Developing leaders who will help solve issues and make a positive impact in the Pacific is the focus of the East-West Center, says president Suzanne Vares-Lum.
She said the Hawaii-based centre would look at collaborating with the University of the South Pacific on research and exchange programs after holding discussions with deputy vice chancellor Jito Vanualailai this week on the fringes of the 51st Pacific Islands Forum.
She also met Professor Sushil Kumar and looked at an MOU on ways the two institutions can collaborate.
Ms Vares-Lum said the partnership would be mutually beneficial.
“So we’re excited about that in terms of research and search exchange in terms of sharing fellowship opportunities in Hawaii.”
She said she was proud of the more than 16,000 Pacific alumni who have come through the centre since it was established in 1960.
“They all have contributed in some way to the people and to public service.
“And that’s kind of the vision we look forward to.
“You invest in one leader today and they have a ripple effect and impact many others.
“So really, the vision for the next 10 years that we have established, along with our board of governors and our staff, is that in collaboration with partners, that the East-West Center would be a premier institution in the Indo-Pacific to convene, develop and equip a network of leaders.”
Founded in 2013, the centre’s Pacific Islands Leadership Program has a vibrant network of 157 alumni from 15 countries spanning the Pacific region.
Next year the centre will begin a Special Professional Fellows Program Opportunity for Young Economic Empowerment Leaders from the Pacific Islands that will bring three cohorts of young professionals from the Pacific Islands to the United States for intensive five-week programs that build significant new capacity and facilitate enduring professional bonds between industry leaders in the United States and the Pacific Islands.
