The Center for Global Studies (CGS) hosted a successful two-day Global Policy Forum (GPF) on April 14th and 15th, 2026. With almost 100 registrants, this forum spotlighted student presenters from over a dozen departments, covering academic areas such as political science, human rights, climate resilience, and sustainable development. This inaugural event brought together students, faculty, and staff, along with practitioners and visiting international scholars, to convene on pressing issues in global governance and policy.
The GPF was grounded in five key pillars framed by a student-oriented approach. Pillar one empowered students to organize, present, and publish research on global issues; pillar two enabled students to professionalize their skills by training them in policy research, writing, and communications; pillar three bridged scholarship and practice via teaching and mentoring opportunities with policy research practitioners and scholars; pillar four extended impact through research publication opportunities; and, pillar five fostered campus leadership opportunities for undergraduate students. Within this framework, the Global Policy Forum broadened access to undergraduate research and supported innovative, high-impact learning opportunities across various disciplines.
In conjunction with the GPF, Policy Communication Practicum (GLBL 499) students played a key role in the logistics and leadership of the forum. In this experiential learning course, students participated in program management, logistics, and hands-on operationalization for this interdisciplinary symposium. In the future, this event plans to include a pre-GPF webinar series and recorded workshops as strategic professional development tools to better prepare students for effective research and presentation skills. The pre-GPF webinar series will focus on 3 key areas of policy communication: policy writing, organizing data effectively, and public speaking. This added support will enhance the quality of student output and increase confidence and participation, particularly among students who are new to research.
By lowering the barriers to entry and offering structured skill development, the Global Policy Forum and GLBL 499 provided a comprehensive undergraduate research experience. The skills refined through this forum are crucial in the modern workplace and academia. In a rapidly changing global economy and community, this forum enabled students to gain invaluable research skills alongside renowned professors, government officials, and researchers on issues affecting all sectors of the world.
