to excellent training and education methods within the delegations, many students from the Murmellius Gymnasium have obtained Student Officer positions at The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) and other THIMUN-affiliated conferences in the Netherlands.

Our Mission Statement

The goal the IMUNA Foundation has set itself is twofold. On the one hand, IMUNA aims to facilitate a productive international environment that fosters personal development for all participants. They can improve, among other things, their negotiating and public speaking skills, while also being trained to handle significant pressure and responsibility. Additionally, by communicating with young people from all other parts of the world, IMUNA encourages participants to move beyond narrow self-interest and come to understand the diverse perspectives from which international problems can be approached. On the other hand, as IMUNA is a UN simulation, we hope to contribute to the goal of the United Nations as set forth in the Preamble of the UN Charter: “to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours”.