THE University of the South Pacific (USP) has been appointed vice-chair of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) SDG14 Hub.
UNAI is an initiative designed to connect higher education institutions with the UN to support and advance the organisation’s goals and principles while the SDG14 Hub focuses on Life Below Water.
USP vice-chancellor and president Prof Pal Ahluwalia said the University was honoured to be selected as vice-chair of the UNAI SDG 14 Hub.
He said the recognition underscored USP’s enduring commitment to ocean conservation and sustainable development, principles that were integral to the Pacific’s identity.
“As we move forward, USP will harness its extensive research capabilities and engage in regional collaborations to protect our precious Blue Pacific continent,” Prof Ahluwalia said.
“Our region faces unique climate and marine challenges, and we are dedicated to ensuring that our voices, insights and expertise are heard on the global stage.
“This appointment complements our efforts through the new Centre for Sustainable Futures, which concentrates on critical research areas like the intersection of oceans and climate, enabling us to make impactful contributions to sustainable development,” he said.
USP joins the University of Pernambuco in Brazil and the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa as the three vice-chairs of the UNAI SDG 14 Hub.
The University of Bergen (UiB) in Norway serves as the current Hub chair.
UiB Rector Margareth Hagen welcomed USP on board as one of the three vice-chairs.
She said that appointment built naturally on the collaboration between the two universities that had been ongoing for several decades.
“We have always shared the commitment for SDG 14, Life Below Water, and both of us provide sustainable ocean topics in our research and higher education,” Ms Hagen said in a statement from the USP.
“Not the least, we are proud of the Norway-Pacific Ocean-Climate PhD program, N-POC, which was supported by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and initiated by UiB Professor Edvard Hviding, who has long ties with the Pacific and USP,” she said.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated July 5, 2025
