SUVA — Fiji National University is hosting a two-day symposium, “Pacific Voices in AI: Designing for Equity,” at its Nasinu Campus, bringing academics, educators and regional stakeholders together to shape how artificial intelligence is developed and used across the Pacific. The event — organised in partnership with the University of Canterbury’s Digital Education Futures Lab and supported by the Commonwealth of Learning — is billed as a regional response to rapid global change in AI and is scheduled to conclude tomorrow.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Corporate Services Professor Nii‑K Plange told delegates the gathering was more than an academic exercise: it was a statement that the Pacific intends to be an active shaper of AI’s trajectory, not a passive recipient. “This partnership is a clear statement that the Pacific is ready to actively shape, rather than passively receive, the global transformation driven by artificial intelligence. AI is already reshaping how we teach, how we learn, how we work, and how we solve complex societal challenges,” he said, urging participants to pursue concrete collaborations.
Central to the symposium is the theme “Designing for Equity,” which organisers say reframes equity beyond mere access to devices and connectivity. Professor Plange emphasised that equity must ensure AI systems reflect Pacific cultures, languages and epistemologies so that innovation does not widen existing inequalities but instead fosters inclusion, empowerment and sustainable development.
Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor Learning and Teaching Professor Jimaima Lako echoed those remarks, describing the timing as critical given AI’s swift uptake in higher education globally. She warned that the Pacific should not simply adapt to externally designed systems but must anchor AI development in local contexts and values. “It calls on us to ensure that AI is developed and applied in ways that are inclusive, culturally grounded, and responsive to the realities of our region. It challenges us to centre Pacific knowledge systems, our values, and lived experiences in conversations that are often shaped elsewhere,” Professor Lako said.
Participants were encouraged to use the symposium as a space for idea exchange, networking and the formulation of practical pathways for the region. Sessions have focused on cultural representation in AI systems, pedagogical shifts in tertiary education, governance and ethical frameworks tailored to Pacific needs, and the role of regional institutions in capacity building. The involvement of the University of Canterbury’s Digital Education Futures Lab and the Commonwealth of Learning signals an intent to pair regional leadership with international research and resourcing.
The event sits alongside a growing slate of Pacific initiatives on digital transformation and education. Recent regional gatherings — including ITU workshops and education ministers’ conferences — have underscored priorities such as national digital strategies, e‑government, and curriculum reforms that include technical and vocational skills. Fiji’s own moves to develop a national digital plan and to strengthen e‑government services provide a policy backdrop that organisers say could benefit from AI approaches rooted in Pacific values.
Organisers say the symposium aims to convert dialogue into action through follow‑up collaborations, research partnerships and capacity‑building projects. Fiji National University reiterated its commitment to lead innovation in the region and to ensure AI contributes to national and regional development goals rather than exacerbating inequities. The final day is expected to focus on concrete recommendations and next steps for shaping equitable AI across the Pacific.
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