Working with U.N. policy makers on real-world issues, says BYUH students and a professor, connected classroom theories to actual practices
BYU–Hawaii students traded textbooks for firsthand diplomacy as they stepped inside the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, presenting research, engaging with ambassadors and experiencing global policymaking at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Students said they found themselves far from a typical classroom setting—where theories are being applied to real world diplomacy.
Christina Akanoa, an assistant professor of Faculty of Business & Government, said the purpose of the conference, held in New York from April 25 to May 3, 2025, was to bring classroom learning to life. “It’s about how the students learn how the United Nations and international community works—how they make decisions on a global level and understand its dynamics,” Akanoa said.
She explained students began preparing for the trip several weeks in advance and are now finishing the POSC 392R field study class this semester, which focuses on the Pacific Islands and Asia. “We’re meeting every week and working on their research paper before we go to the U.N.,” she explained.
Akanoa said students must take certain prerequisite classes to qualify for the field study. “It’s the U.N. and International Organization class, which is POSC 384, and I also require them to take Pacific Regionalism and Diplomacy, which focuses on the Pacific and on the international level,” she said.
Qudaela Taleni, a senior from Samoa double majoring in political science and anthropology, said the trip gave students the opportunity to attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). “We witnessed the United Nations and other international organizations firsthand while also taking notes on the issues and recommendations each country and indigenous group seeks to advocate for,” Taleni said. She said topics such as climate change, nuclear testing, seabed mining, and the need for financial aid to assist with the initiatives to help combat these previously mentioned challenges were mentioned as well.
Taleni shared students were able to ask questions not only about research topics but also key priorities and issues that each Permanent Mission seeks to address at the U.N. level such as climate change, environmental and indigenous issues.
Taleni said, “The field study was an eye-opening experience, since we only learned about the United Nations in class, but actually experiencing and observing how the United Nations operates was mind-blowing.” She said she also appreciated visiting different Permanent Missions of the Pacific, including the Philippines (a non-Pacific island), as it gave her a better understanding of the Pasefika region’s
priorities at the U.N. and a deeper appreciation for the diplomats’ service to their countries.
John Andrew Quizana, a sophomore from the Philippines double majoring in accounting and political science, said students who were part of the field study were able to present their research papers to the ambassadors. “I had the opportunity to present my research on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines, where I evaluated its successes and shortcomings while incorporating perspectives from various Asian countries,” he shared. He explained this experience deepened his understanding of the struggles indigenous communities face—particularly their limited representation in high-level government decision-making.
Akanoa said, “The highlight of the field study is for the students to sit down and have a talanoa or a discussion with ambassadors and permanent representatives of their own countries.” She said the students were able to present their research paper to the diplomats, ambassadors or permanent representatives from their respective home countries, who in return, provide up-to-date insights on the topics discussed. “It’s something you can’t read in books because it’s currently what they’re doing, how they’re prioritizing the issue they have in their country,” she explained.
Akanoa highlighted three key benefits students gain from attending international conferences like the annual U.N. forum in New York. “Students can learn where they can understand and accelerate from classroom to field level, they can make connections through networking, and lastly, they can understand the position of their own country as well,” Akanoa explained.
Quizana said it was a great experience for him to be able to come to the field study. “It’s kind of stressful because [political science department] usually sends seniors to the conference, but it was also an eye opener for me that I’ll be able to understand specific responsibilities and actions that the U.N. have,” Quizana said.
“I hope the students will use [this opportunity] to their advantage,” Akanoa stated. She shared students who joined this year’s conference were lucky enough to be able to go to New York as it did cost a huge amount of money. “We’re so fortunate to get funding from the university,” she said.
Akanoa hoped students who participated would go on to meaningfully contribute to their own countries. “Students usually ask the ambassadors [in U.N.], ‘So as a student, how can we contribute to our own country?’ And a lot of the times the ambassadors would say ‘Stay in school, graduate, get your degree, and then go back and serve your people in whatever capacity you can’,” she shared.
She stated opportunities like this conference help students become self-reliant and eventually help their own people. “Being self-reliant is not just about having resources that will last you for a lifetime. It’s also about accumulating knowledge and accumulating the necessary skills that’s going to help you take care of yourself, your family, your village, your community, your country,” Akanoa said.
As a political science major, Quizana described it as a privilege to engage in opportunities that bring his classroom learning to life. “I believe students learn more effectively when they can witness real-world events and applications,” he explained. “At BYU–Hawaii, we’re often given valuable information about global issues or specific topics, but not all students have the chance to apply that knowledge outside the classroom. These experiences help bridge that gap.”
“Attending conferences like this helps me better understand my purpose,” Quizana said, reflecting on how such experiences have shaped his path. He shared that these opportunities have inspired him to pursue a life grounded in service. “Being given the privilege to participate in events like this brings me closer to that purpose—to live a meaningful life dedicated to serving others,” he added.
“This experience has increased my desire to serve my country and to be a voice for those who do not have a voice, especially coming from an island nation. This experience has also motivated me to seek more educational opportunities to better serve my people,” Taleni said.
Being self-reliant is not just about having resources that will last you for a lifetime. It’s also about accumulating knowledge, accumulating the necessary skills, that’s going to help you take care of yourself, your community, your country.