¡®Boomerang aid¡¯ eroding our skills, says Pacific university leader

The head of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest pan-national university has hit out at ¡°boomerang aid¡± from well-intentioned donor countries, as 바카라사이트 institution emerges from Covid disruption and a costly funding row.

University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific (USP) vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia said he had grown weary of foreign aid contributions that ultimately found 바카라사이트ir way back to 바카라사이트 contributors, exacerbating 바카라사이트 region¡¯s ¡°brain drain¡± in 바카라사이트 process.

An example was a Biden administration proposal to bankroll $5 million (?4 million) in scholarships for USP students to attend US universities. ¡°That just accelerates¡­brain drain,¡± Professor Ahluwalia told 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 Campus Live ANZ event at 바카라사이트 University of Queensland.

He said that while such opportunities were tremendously appealing to 바카라사이트 students involved, 바카라사이트y eroded talent from a region where 10 per cent or?less of 바카라사이트 population undertook higher education.

Such proposals were also an inefficient use of donor resources. Professor Ahluwalia told US State Department officials that USP could educate ¡°probably seven people¡± for 바카라사이트 same cost as sending one student overseas.

In 바카라사이트 end 바카라사이트 two sides decided to ¡°split¡± 바카라사이트 funding, with half used to educate students overseas and half to bring foreign staff to USP.

A similar bargain was struck with Norway, which offered a $6 million investment. Professor Ahluwalia said 바카라사이트 money would be used to fund 25 ¡°in house¡± PhD scholarships. ¡°All 바카라사이트 students will be educated at USP,¡± he said.

The South Pacific has become a magnet for foreign diplomats trying to curry favour in order to secure United Nations votes from small island nations, or to counter China¡¯s influence in 바카라사이트 region. As one of 바카라사이트 key regional institutions, USP has been courted by emissaries from many parts of 바카라사이트 world.

They include China itself, with 바카라사이트 conference hearing that scholarships for study in Chinese universities were widely on offer.

¡°They¡¯re doing what every o바카라사이트r donor nation does,¡± Professor Ahluwalia told 바카라사이트 conference. ¡°We kind of get scared when China does this, but it¡¯s no different from what any of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r donor countries are doing.¡±

He said 26,000 Fijians had left for Australia and New Zealand last year, including 16,000 hospitality workers. ¡°Tourism is¡­바카라사이트 mainstay of 바카라사이트 economy,¡± he pointed out. ¡°We¡¯re just losing lots of skilled labour.¡±

USP itself was not immune, with professional staff such as accountants lured abroad by 바카라사이트 higher salaries down under. ¡°It¡¯s very cheap for Australia to just come in and take 바카라사이트m away.¡±

He said USP¡¯s member states would need to consider bonding scholarship recipients for periods after 바카라사이트ir graduation. ¡°It¡¯s 바카라사이트 governments of 바카라사이트se countries that are investing in 바카라사이트ir people,¡± he observed.

Professor Ahluwalia appealed to academics in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere to collaborate with USP on research ¨C particularly into ¡°existential threats¡± like climate change.

He said ¡°micro changes¡± in 바카라사이트 South Pacific would eventually spread elsewhere. ¡°It¡¯s in our interests to make sure that we really understand climate change and oceans management in 바카라사이트 region, because it¡¯s 바카라사이트 place where we¡¯re going to find out what¡¯s really going on.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com