Community-Engaged Learning and Teaching collaboration applies POG 225 practical skills at METMUN conference
The Community-Engaged Learning and Teaching Office (CELT) within the Faculty of Arts collaborates with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Model United Nations (external link) (METMUN) to provide a unique academic experience within the undergraduate course, POG 225: Global Governance. Over the years, Reena Tandon from CELT and course instructor Professor Sorpong Peou have partnered to integrate experiential learning into his courses, including POG 225: Global Governance and POG 426: Global Conflict and Peace.
This program, though not offered every year, has encouraged and enabled students to apply their course learnings practically through participation in the annual Model UN Conference, which invited delegates from universities across Canada and North America. As future lawyers, scholars, and political leaders, students viewed the conference as a chance to enhance their communication skills and refine their problem-solving skills, fostering confidence in their roles.
Students and faculty at the 2023 METMUN Conference. Photo by Joe Martin.
What it’s all about
At the 2024 METMUN Model UN Conference, students simulated UN delegates, engaging in debates on topics such as AI’s impact on global finance, telecom access in developing nations, digital inequality, and cyber governance. Previous conferences have addressed international peace, water justice, nuclear non-proliferation, and democratic institution-building. As part of the CELT initiative, POG 225 students prepared for weeks to draft resolution papers, simulating diplomatic processes. Beyond committee sessions, students participated in luncheons, outings, and an awards ceremony.
Students emphasized the significance of the hands-on experience provided by this CELT project. Marium Khan, student, enthused about improving their public speaking skills, “I truly think that [the opportunity to participate in] the conference was the perfect way for me to reintroduce myself to [a public speaking] kind of environment. I’m incredibly thankful for this project in the course… for the encouragement from both my chair and my fellow delegates for giving me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone.”
The project provided students with a valuable opportunity to put their classroom knowledge into practice while also fostering a strong sense of community among participants—an experience highlighted by 2024 student participant Mason Doyle, who noted, “The biggest benefit of the collaboration was the extra push it gave me to join a club. The social aspect alone greatly improves the university experience. It also helped me connect with other students in my program. The opportunity to get to know other politics and governance students was huge.”
Participation outcomes
Participation in the conference contributed to students’ academic credit and earned them a certificate of completion—Peace Learning and Practice—emphasizing CELT’s commitment to enriching education and supporting careers.
At the 2023 conference, Peou was invited to deliver the keynote address during the opening ceremony. “The integration of Community-Engaged Learning and Teaching project Tandon developed with METMUN provides a unique platform for university students in my course,” shared Peou. “As they immerse themselves in learning, meetings and conferences, they not only develop and enhance critical skills like negotiation, research, public speaking and writing but also forge a national and global network of like-minded peers and future leaders.”
Tandon highlighted, “The CELT collaboration with METMUN facilitated multiple positive impacts: students in the participating courses practiced applying the learned course concepts and developed leadership, collaboration, and professional skills at the Model UN conference. Participating students gain the opportunity to meet their peers across Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), national (external link) and international (external link) educational platforms.”
As a result of the project, Mason Doyle was chosen to join a 16-member TMU Model UN delegation that attended Georgetown University’s National Collegiate Security Conference (NCSC LII) in Washington, D.C, in October 2024. The delegation also visited the Canadian Embassy and met with the Canadian Ambassador Stuart Savage and his diplomatic team, “gaining insights into real-world diplomacy.”
The METMUN CELT project has strengthened the student-led initiative at TMU by involving students in course-based participation, where they contributed theory-informed knowledge while acting as delegates at the Model UN Conference.
The collaboration offers students a transformative opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice, equipping them with essential skills that extend far beyond the classroom. As these students continue to engage with global issues, they not only enhance their academic journey but also build lasting connections that will shape their future careers as leaders in governance, diplomacy, and beyond.
Learn more about CELT in the Faculty of Arts.
Thank you to Joeman Martin, sociology student, and Ricardo Valderrama, politics and public administration student, for their support at the METMUN conferences and with this article. Photo credits: METMUN (2024) and Joe Martin (2023).
