MUN clubs and teams are popular in high schools and universities, where it is seem as teaching valuable research and public speaking skills as well as giving students a thorough grounding in knowledge of world events. At many schools, MUN programs have evolved into a highly competitive academic sport, rivalling traditional academic competitions such as debate teams.
There is no overall organization that operates or controls the diverse array of MUN clubs, teams, and organizations, and parliamentary procedures and award systems vary considerably from conference to conference. The United Nations Association of the United States of America maintains a worldwide list of conferences (see external links below).