Two University of Stirling students are to put their negotiation skills to the test after winning the opportunity to take part in a NATO simulation exercise.
Fourth-year politics students Elizabeth Dryburgh and Alex Johnson have been selected to represent Latvia and Luxembourg, respectively, in ‘Model NATO’, an event hosted by the British International Studies Association (BISA), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the UK Delegation to NATO.
Held on Friday 29 January, the exercise, which is being staged virtually this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions, aims to replicate the work of the North Atlantic Council – NATO’s principal political decision-making body – by simulating the response to a major crisis.
Politics student
I’m really interested in working in international relations in the future and Model NATO will give me great experience and a unique insight into this sector. It has been really interesting to learn more about NATO and the role it plays in world politics.
Fifteen universities from across the UK are taking part, with Stirling the only Scottish institution represented. Ahead of the event, participating students are randomly allocated a country to represent and are provided with individual briefings containing important facts and figures about their given country. They are then tasked with carrying out their own research on their country’s national assets, existing emergency plans and important allies, to help them prepare.
Politics student
The event will be an excellent opportunity for me to develop my knowledge and experience in foreign affairs and hopefully act as a stepping stone towards working in a career involving foreign policy
Elizabeth, 23, who is originally from Scotland but grew up in Dubai, said: “I’m really interested in working in international relations in the future and Model NATO will give me great experience and a unique insight into this sector.
“It has been really interesting to learn more about NATO and the role it plays in world politics. As part of my preparations, I have done a lot of reading to get to grips with who Latvia’s allies are and what sort of stance they take on certain issues, so I can best replicate how their real-life delegate would react in a major crisis.”
Alex, 22, who is from the Isle of Man, said: “I am most looking forward to the dynamics that emerge from the negotiation process. As I am representing Luxembourg – a nation which has limited military capabilities but a unique and historical role within the alliance – it will be interesting to see how much I can utilise my country's interests and diplomatic position within the unpredictable scenario the agenda presents.
“The event will be an excellent opportunity for me to develop my knowledge and experience in foreign affairs and hopefully act as a stepping stone towards working in a career involving foreign policy.”
For this year’s exercise, delegates have been warned the full-day online simulation will involve a series of major seismic events including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tidal surges in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
Dr Megan Dee, Lecturer in International Politics, said: “We are really proud of Elizabeth and Alex, who fought off stiff competition from our third and fourth year students in order to secure a place at this year’s event. In doing so, they become the only students from a Scottish institution to participate.
“Model NATO is deliberately designed to increase awareness of the role and activities of NATO as well as the major security, political and social issues facing it and member nations. The exercise provides a unique opportunity for students to develop their critical thinking, leadership and diplomacy skills.”
A BISA representative said: “The UK seeks to promote NATO amongst a younger audience as a values-based Alliance, to which the UK is a key contributor and as a platform in which North America and Europe tackle some of the biggest security threats of our time. By hosting the 2021 Model NATO, we are upholding our commitment to boosting NATO’s image for a younger population throughout the NATO2030 campaign and beyond.”