MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
A $2 million Australian Aid project will boost global information links for
students in the South Pacific
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, has announced the
Government will fund a high-speed broadband connection for the University of the
South Pacific (USP). The connection to the Southern Cross undersea fibre optic
cable will give students and academics better access to the internet, as well as
improve their links to research and educational institutions in Australia and
around the world.
'The broadband connection will lay the foundation for greater integration of
Pacific Island academics into international education and research networks and
will contribute to the teaching skills of USP staff', Mr Downer said.
'Investing in education in our region helps build human capital, which in
turn contributes to regional security, stability and economic growth.
'This project is part of Australia's $200 million commitment to the Virtual
Colombo Plan (VCP), a joint Australian Government and World Bank initiative.
Launched in 2001, it improves education and access to knowledge across the
developing world,' Mr Downer said.
World Bank President, James Wolfensohn, who is currently in Australia, said
the World Bank is working closely with the Australian Government, through the
VCP, to promote the effective use of information and communication technologies
to improve living standards in developing countries.
'One of the World Bank's key priorities in this area is to improve the
quality and reach of educational services. Australia's planned high-speed
broadband connection for the USP will make a major contribution towards
improving education and research opportunities in the Pacific.
'There is great potential to connect our joint knowledge initiatives in the
Pacific to our wider regional and global knowledge networks and to
continue to expand our collaboration with Australia to improve education and
knowledge sharing in the region,' Mr Wolfensohn said.
Established in 1968, the USP provides undergraduate and postgraduate distance
education to the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue,
Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Mr Downer is meeting with Mr Wolfensohn in Canberra today.
Media contacts:
Chris Kenny (Minister's Office) 02 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489