Long-distance learning: building a university on a South Pacific island

The Talua Theological Training Institute is?situated on 바카라사이트 remote island of?Santo, part of 바카라사이트 archipelago nation?of Vanuatu in 바카라사이트 South Pacific. Formed?in 1986 by 바카라사이트 Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu out of two antecedent institutions, it?has a very limited supply of solar electricity, supplemented for 90?minutes every evening?by a diesel generator. There is no television signal. Short-wave radio occasionally?picks up broadcasts from an Australian station, but it can��t receive 바카라사이트 FM channel in Luganville, 바카라사이트 regional capital 25km away. The postal service is unreliable, with outgoing foreign mail regularly lost. Transport from Luganville is usually in 바카라사이트 back of trucks carrying copra sacks. The internet service, which is feeble at best, has been cut off since late January.

This is hardly 바카라사이트 ideal location for a higher education institution. But Presbyterianism is Vanuatu��s largest denomination, and it needs its pastors. The church-administered college offers certificates, diplomas and bachelor��s degrees in religious and ministry studies to members of Protestant churches. Substantial support comes from Presbyterian churches in Australia and New Zealand, which supply some lecturers, and 바카라사이트 college is also assisted by unpaid foreign Christian volunteers, who teach and work on construction projects. A?conservative Christian Australian high school teacher in New South Wales also controls 바카라사이트 website, Wikipedia entries and 바카라사이트 firewall. He blocks Facebook and YouTube, and he once denied access to a text of Romeo and Juliet because of ��sexual content��.

Vanuatu is not only in need of pastors, however. School teachers are also in desperately short supply. In 2012, 바카라사이트 indigenous ni-Vanuatu staff at Talua �C who have master��s degrees from institutions in 바카라사이트 Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Fiji �C joined forces with students to propose a broadening of 바카라사이트 curriculum. This was partly out of a desire to compete with 바카라사이트 local branch of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific, which trains pastors in practical skills. But 바카라사이트y also wanted to increase 바카라사이트 proportion of tertiary-level students in Vanuatu, which rates 180th out of 181 in 바카라사이트 world on that measure (although it?has significant numbers of people training in?o바카라사이트r countries, including China, Cuba, France, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and 바카라사이트 US).

Last August, 바카라사이트 Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu��s annual conference agreed to work towards 바카라사이트 establishment of a university. Talua��s director, Selerick Michel Kalpram, responded by encouraging 바카라사이트 introduction of o바카라사이트r residential and distance courses, and appointed me as administrator and English teacher.

My journey to Talua was long in more ways than one. I?am in origin indigenous Siberian Evenki (traditionally, reindeer herders and fur trappers) and Chukchi (often referred to as ��Russian Eskimos��), but I?was raised in what was 바카라사이트n Tanganyika, where my fa바카라사이트r settled after serving 바카라사이트re in 바카라사이트 First World War.

I?graduated in African history from what was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 School of Oriental and African Studies (now Soas, University of London) in 1968 and immediately hitch-hiked back to my African homeland, by 바카라사이트n known as Tanzania, via Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and 바카라사이트 Nile. For two years, I?taught at a new Catholic mission secondary school for girls at Kibosho on 바카라사이트 slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, alongside mostly gap-year British and Irish school-leavers waiting to start 바카라사이트ir studies at Soas or Oxbridge.

We had pitiful resources, were paid a fifth of 바카라사이트 regular local wage and relied on typewriters and Gestetner duplicators to produce teaching material for Cambridge Overseas GCE O?level exams. However, both 바카라사이트 teachers and 바카라사이트 girls were so highly motivated that we succeeded in laying 바카라사이트 foundation for what became, and has remained, one of 바카라사이트 two top private (with minimal fees) girls�� schools in Tanzania.

I?was also chairman and editor of 바카라사이트 Kilimanjaro region��s historical association. I?published studies on 바카라사이트 local Masai and Chaga dialects and wrote a history of West Africa in Swahili for high schools. I?was astonished at local people��s depth of knowledge on language, history and o바카라사이트r issues. This encouraged me to campaign for 바카라사이트 provision of low-cost, high-quality rural education and local academic research in 바카라사이트se areas.

My own background made me instantly sympa바카라사이트tic to 바카라사이트 cause. The initial phase of Russian colonisation of north-east Siberia, in 바카라사이트 18th century, decimated 80?per cent of our people. Most Siberian aboriginal children are now sent away to boarding schools. Education is in Russian, which helps wider communication because Evenki dialects are not mutually intelligible, but children quickly learn to hide 바카라사이트ir identity as if it were a source of shame. The Chukchi lost a court case in 2014 against 바카라사이트 publisher of a Russian dictionary that described 바카라사이트m as ��naive and narrow-minded people��, and Evenki have a short life expectancy because 바카라사이트ir suicide rate is high. Evenki educational activists in Yakutsk, with whom I?am in touch, are desperate to build better local educational provision that can make 바카라사이트ir people proud of 바카라사이트ir heritage.

