At the recent 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) gathering in Tonga, leaders received assurances regarding the University of the South Pacific’s (USP) pivotal role in advancing social and economic transformation across the Blue Pacific through education and skilled development.
Professor Pal Ahluwalia, USP’s Vice-Chancellor and President, addressed the forum leaders along with executives from the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP). He emphasized USP’s commitment to producing educated and skilled graduates essential for fostering a dynamic and productive knowledge economy, which is vital for achieving the goals set out in the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy.
Leaders acknowledged USP’s distinctive position as the region’s foremost institution for higher education, training, research, and policy guidance. Professor Ahluwalia also commended the Prime Minister of Tonga and the PIF Chair for prioritizing ‘Education and Health’ discussions, a topic that has been sidelined for nearly a decade.
The leaders recognized the crucial role of the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF), based at USP, as a key factor in establishing resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education systems throughout the region.
Climate change emerged as a significant topic during the sessions, with Professor Ahluwalia informing leaders about the newly launched ‘Centre for Sustainable Futures’ at USP. This initiative aims to transform the region’s approach to climate change issues, focusing on building resilient, adaptive, and transformative economies.
The Centre seeks to consolidate expertise, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and promote a comprehensive approach to training and research, thereby enhancing efforts to tackle climate change holistically in the Pacific Island Countries.
Professor Ahluwalia reaffirmed USP’s dedication to bolstering existing regional structures that facilitate cooperation and development in ICT across the Pacific. He stressed the importance of prioritizing cybersecurity at the ICT Ministerial Meeting and creating a governance framework that includes the Regional Regulatory Authority (RRA), all in close collaboration with other CROP agencies.
Currently, USP chairs the CROP ICT Working Group and the CROP Working Group on Human Resource Development, actively participating in various other working groups.
He also updated the leaders on significant global transformations within the Higher Education Sector, including shifts in student demographics and trends in labor mobility. “USP is addressing these challenges through the cross-cutting themes of Consolidation, Transformation, Innovation, and Sustainability,” concluded Professor Ahluwalia.