The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Government of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) concluded a successful High Level Consultation (HLC) in Canberra.
This HLC with Australia was an annual bilateral event to deliberate on strategic level engagements between the two long-standing partners and discuss progress and challenges of the University towards implementation of its Strategic Plan.
The five-member delegation from USP, led by Professor Rajesh Chandra, Vice-Chancellor and President had fruitful discussions with senior DFAT officials on the status of the current Strategic Plan (2013 – 2018) implementatio.
The discussions also included USP-Australia Partnership; funding and priorities for the balance of the current partnership; planning for the new partnership post March 2019; USP’s 50th Anniversary; and Australia’s commitment to stepping-up its engagement in the Pacific.
Mr. Daniel Sloper, First Assistant Secretary of DFAT’s Pacific Division, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the University as a key strategic partner for Australia, given its role in delivering quality tertiary education and its active engagement in the Council of the Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP).
Australia is keen to collaborate with USP to leverage the partnership to help address regional development challenges; and to support implementation of the Framework for Pacific Regionalism.
Professor Chandra thanked Mr. Sloper for the warm words of welcome and acknowledged the presence of senior DFAT officials including from Suva.
He also mentioned that the strong growing relationship between USP and Australia is a crucial plank through which USP is further able to effectively contribute towards the development of the Pacific region through quality education, research and regional engagement.
USP provided an update on the progress towards the objectives of the Partnership, its achievements and key challenges faced during the implementation of the Strategic Plan.
USP also clarified its process to develop its new Strategic Plan post 2018 and a new Partnership with Australia.
Australia noted the achievements and key challenges pertaining to the University’s efforts towards implementing the current Strategic Plan and confirmed that the funding for the remaining duration of the current partnership is secured and a new Grant Agreement Deed will be finalised and signed before 30 June 2017 to support pending initiatives in the SP till 31 March 2019.
It was reaffirmed that quality teacher education is a key priority for Australia and the Pacific leaders. Therefore, DFAT is interested in collectively assessing with the University on how best the quality of teacher education in the region can be enhanced via innovative means.
It was agreed between both partners that a Working Group will be established in order to steer the work around delivering quality teacher education for the Pacific.
The establishment of the Working Group will enable the transformation of the relationship between DFAT and USP from that of the funder and recipient to a more collaborative one that allows for greater strategic engagement in leveraging quality teacher education.
Professor Chandra stated that ‘the University is committed towards working with DFAT for the establishment of the Working Group to ensuring quality teacher education, however, it is important that this is agreed as a mandate for the University by the Ministers in ensuring that the efforts by USP and DFAT are aligned to national government efforts in this regard’.
Professor Chandra thanked DFAT for the assurance that Australia’s funding is secured for the remainder of the current partnership in support of SP implementation.
He reiterated that the new SP will be constructed through a wide consultation with key stakeholders, including Australia, to identify its core priority areas.
He acknowledged the long standing partnership between USP and Australia and mentioned that USP is fully committed towards implementing its responsibilities under the Partnership Agreement.
The next tripartite HLC between USP, Australia and New Zealand will be held in Suva in November 2017.
Photo: The University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Government of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) concluded a successful High Level Consultation (HLC) on Tuesday, 11 April, 2017 in Canberra.