By Liew Shan Yik (President), Chen Ying (Vice President of Academics), Grace Abigail Liu (Vice President of Administration)

Have you ever imagined yourself representing Singapore (or any other country) on the world stage? Engaging in spirited negotiations with other delegates to secure favourable deals? Debating and voting on treaties with the power to make (or break) the international order?

If such flights of fancy have ever crossed your mind, you might find your calling in the History and Strategic Affairs Society (HSTA)!

So, what exactly is HSTA? 

As described in our ‘22 Preview, HSTA is Raffles Institution’s “premier Model United Nations (MUN) club”. MUN allows its participants to engage in various political simulations, typically lasting three to four days, totalling up to 24 hours of debate in a single conference.

What does HSTA do?

At HSTA, members learn various general and MUN-specific skills, examine current affairs and geopolitical issues, and most importantly, organise our annual flagship conference, Raffles Model United Nations (RMUN). 

Founded in 1992, RMUN is, no kidding, Singapore’s oldest MUN conference. With RMUN 2025 slated to be its 33rd iteration, it is known in the MUN community for its high academic standards and prestige. Simultaneously, the conference retains an inclusive and beginner-friendly focus, encouraging first-time delegates to join and enjoy MUN!

So, how can you be a part of this time-honoured tradition?

Perhaps you would like to become a Chairperson, which involves facilitating committee debate during RMUN, and preparing academic documents known as Study Guides before the conference.

Possibly, you might find your ultimate calling in the tedium of administrative work, poring over invoices and spreadsheets in the Administration Team. (Disclaimer: This role is available exclusively to Y6 members.)

Or maybe, you would like to become a political actor, staging performances for delegates to reflect the lived experiences of geopolitical actors, and spurring on meaningful introspection into the nuances of a social issue.

While the preparations in the lead-up to RMUN in May are definitely demanding and rigorous, many members have found the process conducive to their personal and professional growth. Furthermore, HSTA also has weekly sessions on improving your speaking, writing, and lobbying skills. Post-RMUN, we also allow members to volunteer to present on a topic of their interest!

Tell me more about MUN!

In MUN, student participants are known as ‘delegates’, and represent different countries in various committees like UNESCO, the World Health Organisation or the Security Council. During the sessions, delegates debate modern or historical problems, spanning geopolitical, sociocultural and environmental concerns. 

Additionally, specialised committees offer delegates the opportunity to represent countries from regional organisations (e.g. the European Council), individual representatives in legislative assemblies (e.g. the United States Senate), or even media outlets in the Press Corps. 

In preparing for and participating in a conference, you will acquire and hone various skills. MUN offers a guided environment to learn fundamental research and writing skills, from citation styles to essay writing. The rigour of each conference also pushes delegates to collaborate, negotiate and advocate in a fast-paced and dynamic setting.

As a member of HSTA, you are a curator: your task is to bring a committee and its topics to life. Your delegates are both students and actors; your Study Guides are their props.

Should you join HSTA?

HSTA welcomes anyone curious and willing to immerse themselves in the minutiae of staging a MUN conference, regardless of whether you have even heard of this activity before. While a pre-existing background in MUN and a strong interest in geopolitical issues is certainly helpful, it is more important for you to be open-minded to working in various contexts with various individuals.

If you are a beginner who has concerns about the multitude of skills needed to excel at MUN, fret not! HSTA’s differentiated training approach ensures that everyone receives the support and resources they need to demystify the confusing and challenging quirks of this community. All that we require is a desire to learn and improve. 

Beyond the academic, interpersonal and event management skills that constitute a well-rounded journey in HSTA, the greatest appeal of HSTA is “the friends you make along the way”. Cliche as it sounds, HSTA has a unique ability to bring people of different persuasions together and bond them through the experience of planning for RMUN. 

HSTA’s student-driven approach means that the teachers in-charge afford the CCA high autonomy in its programme and structure; as such, camaraderie is not just a privilege, but a necessity for the success of each conference. 

Thirty-two RMUNs have come and gone, but the friendships that have been formed remain to the present day.

On a more humorous note, chairpersons past and present also speak of the catharsis from hitting a gavel to command your committee’s attention. 

Now, to all prospective applicants to this HSTA, we have only one question: Will you be the change you wish to see in this world?