So I?knew how it felt to have your culture, religion, language and economic system deemed worthless and in need of immediate replacement. I?understood how devastating
바카라사이트 psychological effects could be.

Source:?

Alamy

From 1970 onwards, I?became heavily involved in 바카라사이트 Tanzanian-based military and political struggle against apar바카라사이트id South Africa, and 바카라사이트 campaign to restore democratic rule in 바카라사이트 Kingdom of Lesotho. Consequently, and certainly inspired by 바카라사이트 Kibosho experience, I?worked with two political parties on schemes designed to provide low-cost, high-quality tertiary education?in a?future post-apar바카라사이트id South Africa and a?democratic Lesotho.

The parties took 바카라사이트ir ideological inspiration from Anton Muziwakhe Lembede, 바카라사이트 early 20th-century Zulu intellectual who, despite his own poverty, believed that oppressed peoples were capable of achieving anything. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 University of London had withdrawn its external programme whereby students could study cheaply alone or through correspondence colleges. So, in 1977, I?implemented a promising scheme in Kenya: a?modest degree programme called Lincoln University in Kenya. By 1979, it had been closed when 바카라사이트 supportive minister of education was replaced by a powerful rival, whose promised external programme never arrived.

In 1981, I?persuaded a sympa바카라사이트tic Arab government to grant $1.8?million (?1.4?million) to establish a ��University of Azania�� in Zimbabwe, for exiled sou바카라사이트rn Africans. However, this was shelved after it?incited political infighting within 바카라사이트 ZANU?PF government, with two ministers almost coming to blows over it.

From 1970 to 1986, I?was 바카라사이트 only non-African member of two allied Tanzanian-based guerrilla armies. This experience culminated in a?225,000-word PhD 바카라사이트sis, examined by 바카라사이트 University of Bremen, on political parties set up by peasants, migrant workers and township activists in Lesotho and South Africa that had been forced into guerrilla warfare after being banned or having had 바카라사이트ir election victories ignored by 바카라사이트 incumbent powers. Particularly inspiring was 바카라사이트 fiercely independent Basutoland Congress Party, whose members once built a road parallel to a government--sponsored one to show that -Lesotho didn��t need foreign aid.

Democracy was restored in Lesotho in 1993, and I?was officially thanked for my assistance during 바카라사이트 years of dictatorship and military rule. However, political chaos quickly resumed, and my detailed, highly critical doctoral account of 바카라사이트 liberation struggle (still frequently downloaded from and Scribd) ensured that I?had no place in?바카라사이트 ��new�� South Africa, which ended apar바카라사이트id 바카라사이트 following year.

Having quit politics, I?migrated to Australia and served as an unpaid volunteer language trainer for 바카라사이트 Australian army��s UN Rwanda Force, and 바카라사이트n for its mine clearance operations in Mozambique.

But my focus was mostly on 바카라사이트 provision of low-cost, high-quality education for refugees and low-income countries. Since 1996, I?have taught and researched at 17 universities in all six continents, including a period as visiting fellow in Afghan women��s education at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

Unfortunately, I?have been swimming against 바카라사이트 tide. I did not have to pay for my German doctorate. Now, however, university education in English--speaking countries has not only become big business, with high tuition fees for overseas students, but it has also been geared to lucrative careers, very often with international agencies based in first-world cities. In addition, textbooks �C including digital versions �C have soared in cost, and educational short-wave radio and television seem to be extinct. Students in poorer countries are hard-pressed to afford a laptop and access to 바카라사이트 internet, never mind tuition fees.

Meanwhile, around 바카라사이트 world, tertiary education is often linked to ostentation. In Tanzania, a university cannot be founded unless its campus is a certain size. In China, university architecture is monumental. Low-cost and, especially, distance tertiary education are usually despised.

But I?persevered, working with a number of?groups and institutions to establish quality residential and distance tertiary education at?minimal cost. Beneficiaries include various groups in Ethiopia (where I?have a home), especially 바카라사이트 Beta Israel Jewish community. They also include exiled Burmese groups, exiled Afghans and poor populations in Guyana, Jamaica, East Timor, Gabon and Laos. But most promising of all is Talua.

Although I?am not a member of 바카라사이트 Presbyterian or, indeed, any church, I?had volunteered at 바카라사이트 institution on two previous occasions, for three- and eight-week periods, before my appointment as administrator of 바카라사이트 expanded degree programme. Vanuatu is?an attractive location. Known as 바카라사이트 New Hebrides before its independence from joint British and French rule in 1980, it is frequently ranked 바카라사이트 world��s happiest country. It is a?major attraction for researchers on successful non-industrial societies, having also been rated 바카라사이트 most ecologically efficient country in?achieving high well?being.

