BRUMUN 2025

During 3 days, 170 students participated to high level debates in five committees.

The majority (over 90) of the participants are EEB2 students but, as it was the case in the previous edition, the 3 other European schools of Brussels were invited to join. A group of students from EEB1, EEB3 and EEB4 participated with enthusiasm as well as, for the first time, a group of students from the newly accredited school of Argenteuil, Waterloo.

Such a simulation develops many skills in different learning categories. The academic content is obvious, covering aspects of the curriculum of the Europeans schools in History, Social sciences, geography but also a use of languages ability and debating. A few parents and students told us how the participation to BRUMUN created a new interest in politics and international relations and affected their choice of studies and career project.

The eight life skills that are at the center of our pedagogical project - tolerance, self-control, critical mind or hope just to mention a few - are also covered by BRUMUN,

Aside from these aspects, the values that are put in focus such as diplomacy, respect, search for compromise and solution-based discussions are extremely important ones that are not often touched on in such a practical way in an academic setting. The European values of peace and cohabitation are put into practice in a very realistic way. Learning while doing is the most crucial way to learn and such a simulation is an amazing opportunity.

In the era of Artificial Intelligence, pedagogical challenges are constantly evolving. Precious skills such as creativity, diplomacy and emotional intelligence are skills that our students are developing in such an event and that the AI does not cover.

BRUMUN is also focusing on collaborations between students from different age groups (the youngest participant was an S3 student), different sections and schools. The students are very happy to meet students from other schools and make new friends and this also creates more emulation and motivation.

Another important aspect is that, while supervised by adults, the project is completely student led. The group of student organizers is extremely invested and is developing very professional skills such as logistics, coordination but also mentoring and content preparation at a very high level. They learned to write formal emails, place phone calls but also form a team, react and deal with mistakes, disappointment and find creative solutions to problems.

Aside from the country representative, some students are part of the admin team, a group of students helping the delegate to prepare their work or the press team that will work on the BRUMAG during the event.

All the participants attended four Saturdays of training at school. These trainings, prepared by the student organizers with supervision of teachers give the opportunity to the participants to train in writing resolutions, debating and organizing in country groups but are also the opportunity to invite guests who have relevant experience in diplomacy or working within the UN system. Every guest, teacher or member of management member who visited the Saturday trainings were impressed by how involved and motivated the students were, spending a total of four weekend days at school in a dynamic and positive atmosphere.

While the event is not as large as the initial project that was involving students from many other schools and countries this current project is focusing on quality and accuracy. With the help of teachers who are participating since the beginning of the projects the attention to details and to the level of relevance is really impressive.

This event is the result of months of preparation and of the involvement of many. We would like to thank the organising team, the approval panel teachers, the surveillants, the team of advisors, the contact persons of the schools, the management and the APEE for their support, the guest speakers who attended trainings.