GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS
DEPARTMENTS
The departments of GIMUN are small groups of around 5 to 10 students that are interested in one or multiple aspects of the association. The working groups give the participants the possibility to acquire professional skills in various domains.
Currently, GIMUN has three departments, one for Public Relations, under the Public Relations director of GIMUN, one for Finances, led by the Finance Director of GIMUN, as well as a department for Events, which organises under the watch of the Vice-Presidency.
The departments are open to students from all academic backgrounds and previous experience is not required.
The Events Department is the core of the social structure of the GIMUN association.
The department is responsible for organizing culturally enriching gatherings, academic conferences, professional seminars, workshops and benevolent activities.
In the last few years, they've had the honor to collaborate with outstanding NGOs, permanent missions and UN agencies.
Their aim is to make the international Geneva more accessible for our student body and provide a platform in order to engage actively in today's political, social and cultural worldscape, representing the UN’s and GIMUN’s shared values.
The department consists of 2 Co-Heads and 5-7 members.
Example of tasks completed by this department:
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Brainstorming on upcoming events.
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Contact guest speakers for conferences and workshops.
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Creating collaborations with other student associations.
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Reinforcing internal teamwork between departments.
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Offer a space to socialize with other students and to unwind after a hectic week.
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Uniting the branches of the association with the NGO structure.
The Delegation Department is responsible for the MUN in GIMUN and allows to gain valuable hands-on experience in international diplomacy. In this department, members choose a topic at the beginning of each semester, and represent a country’s position in the debates throughout the semester. Towards the end of the semester, members will propose and vote on the resolutions they have negotiated. The meetings are presided by the Chairs, who are the Heads of Delegation.
The weekly meetings allow to develop numerous skills: delegates hone their research, debating and public speaking skills, all while applying UN Rules of Procedure. What is more, Delegation is a wonderful opportunity to work with likeminded people and connect over the common passion for international relations and diplomacy.
The Translation Department ensures that all the content generated by GIMUN is available in both English and French, thus strengthening the bilingual identity that so characterises our association. In addition to these languages, Spanish is also gradually being introduced, as you may notice on this very website. This department is normally headed by one or two people, and the number of members can vary between five and seven.
In Translation, everything is taken care of in detail: not only do they translate, but they also proofread and review. The team is careful to ensure GIMUN's tone of voice, as well as cohesion and coherence in all texts provided to them. The Translation Department therefore works closely with virtually all other GIMUN departments to ensure that their messages are conveyed accurately and effectively.
The type of content they translate ranges broadly, and can be both internal and external. Some examples are:
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GIMUN Statutes
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GIMUN Ethical Charter
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Monthly newsletters
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Emails
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Instagram posts
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Website content
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Event communications
Being part of the Translation team is an enriching experience for those who enjoy working with languages and paying attention to detail. Not only is it about translating, but also about adapting the texts so that they sound natural and reflect the style of the association. It is also a great opportunity to improve language skills, learn more about how GIMUN works and collaborate with other departments in a dynamic, multicultural environment.
The Finance Department is the pillar of the association. It provides the basis for the other GIMUN departments by securing the financial means for all activities. Led by the Finance Director, the members of the department are responsible for fundraising and budgeting for the organisation. Their tasks include:
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Contacting potential sponsors and partners and renewing long-term sponsors annually.
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Assisting with financial tasks during the Annual Conference, such as the allocation of financial aid.
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Managing the financial aspects of the Delegation Trip.
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Preparing financial reports for our sponsors.
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Planning day-to-day budget management.
The Public Relations Department is responsible for representing GIMUN across its social media platforms. Through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the official website, the PR Team showcases its creative work by promoting events, providing updates on the association, and sharing insights into the organization’s activities.
Guided by the PR Director, team members engage in a diverse range of tasks, from writing event-related content to managing the website. They also explore photography and videography, capturing candid moments, conducting interviews, and producing engaging content for publication.
Beyond being the main representation of GIMUN on key platforms, the PR Team serves as a dynamic creative space for its members and offers continuous opportunities to implement their own ideas fostering innovation.
The Human Resources Department is the core of internal relations among departments and members. In order to ensure these relations are well maintained, they mainly work in three fields: recruitment, personal support and news.
For the recruitments, they schedule interviews, send emails and assist the Heads of the rest of the departments during the process.
To ensure a safe environment within the association, the HR department is responsible for the handling of complaints arising from members. They also provide two safe persons, who are available if members need more in-depth support and wish to discuss matters in a more personal manner.
Moreover, HR is the department that provides the association with not only news about GIMUN activities but also about internationally relevant events. Their monthly Newsletter is always published in both French and English, which is done in collaboration with the Translation department. Lastly, they collaborate with the Events team, with which they organise all the internal GIMUN socials. All in all, the HR department is here to connect members and offer support when needed.