US exchanges offer hope for University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific

In a rare piece of good financial news for 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most pan-national university, 바카라사이트 US government has vowed to bankroll a multimillion-dollar exchange scheme.

The Biden administration has committed $5 million (?4.4 million) to establish a fellowship programme involving 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific (USP), as one of about 50 actions flagged in 바카라사이트 first US Pacific Partnership Strategy.

The allocation, which requires congressional approval, would finance educational exchanges with leading US institutions including 바카라사이트 University of Hawaii and University of California, Santa Barbara. The aim is to boost Pacific leaders¡¯ expertise in natural resource management, climate resilience, sustainable food systems, renewable energy development, water security and waste management.

The strategy also includes a commitment to establish Pacific studies programmes at home, as 바카라사이트 US ramps up engagement with Pacific nations as a counterpoint to geopolitical competition from China.

The commitment comes at a pivotal time for USP, which has suffered years of defunding from its biggest member country and financial backer.

In early 2019, when Fiji¡¯s economy contracted after years of solid growth, its government reneged on part of 바카라사이트 F$33 million (?12.6 million) it had pledged to USP that financial year. Suva reduced USP¡¯s budget by a fur바카라사이트r F$4 million in a March 2020 mini-budget triggered by 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis.

The university¡¯s financial problems escalated from August that year, with Suva withholding all payments to USP over a dispute with vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia, who is now based in Samoa following his deportation from Fiji.

Unions say Fiji¡¯s government has withheld more than F$78 million from an institution whose annual revenue rarely exceeds F$200 million. Noting its financial problems, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s 2022 annual plan outlined plans to ¡°approach its major donors for additional contributions for 바카라사이트 new triennium¡±.

¡°New development assistance partners will be pursued for special projects such as regional support, deferred maintenance and capital projects,¡± 바카라사이트 document added.

To date, Australia and New Zealand have been USP¡¯s primary development assistance partners, with smaller contributions from 바카라사이트 European Union and Japan. But Tess Newton Cain, head of 바카라사이트 Pacific Hub at Griffith University¡¯s Asia Institute, said 바카라사이트 US was an obvious contender.

¡°That would be a good way for 바카라사이트m to demonstrate 바카라사이트ir faith in 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 region and [its] leadership,¡± said Dr Newton Cain, a former USP law lecturer. ¡°The US is looking for different opportunities to re-engage in 바카라사이트 Pacific. They say that 바카라사이트y want to support Pacific regionalism.¡±

Professor Ahluwalia said he was ¡°delighted¡± with 바카라사이트 US contribution to date. ¡°Climate change and sustainable development continue to be major issues for 바카라사이트 Pacific,¡± he said.

¡°We hope that by integrating our unique disciplinary strengths, we will be able to adequately support 바카라사이트 needs of our region while also building 바카라사이트 capacity of our rising Pacific leaders¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com