FAQ

General Conference Information

Q. When does CISSMUN take place?

Ans. CISSMUN typically takes place from Friday to Sunday on the 3rd weekend in January. The specific dates of CISSMUN XIII are January 19-21, 2024.

Q. Where is the conference held?

Ans. CISSMUN is held on the campus of Concordia International School Shanghai.

Q. Who can attend CISSMUN?

Ans. CISSMUN is a conference for students in grades 9-12 or the British equivalent. Students must attend as part of a teacher-led delegation from their school.

Q. What is the language of the conference?
Ans. All committees will be conducted in English.

Q. How many students attend CISSMUN?

Ans. The 2020 conference had over 1200 participants from 75 schools. As it is our first fully international conference post-pandemic, we are currently unsure of how many schools will attend.

Q. What schools participate in CISSMUN?

Ans. The participants are drawn mostly from English- speaking international schools. In recent years, more than half of participating schools for CISSMUN have come from other countries, including the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Iran, Fiji, Sweden, Myanmar, Germany, Nigeria, South Africa, Japan, Korea, Ecuador, India, the UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Zambia.

Q. Does the conference have a website?
Ans. Yes. It can be accessed at www.cissmun.org.

Q. What is the theme of the CISSMUN conference?

Ans. The theme changes annually. Last year’s theme was Reclaiming the Future. This year’s theme is The Age of Acceleration.

Q. What are the committees and topics for CISSMUN XIII?

Ans. The committees and topics for the conference can be found on the CISSMUN website under the CISSMUN XIII tab.  

Registration Details

Q. How do schools register to take part?

Ans. Registration forms are found on-and submitted from-the CISSMUN website.

Q. When does registration open and close?

Ans. Registration begins in late August and closes in October (or whenever the conference reaches capacity).

Q. How many students per school can participate in CISSMUN?

Ans. Schools may request seats for up to 20 delegates, but may receive fewer than requested. Students from participating schools may also apply for positions as committee chairs, or they may seek appointment to the CISSMUN Vigil press team. (Students in these positions do not count toward the 20-delegate maximum).

Q. Can students from participating schools apply for leadership positions?

Ans. The positions of Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, and Conference Manager are always held by Concordia students, as are other leadership positions within the Secretariat and Administrative Staff. All other positions are competitive, with applications found on the website.

Q. What is the registration fee per person?

Ans. The registration fee for CISSMUN XIII is 550 RMB per delegate and 250 RMB per director/chaperone. This fee will cover meals, coffee breaks, conference souvenirs, and various printing and administrative costs. As they are serving the conference, student officers will be exempt from paying the conference fee.

Q. Is there a deposit required when registering for CISSMUN?

Ans. No. All fees are paid in one lump sum, on or before the due date of December 15th.

Q. Can delegate registration fees be paid in cash upon arrival?

Ans. No. All fees must be paid by bank transfer or certified check no later than December 15th. Shanghai-area schools that wish to pay cash via courier may do so, but the deadline is the same. That said, if an individual school can’t pay via the aforementioned means, we will be happy to figure out an alternative.

Q. Will CISSMUN issue Chinese tax fapiao to schools that request it?

Ans. Yes. When you generate your school’s invoice, the form will include instructions on how to request a fapiao.

Q. What if a school’s roster changes after the Final Registration form is due?

Ans. It depends on how it changes. Each school’s invoice will be generated based on the numbers they list by October 30th on Form II, and November 30th is the last day on which refunds can still be given for students who cancel. After November 30th, full registration fees are due regardless of whether a school or individual participant actually attends. However, substitutions of one student for another, or the shuffling of students between countries and committees that doesn’t reduce total numbers, can be done up until early January. Before December 15th, this can be done on the form; changes beyond this date must be reported to the CISSMUN Administrative Staff via email. Finally, schools that add students after invoices have been issued may settle the difference in cash at the conference itself.

Conference Preparation and Participation

Q. Does CISSMUN use the THIMUN rules of procedure?

Ans. Yes. CISSMUN was accredited as a THIMUN affiliate in 2012, and all debate is run according to THIMUN protocol.

Q. Does CISSMUN publish any literature on delegate preparation and/or topic research?

Ans. For basic guidelines on resolution writing and the rules of formal debate, we strongly recommend a document called “The THIMUN Guide to Delegate Preparation,” downloadable from the THIMUN website (www.thimun.org).

Q. Do all delegates in all committees give opening speeches?

Ans. Yes. Opening speeches will be delivered in all committees and have a maximum duration of one minute.

Q. Do visiting schools need to appoint ambassadors for each national delegation?

Ans. No. The sub-committees of the General Assembly do not meet in plenary session, and there is therefore no need for ambassadors.

Q. Are meals provided at the conference?
Ans. Lunch is provided on each day of the conference.

Q. Are there vegetarian/kosher/halal/vegan dining options?

Ans. There will be a vegetarian option at every meal, and the snacks offered during break times are meatless. No pork fat is used in the preparation of the vegetarian meals. Students with more exotic dietary requirements should plan to pack something.

Q. Is there medical staff on hand during the conference?

Ans. At least two of Concordia’s school nurses will be on duty at all times during the conference.

Q. Do MUN Directors and chaperones need to be on campus at all times during the conference?

Ans. As a conference policy, we require that at least one responsible adult from each school remain on campus during the conference.