GDLN アジア大洋州協会　ニュース

Inaugural Pacific Knowledge Forum

Regional Leaders in Development Gather to Discuss South Pacific-wide network

2007年02月

In April 2004 Pacific Leaders adopted a vision for the Pacific: “to seek partnerships with our neighbors and beyond to develop our knowledge, to improve our communications and ensure a sustained economic existence for all.”

Building on this vision, the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the World Bank convened the inaugural Pacific Knowledge Forum on February 27, 2007 to discuss the development of a South Pacific region wide communications, knowledge and learning network.

Senior government officials, donor agency staff, and representatives from regional agencies and universities gathered in Australia to explore options for upgrading USP Net and integrating it into the GDLN. The Forum became the setting for animated, high-level discussions about improving connectivity across the Pacific. Participants agreed that USP would establish an Advisory Group and undertake a full appraisal of the proposed upgrade.

USP aims to establish Knowledge Development Centers in all campuses of its twelve member countries. These centers would be connected to each other, and to similar facilities around the world, via satellite and optical fiber. They would be a point of access to a knowledge network and create an environment where Pacific Islanders, regional organizations, development partners and academic institutions could jointly develop, share and apply development related knowledge. Development of an enhanced USP communications network would not only facilitate better access to education and training opportunities for Pacific Islanders but could make a major contribution to development outcomes in the region.

The success of regional and national knowledge networks is well proven with fifteen sites now operating successfully in the western region of China, five operating in Indonesia and a second center soon to open in Vietnam.