On May 17 and 18, 2025, the Tirana Model UN (TMUN) conference was held at the premises of the Canadian Institute of Technology (CIT) University College — an initiative led by youth for youth, with the support of the Institute of Education, Heritage and Tourism (IETT) and CIT.
The conference brought together students from various schools and institutions, united by a passion for diplomacy, global issues, and international representation. With the central theme “The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Diplomacy”, delegates worked in two main committees: DISEC and UNESCO, analyzing the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence brings to international relations.
The initiative to organize TMUN was launched and led by Kaltrina, Secretary-General of the conference and founder of the “Model UN Tirana” network, together with an outstanding secretariat: Resiliani, Keiti, Arba, Megi, Kamela, and the committee chairs: Ema, Marsia, Aidan, Erik, and David.
The conference hosted 48 delegates, divided between the two committees, under the academic supervision of Ms. Albana Idrizi, a lecturer at the United Nations in New York.
Participants had the opportunity to attend inspiring lectures by:
• Dr. Shpresa Kureta, former Ambassador of Albania to Austria, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland.
• Assoc. Prof. Abdusalam Alkholidi, professor at the Faculty of Engineering and scientific researcher at CIT.
Greeting messages were delivered at the opening ceremony by Prof. Dr. Nevila Nika, Director of IETT, and Prof. Dr. Manuela Meçe, Vice Rector of CIT.
During the two intensive days, the youth developed valuable skills in diplomatic debate, public speaking, international negotiation, and critical thinking — essential experiences for their professional and civic development.
The conference also marked the establishment of “Model UN Tirana,” an independent, youth-led network aiming to organize similar conferences and diplomatic activities that empower Albanian youth.
At the end of the conference, all delegates were awarded certificates of participation as recognition for their active involvement. Additionally, awards were presented in the following categories:
• 2 “Best Delegate” awards
• 2 “Outstanding Delegate” awards
• 2 “Honourable Mention” awards
TMUN 2025 demonstrated that when youth are supported and empowered, they are capable of building platforms with real impact on society.