AUT - Luana Bosanquet-Heays
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Luana Bosanquet-Heays
Faculty for Academic Studentship: Humanities (Social Science)
Role: Academic & Pastoral Support
Ethnic Origin: Cook Islands, European
A desire to influence policy making about climate change is behind Luana Bosanquet-Heays’ decision to study for her Master of Arts (Social Sciences) and take on a role tutoring undergraduate students through the Pasifika Academic Studentship Programme.
The 21 year old student, who was raised in the Cook Islands, says she intends to look at the human rights implications of forced migration of peoples in the Pacific as a result of climate change and the potential to include those displaced in international refugee law.
“It is important for research to be done by Pacific peoples on how we can address this issue. Currently there is no international legislation which protects environmentally displaced peoples; I hope to contribute in some way to the formation of such policy”
Working in a Studentship role within the Faculty of Applied Humanities, Bosanquet-Heays hopes to gain relevant research skills to successfully complete her Master’s research, as well as refine the skills necessary for tutoring at a tertiary level and extend her networks - particularly amongst other Pacific staff and postgraduate students.
Currently supporting Maori and Pasifika students who are studying towards a Certificate in Social Science, Bosanquet-Heays acknowledges that it is her experiences as a student herself, as well as her time as a Tuakana, that enable her to identify with her students.
“As I went through this programme myself I know all too well the difficulties of adjusting to university and the pressures and expectations that come with this”
Along with extending her own skill set, Bosanquet-Heays points out that her experiences with the academic studentship have enabled her to assist Maori and Pasifika students to understand the importance of social sciences in our everyday lives and understand concepts that were once foreign to them, particularly in the politics and sociology fields.
With the research skills learned during her academic studentship, Bosanquet-Heays hopes to get her MA research underway as soon as possible, and intends to study towards her PhD in the future.
“I hope to get my PhD and be one of the many voices in the Pacific on climate change”