The Pacific way: sustainability in higher education in the South Pacific Island nations

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to create an area profile of significant activity and possibility in higher education for sustainable development (ESD) in the island nations of the South Pacific Ocean. Design/methodology/approach -This is a descriptive research paper on philosophy, policy, and practice according to a methodology of categorical analysis by developments, challenges, and prospects. The focus is on higher education institutions, particularly the University of the South Pacific, the regional university of 12 Island nations in Oceania. The developments and prospects are contextualized, however, in the larger regional Pacific Education for Sustainable Development Framework and the Action Plan for Sustainable Development in the Pacific Islands 2008-2014. Academic programs, policy statements, and education projects are analyzed. Findings -South Pacific universities possess rich missions that valorize traditional knowledge and culture. The region also has a sophisticated policy environment for sustainability. These factors create many opportunities for sustainability in higher education. Nevertheless, enormous challenges of distance, funding, cultural traditions, globalisation, and adaptation to the devastating effects of climate destabilisation make progress difficult. Successes and promising prospects are described, including a new major effort to mainstream higher ESD by creating a Pacific Network of Island Universities (the NIU Project), which will reach 13 nations, including Papua New Guinea. Originality/value -Little analysis of sustainability in higher education has been done in this geographical area. The categorical approach of this paper will provide researchers with findings appropriate to several endeavors, including charting a way forward in sustainability in higher education in the South Pacific Island nations. South Pacific initiatives arising from the unique nature of island geography and tradition could illuminate for others what is called the "Pacific Way." Comparative analysis to mainland nations in the Asia-Pacific region may also prove useful to researchers and practitioners.

Greening the Ivory Tower: A Review of Educational Research on Sustainability in Post-Secondary Education

“…These included permeability of disciplines within institutions (and, thus, the ability to work interdisciplinarily), establishing a relationship between theory and practice in course work and creating space for reflection on curricula. In research on the South Pacific Island Nations, it has been found that sustainability tended to be integrated into all curricula in PSE [26]. A cross-institutional study from 2008 also found that integration of sustainability principles is on the increase across a wide range of extra-curricular activities in a number of PSE institutions within the UK [27].…”

Embedding Education for Sustainability (EfS) into Teacher Education in the South Pacific, Challenges and Opportunities

“…The launching of the DESD resulted in new developments in the Pacific Island region. These include the Pacific Education for Development Framework and its Action Plan for Sustainable Development in the Pacific Islands (2008-2014) (Corcoran 2010). This document identifies formal education and training as one of the priority areas, with teacher training established as an area of significance.…”

“…It is home to a diverse range of indigenous peoples and their cultures and languages. Recognition of PINs as a special sustainability case is embedded in most international sustainability agreements, which most Pacific Islands are active partners of and signatories to (Corcoran 2010).…”

Strategic Shift from Transmissive to Transformative Higher Education for Sustainable Development

“…Furthermore, HEIs were offered to adapt the Higher Education Sustainability Act and the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) in 2005-2015 [2]. The UN DESD (2005 to 2015) provides a major opportunity for HEIs worldwide to address sustainability at local, national, regional and global levels [3]. Besides, ESD is an educational goal that aims to provide the present generations with the necessary knowledge, skills, competencies, and values that are crucial for societal sustainability [4].…”