The National University of Vanuatu (NUV) and the University of New Caledonia (UNC) have signed three major agreements to strengthen higher education, research, and student exchanges across the Pacific.
From a press release it states that the agreements, signed last week by NUV Vice-Chancellor Jean-Pierre Nirua and UNC President Prof. Catherine Ris, mark a milestone in the long-standing partnership between the two institutions, with student mobility at the heart of the new initiatives.
The first agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding, formalises years of collaboration and sets a framework for joint projects, particularly in advancing la francophonie in the Melanesian region.
The second agreement establishes a student mobility program, enabling students from both universities to take part in study exchanges, thematic mobility programs, and internships. The initiative is designed to promote cultural and academic exchange while fostering stronger links between francophone and anglophone communities in the Pacific.
The third agreement introduces a framework for the recruitment of a Volunteer for International Solidarity. Funded by UNC and hosted at NUV, the volunteer will help support academic cooperation, facilitate mobility for students and staff, and strengthen institutional ties between Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
NUV Vice-Chancellor Nirua described the agreements as a step forward for Vanuatu’s national development goals. He said quality education and human resource development remain key priorities for the country, with NUV playing a central role in delivering professional training, research, and international cooperation.
Prof. Ris welcomed the deepened partnership, saying the agreements align with UNC’s mission to foster regional cooperation and strengthen higher education across the Pacific.
The agreements reflect both universities’ commitment to creating stronger academic and cultural bridges in the Pacific and ensuring regional institutions play a leading role in shaping the future of higher education.
