Education is Key to Pacific Relations: It’s Ours, Not Theirs

Once cohorts of college students, including prospective teachers, have been exposed to Pacific knowledge, the next step is to incorporate materials on Pacific history, culture, society, and politics into school curricula. Australian students should leave school with some understanding of what life in the Pacific is like and the role Australia has played in the region.

Of course, both suggestions should be taught by someone with Pacific expertise. This suggests that governments should consider investing in schemes to incentivize academics to develop expertise on the Pacific. But equally important is the involvement of Pacific scholars in the provision of education.

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Recognizing that it has not contributed to the ‘brain drain’ from the region, I suggest that the government consider funding to foster ties between Australian and Pacific universities. For example, ANU has an agreement with the University of Papua New Guinea and the University of Queensland with her PNG University of Technology. These models can be duplicated elsewhere.

In addition to sending Australian students to the Pacific, ancillary programs to the New Colombo Plan can also be established to prepare for bringing more Pacific students to Australia.

The aim should not be to suck knowledge and expertise out of the community. Instead, we need to build knowledge and capabilities in both the Pacific and Australia.

In that respect Australian Awards It is important to support the Pacific scholars who study here.

Governments could also consider the merits (and practicalities) of allowing Pacific students to enter Australian higher education universities at domestic rather than international rates.

After roads are built or development programs are offered, the relationships endure, although which partners donated them is forgotten. Help more Australians understand the dynamism and diversity of their Pacific neighbors and build better relationships with them.

Professor Joanne Wallis is Director of Research in Security for the Pacific Islands Program at the University of Adelaide. Ian Kemish is Papuan He is the former High Commissioner of New Guinea and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland.