United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal met with students from the Student Leadership Program (SLP) at American University of Sharjah (AUS), on Tuesday, May 6, 2014.

The SLP students have participated in various Model United Nations (MUN) regionally and internationally. The Under-Secretary-General's informative visit gave them a better understanding of the UN's stand on various global issues and elaborated on the importance of the youth and their contributions for the development of better communities. Also present was Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

According to Bilal Marouf, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, "The Under-Secretary-General gave rather transparent answers to our commonly held questions about the UN and our contributions in the MUN field. The meeting enabled us to establish a good connection for possible future networking."

"Our meeting with Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal was a fulfilling experience. He clarified some misunderstandings about the UN in terms of procedures and reputation. His words clearly illustrated his willingness to help develop and improve the world," said Yazen Kashlan, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering.

"We are pleased that Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal had an opportunity to visit with our students. The discussion was fruitful and students benefited greatly from learning more about the UN role in certain global issues. UN Millennium Development Goals beyond 2015 was a high topic, and students expressed how their participation in the MUN program encouraged them to become active members in society and even for some to consider pursuing careers with the UN. The Student Leadership Program will continue to involve students in UN-related projects to further develop their leadership skills and build a sense of civic and social responsibility," said Dr. Al Shehhi.