The University of the South Pacific is proud to respond to the request of the Republic of the Marshall Island’s to establish this important Centre of Excellence at our campus in Majuro. It is one of the University’s voluntary contribution to the 2017 UN Oceans Summit.
This year we celebrate 50 years of service to the region. As one of two regional universities in the world, we are supported by 12 Pacific Island Countries - Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The University graduated its first cohort of 32 students in 1971 and during the intervening years over 44,000 graduates have successfully completed their studies. Today the university has an enrolment of over 29,000 students studying in all 12 countries and 14 Campuses.
This regional composition of the staff and students, augmented by colleagues and students from outside the Pacific region, gives the university a healthy diversity of nationalities, religions, cultures, ethnic groups and languages. This diversity enriches the educational experience at USP and contributes towards lifelong friendships and connections within the region and internationally.
The MCST marks a new waypoint in the University’s research and education programme in low Carbon Transport. IN 2012 USP hosted the Sustainable Sea Transport Talanoa (SSTT2012), the first international conference in the region in this field since 1984. We repeated this event with the 2nd Sustainable Sea Transport Talanoa in 2014 (SSTT2014). Now working with colleagues around the world, the Sustainable Sea Transport Research Programme has established a strong publication and research record to underpin the implementing of the MCST Framework. In addition, we draw on the expertise across our Faculties and other Research Centers – in Maritime Law, Marine Studies, Technology, Engineering, Economics, Climate Change and History.
USP is honoured by the commitment our international academy has demonstrated in assisting to implement the MCST Framework. We look forward to expanding both our partnerships, our knowledge and our capacity to provide quality research and education to underpin the transition to low carbon futures our countries are now embarked on.