BOC HK | UNESCO HK
2025 Secondary School
Model UNESCO International Conference
on Smart and Sustainable Cities
Conference Introduction
What is Model UNESCO?
Model UNESCO is an educational event in which participants play the role of representatives of UNESCO Member States, simulating meetings that take place within the organization.
Students participating in this simulation are introduced to the work and purposes of UNESCO. In our mission to promote UNESCO’s “Education for 2030” agenda and the “Future of Education” initiative, the conference encourages students to seek multi-disciplinary partnership, propose innovative solutions, and provide an opportunity for students’ voices to be heard on international platforms.
2025 Model UNESCO International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Cities
The 2025 Model UNESCO International Conference will be hosted on the theme of “Smart and Sustainable Cities, focusing on the utilisation of innovative technologies to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Smart and Sustainable Cities – A topic of global importance
75% of the of the planet’s population is expected to live in cities by 2050.
Cities are the hotspot of carbon emissions, economic productivity, and potential social tensions, as well as for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
The “People-Smart Sustainable Cities” report released by the United Nations in 2020 highlighted the importance of smart technologies in creating sustainable urban solutions. In 2022, the United Nations Development Program hosted the “Re:Think 2022 Conference” at the China-Europe Center focused on the theme of “Designing Resilient Cities for the Future”, bringing this urgent issue under global spotlight.
UNESCO has been dedicated to unlocking the potential of science and technology in promoting coordinated development of cities.
Its flagship programs, such as “Creative Cities Network” and “Global Network of Learning Cities,” gathered global wisdom for transforming cities to become environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.
Conference Leaflet (Eng)
Conference Leaflet (Chi)
Overall Schedule
* The Model UNESCO Student Coordinator training will be hosted on March 22 – 23 with in-person and zoom participation options.
The trainings develop students’ essential knowledge and skills to perform confidently in MUNESCO Conference, ability to organise MUNESCO clubs and conferences in schools, and lead school teams to prepare and participate in MUNESCO International Conferences.
→ Please click here for more details ←
Thematic online webinar:
Date: April 5 and 6, 16:00 – 18:00 HKT
Duration: 4 sessions, 1 hour each session
Fee: free
Platform: Zoom
Audiences: All students who are interested in registering for this conference
- Section 1: Introduction to UNESCO and the United Nations system, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- Section 2: The core concepts, key technologies, and development milestones of smart and sustainable cities
- Section 3: UNESCO’s progress in promoting the development of smart and sustainable cities and future prospects
- Section 4: Case studies of smart and sustainable cities
The preliminary session include 2 parts – the written answers and the video submission.
The preliminary link will be sent to your email after submission of the registration form on this website. Please fill in the registration form as early as possible to give yourself some time to prepare the preliminary materials.
Part 1: Written Answers: (35% of overall score)
Q1. How are innovative technologies transforming cities? (no more than 200 words)
Q2. How is the transformation you’ve described above related to Sustainable Development? (no more than 200 words)
Part 2: Video Submission: (65% of overall score)
Each team need to submit a 3-minute video, which includes:
– 30 seconds: introduce yourself
– 1 minute: Motivation to attend the conference and expectations for the event
– 1.5 minutes: Introducing one specific practical application / case study of smart sustainable cities and describe what you think is the future development potential of this technology
- Delegation Announcement: May 23, 17:30-18:30 HKT
- Presentation Submission Deadline: June 29
- Conference: July 6 (detailed rundown to be released approaching the conference day)
- 12 outstanding teams from the HK-GBA Conference will advance to the International Conference
- Online Briefing: June 6, 17:30-18:30 HKT
- Presentation Submission Deadline: July 13
- 18 outstanding teams will be selected based on the preliminary submission to attend the International Conference
- The organisers will fund the accommodation, meals, and transfers of the selected teams within Hong Kong. International airfare and travel insurance are to be covered by the sending party or the students.
- International Participants Arrival: July 18
- International Conference: July 19 (detailed rundown to be released approaching the conference day)
- Global Youth Exchange Ceremony: July 19
- Field Trips: July 20 (detailed rundown to be released approaching the field trip day)
- For international participants: The organisers will fund the accommodation (July 18-21, 4 days and 3 nights) , meals (From July 18 dinner to July 21 breakfast), and transfers (arrival and departure between airport and the designated hotel) of the selected teams within Hong Kong. International airfare and travel insurance are to be covered by the sending party or the students.
* The organiser reserves the right to make appropriate adjustments to the schedule and relevant arrangements when needed.
Conference Procedure
In the strategy presentation, the delegations have to present the strategies that their countries are implementing, or in which they propose to be implemented to promote smart and sustainable cities in their country. The delegates may focus on existing procedures/programmes/laws etc. or create their own strategies based on research.
The General Debate and Discussion session consist of two parts:
In the Moderated Debate and Discussion Session, each delegate will have the chance to propose a motion. The process will proceed in reverse alphabetical order, with every three delegations proposing their respective motions. One motion will be selected through voting. The next three delegations on the list will then propose their motions, and again, one will be chosen after voting.
In the Unmoderated Debate and Discussion session, delegates are allowed to stand up from their seats and initiate face-to-face conversation freely with other delegates. Discussion groups can be formed, and each group could draft their respective resolution. At the end, clauses in the resolutions should be voted and integrated to construct the final resolution document.
During this session, participants will have the opportunity to develop their critical thinking, negotiation, and public speaking skills where they will be able to discuss and have conversations with other delegates on a local case study and come to consensus on a common solution.
In this conference, the case will be to promote collaborative smart and sustainable development of cities in the Greater Bay Area.
Based on the discussions throughout the conference, delegates will draft and vote for clauses of the “Youth Prospect on Smart and Sustainable Cities.”
Delegates will then vote for the awards of the conference based on the award criteria, each delegate can ONLY vote once.
Team Awards Criteria
(Team awards include: Best Delegation, Outstanding Delegation, Special Recognition and Best Strategy)
Individual Awards Criteria
* The organiser reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the conference procedure when needed.
Model UNESCO Student Coordinator Training
Schedule
- Date: March 22 & 23
- Training Hours: 10 hours (5 hours per day)
Course Contents:
- The functions and core missions of the United Nations and UNESCO
- The operation methods and processes of Model UNESCO
- The key points of organizing Model United Nations and Model UNESCO student club activities
- How to draft background and resolutions for MUNESCO Conferences
- The the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and international development trends
- How the Model UNESCO event responds to UNESCO’s core mission and consider how to communicate this mission when organizing the event
- Strategies and skills for Model UNESCO Conferences
- Public Speaking
- Effective Communication and Negotiation
- Active Listening
- Comprehensive Problem Solving
Certification: Students will be awarded the certificate of completion upon completion of the bootcamp
Registration Fee
- HKD 1,200/student (face-to-face teaching)
- HKD 900/student (UNESCO Hong Kong Association Member School)
- HKD 600/student (Zoom live session)
Past Conferences
Winning the Best Delegation at the First International Model of UNESCO
The world’s first International Model of UNESCO was held online from April 29 to 30, 2022. The delegation of Hong Kong SAR – Americana Chen and Reese Wong who are both UNESCO Hong Kong Association Green Citizen Youth Ambassadors received three awards including the Best Delegation, showcasing Hong Kong’s solutions for promoting inclusive, equitable and quality education through Education for Sustainable Development on international platforms.