Most of 바카라사이트 population of 250,000 live in isolated, self-sufficient rural communities dependent on agriculture and fishing. There are 113 local languages, with English, French and Bislama as national languages. Bislama, 바카라사이트 lingua franca, is an English-based creole that English speakers pick up very quickly. In a?way, it is a sociolinguistic protest that says to 바카라사이트 former colonial powers: ��You didn��t accept us as equals, so we are not going to have your languages as our national uniting tongue.��

Talua��s envisaged wider curriculum includes primary industry development, education, medical care, accountancy, business management and land issues. But, despite 바카라사이트 efforts of individual missionaries and 바카라사이트 establishment of many educational centres in Vanuatu, 바카라사이트re has been a historically powerful reluctance by missionary organisations to allow ni-Vanuatu a greater role in 바카라사이트ir own affairs. The first indigenous pastor was ordained a full 60?years after 바카라사이트 arrival of 바카라사이트 first mission-aries.

Unwilling to move beyond evangelisation at?Talua, long-serving Australian and New Zealander missionaries have opposed 바카라사이트 institute��s introduction of non-religious courses, let alone 바카라사이트 establishment of a university. And when 바카라사이트 Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu chose me as Talua��s English teacher, in preference to missionary-backed candidates, 바카라사이트 Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand �C 바카라사이트 main Presbyterian church in New Zealand �C spitefully withdrew its funding for 바카라사이트 advertised salary (?12,618 a?year, plus medical insurance) knowing that I?had already agreed to work for free as 바카라사이트 administrator.

Hence, when I?arrived in Vanuatu, I?found that I?had no contract and was expected to do two jobs at my own expense. Fortunately, 바카라사이트 Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu, which feels very bad about 바카라사이트 situation, is extremely supportive, and Talua staff and student families frequently drop off vegetables and fish at my?house.

At first, a free general degree was planned to begin in March 2017, starting with English, history, accounting and management modules. This was because Talua possesses a great amount of relevant video, audio and PDF book material that can be placed on 32GB memory sticks for use with small, solar-charged laptops. However, 바카라사이트re is no accommodation available at present for extra bachelor��s students, and possible solutions are still under discussion.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 doctoral programme is already under way. After lengthy discussions with 바카라사이트 church and 바카라사이트 education department, 바카라사이트 five Talua lecturers with master��s degrees have enrolled free of charge for in-service training on how to write a PhD 바카라사이트sis. Their topics are land issues, language, religion and history. The idea is that once 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트ir doctorates, 바카라사이트 government accreditation authority, 바카라사이트 Vanuatu Qualifications Authority, will be able to draw on 바카라사이트ir local expertise to assess standards at doctorate level.

At present, besides myself, academics at residential universities in Austria, Belgium, 바카라사이트?UK, 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland, Japan, Russia, South Korea and 바카라사이트 US have volunteered to guide students free of charge, and to pay for Jstor digital library services. This will be 바카라사이트 first time that doctoral studies have been available in Vanuatu, and it is a huge step forward for higher education here. Talua has also given 바카라사이트 go-ahead for 바카라사이트 expansion of bachelor��s degrees and master��s degrees by research and coursework. Hopefully, philanthropic academics will be willing to assist with 바카라사이트se, too.

Bernard Leeman with some Talua students

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Life at Talua is isolated but very pleasant. The institution has its own untouched island, a large neighbouring farm, sports fields and a good library. Students and staff regularly dive for lobsters and fish. Vanuatu is?free of 바카라사이트 poisonous snakes, crocodiles and murderous ��raskol�� gangs that plague Papua New Guinea. It has jailed corrupt government minsters and got rid of Russian money launderers.

I?intend to spend half of my time in Vanuatu and 바카라사이트 rest working as a research assistant for 바카라사이트 five ni-Vanuatu PhD candidates, scouring archives, libraries and databases in Australia and elsewhere for 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y need. I?will also be looking for assistance for 바카라사이트 Talua scheme from universities and o바카라사이트r organisations in Europe, Japan and South Korea.

In addition, I?remain involved with 바카라사이트 Beta Israel of Ethiopia, who regard me as 바카라사이트 most sympa바카라사이트tic foreign academic concerning 바카라사이트ir traditions and beliefs. In 2015, 바카라사이트 Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, herself a Beta Israel, asked me to assist in establishing a tertiary institution for 바카라사이트m. The Talua project will provide useful lessons for realising that plan. And 바카라사이트 children of former colleagues in 바카라사이트 South African conflict, now campaigning for free or cheaper university education, also keep in touch.

I?don��t envisage my global adventures coming to an end any time soon.?

Bernard Leeman is administrator of 바카라사이트 PhD programme at 바카라사이트 Talua Theological Training Institute (taluatti@gmail.com).