MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
The Australian Government is contributing a further $9 million to the
University of the South Pacific to allow it to expand its education and training
programs.
Under a new Memorandum of Understanding being signed today, Australia will
provide $3 million a year for the next three years in core funding and to help
the University build up its work in the areas of governance, teacher training
and distance education.
'This program is expected to have a significant impact in raising the quality
of primary education in the Pacific,' the Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Gallus said.
'In the area of governance, the university will establish a Pacific Institute
of Advanced Studies in Governance and Development. Promoting good governance in
the region is a significant priority for the university.
'Australia's funding will also enable the university to deliver a full
Bachelor's degree in primary education by distance education. This will allow
practising teachers living in Pacific island nations to upgrade their skills in
their home countries.
In addition, Australia's funding will be used to support a three-year program
aimed at assisting the university reform its distance education programs in the
Pacific,' Mrs Gallus said.
This program is linked to the Virtual Colombo Plan which is a joint effort by
Australia and the World Bank to bridge the growing gap between countries that
are information-rich and those that are information-poor, through the use of new
technologies.
'Money invested in education is generally money well spent. More and more
regional leaders in government, business and the professions are graduates of
the university. This is a very good example of regional cooperation,' Mrs Gallus
said.
The University of the South Pacific has its main campus in Suva, Fiji, with
smaller campuses in Samoa and Vanuatu. It operates distance education centres in
nine other countries in the region. Australia has been supporting the University
since 1968.
Contact:
Alex Knox (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 6277 4840 / 0411 287 257
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489