Victoria furthers relationships with Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford recently announced Victoria University of Wellington’s aim to be the ‘University of Choice’ for Pasifika students and staff in New Zealand and the Pacific region. And so in June, the University sent a small team of staff to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
The trip marked the first time Victoria had sent representatives to Solomon Islands for the purpose of recruitment and strengthening relationships with the government and the Ministry of Education.
The Victoria team, led by the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika), Associate Professor Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban and included Pasifika staff from Student Academic Services and Victoria International, visited mostly Year 11 and 12 students from 14 secondary schools across both countries.
They met with the New Zealand High Commissioners in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. They also attended an expo of New Zealand universities in Port Moresby hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for New Zealand Agency of International Development (NZAID) scholarship candidates from Papua New Guinea.
More than 300 local tertiary students, their families and community leaders attended a public information session about Victoria at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU). A draft Memorandum of Understanding between Victoria and SINU was discussed and is currently being developed for signing later this year.
“One of Victoria’s primary strategic areas focuses on strengthening our ties in the Asia-Pacific region and these visits to the Pacific are key,” Luamanuvao says.
During the trip, Victoria staff presented on degree programmes and the excellent support services for Pasifika students and shared stories of NZAID scholarship winners currently studying at Victoria. Luamanuvao says the students were“delighted” to see former pupils from their schools and countries studying and thriving at Victoria.
Luamanuvao says the trip was hugely successful and such visits help to strengthen the ongoing relationship between Victoria and the Pacific region. “Victoria is well set up to support our Pasifika students. We hope these visits will encourage students to think of Wellington, and Victoria University, as a choice for their tertiary studies.
“We look forward to seeing increasing numbers enrol here from the Pacific region, and to continue the development of Pasifika scholars and a new generation of Pasifika leaders.”
