The Small Island Developing The Small Island Developing States Universities States Universities

Consortium for Capacity Consortium for Capacity Development to Implement Development to Implement the Barbados Plan of Action the Barbados Plan of Action

Joeli VeitayakiJoeli VeitayakiUniversity of the South PacificUniversity of the South Pacific

Suva, FIJISuva, FIJIveitayaki_j@usp.ac.fjveitayaki_j@usp.ac.fj

SIDSUC BackgroundSIDSUC Background

• Consist of universities, research centers Consist of universities, research centers and collaborating institutions committed to and collaborating institutions committed to assist SIDS through education, research assist SIDS through education, research and outreachand outreach

• Aim to promote the advantages of pooling Aim to promote the advantages of pooling resources to build capacity for the resources to build capacity for the implementation of BPOAimplementation of BPOA

• SIDSUC is registered as a membership SIDSUC is registered as a membership organisation whose members consist of organisation whose members consist of tertiary institutions within SIDStertiary institutions within SIDS

• Consortium targets the enhancement of Consortium targets the enhancement of capacity of institutions in SIDS - to provide capacity of institutions in SIDS - to provide practical, high quality training, research practical, high quality training, research and outreach to assist SIDS to implement and outreach to assist SIDS to implement the BPOAthe BPOA

SIDSUC ObjectivesSIDSUC Objectives

• Improve information flow among members on Improve information flow among members on course offerings, research and outreachcourse offerings, research and outreach

• Encourage cooperative curriculum Encourage cooperative curriculum development, research and outreach in key development, research and outreach in key areas of vulnerability to support resilienceareas of vulnerability to support resilience

• Share research findings and reference materials Share research findings and reference materials to facilitate cooperation of students and facultyto facilitate cooperation of students and faculty

• Use results of SIDS-focused research and field Use results of SIDS-focused research and field study to assemble relevant curricular study to assemble relevant curricular

• Recommend standards and procedures for inter Recommend standards and procedures for inter institutional accreditation among membersinstitutional accreditation among members

SIDSUC MembershipSIDSUC Membership

• Open to all tertiary institutions with interest and Open to all tertiary institutions with interest and expertise in capacity development for expertise in capacity development for sustainable development of SIDSsustainable development of SIDS

• Application for membership must be through Application for membership must be through formal letter from Chancellor or equivalent of formal letter from Chancellor or equivalent of the institution to the Chair of SIDSUCthe institution to the Chair of SIDSUC

• Application letter must specify the names of Application letter must specify the names of representatives for consideration as Trustee, representatives for consideration as Trustee, and Programme Committeeand Programme Committee

• Application letter also should document existing Application letter also should document existing curricula, ongoing research and faculty capacity curricula, ongoing research and faculty capacity in areas of BPOAin areas of BPOA

Responsibilities of MembersResponsibilities of Members

• Membership implies acceptance of SIDSUC Membership implies acceptance of SIDSUC goals and objectivesgoals and objectives

• Members and collaborators are expected to Members and collaborators are expected to work together to build capacity through work together to build capacity through high quality graduate education, training, high quality graduate education, training, research and outreachresearch and outreach

• Members are expected to promote the Members are expected to promote the academic quality set by SIDSUCacademic quality set by SIDSUC

• Members are to provide regular updates on Members are to provide regular updates on activities and course offerings in activities and course offerings in sustainable development to SIDSUC sustainable development to SIDSUC secretariat secretariat

Responsibilities of MembersResponsibilities of Members

• Recognition of SIDSUC approved programmes, Recognition of SIDSUC approved programmes, coursescourses

• Endorsement of academic standards set by Endorsement of academic standards set by SIDSUCSIDSUC

• Exchange of faculty, students, materials and Exchange of faculty, students, materials and library resourceslibrary resources

• Development of joint or group academic Development of joint or group academic undertakingsundertakings

• Development of field demonstration projectsDevelopment of field demonstration projects• Development of research partnershipsDevelopment of research partnerships• Collaborators are to assist members with Collaborators are to assist members with

mutually beneficial projects, provide mutually beneficial projects, provide demonstration sites, support services and demonstration sites, support services and exchange technical and educational materialsexchange technical and educational materials

SIDSUC Today and SIDSUC Today and TomorrowTomorrow

• SIDSUC launched at the IM in Mauritius in 2005SIDSUC launched at the IM in Mauritius in 2005• MOU signed by the University of West Indies, MOU signed by the University of West Indies, University of Virgin Islands, University of Malta, University of Virgin Islands, University of Malta, University of Mauritius and University of the South University of Mauritius and University of the South PacificPacific• SIDSUC has lots of potential to contribute to SIDSUC has lots of potential to contribute to sustainable living in Islandssustainable living in Islands• SIDSUC can work if the members are committed to SIDSUC can work if the members are committed to it it • Strategic planning, financial and logistical Strategic planning, financial and logistical resources are requiredresources are required• Board of Trustees and the Programme Committee Board of Trustees and the Programme Committee to meet next monthto meet next month•SIDSUC need to be given a chance to realise its SIDSUC need to be given a chance to realise its great promisegreat promise