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 | (sitting: left - right): Chief Project Advisor, Mr Fukushima, Ms Tuisawau from the Ministry of Education in Fiji, JICA Resident Representative, Mr Yoshiara and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration and Regional Campuses), Dr Williams sign off on the minutes of the meeting. |
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The last Joint Coordination Committee meeting, marking the end of a successful USP-JICA ICT for Human Development and Human Security project, was held on 23 January 2013.
The three-year technical cooperation project between the University of the South Pacific and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was launched in February 2010.
The project, in collaboration with key stakeholders of USP, supported four main components which included:
· Design of two new bachelor programmes in Software Engineering and Net-Centric Computing;
· Performance optimization of USPNet (Satellite Network);
· Distance and Flexible Learning (DFL) Technologies enhancement; and
· Utilization of Japan-Pacific ICT Centre for local and regional development.
In his remarks, the Chief Project Advisor, Mr Kazuyoshi Fukushima welcomed the project committee members and the officials from the Transport and ICT Division from the JICA headquarters in Tokyo, connected via video conference.
On behalf of the JICA experts for the project, Mr Fukushimaexpressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to colleagues from USP for their engagement, friendly partnership and cooperation in the project.
The USP Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration and Regional Campuses), Dr Esther Williams, thanked the Government of Japan and JICA for their support in the project.
She said that the project was very successful and had significantly assisted the University.
Through the project, USP had benefited with the establishment of two new bachelor programmes, upgrade of USPNet, installation of Ku-band systems at the Laucala campus and eight remote centres in the region as well as the implementation of a regional m-Learning pilot project and the set up of the Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (PacCERT). In addition, 10 USP staff underwent training in Japan on areas relating to the project while JICA dispatched a total of 26 experts in ICT-related fields to conduct training and seminars at USP.
The JICA Resident Representative, Mr Shumon Yoshiara, described the partnership with USP as an important contributing factor to the success of the project.
“We believe that USP is in a unique position as the premier regional education institute and plays a key role in human resources development in the Pacific region,” he stated.
To achieve the objectives of the US$4 million dollar project, JICA provided integrated assistance to USP to transfer Japan’s technology, experience and expertise for the purpose of human resources development through three components – dispatch of experts, technical trainings and provision of equipment.
Mr Yoshiara congratulated USP on the successful completion of the project and acknowledged the efforts of the core project members, led by Dr Williams.
“From its formulation, right to its implementation, this project has been an exercise in true partnership and cooperation. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all those that have played a role, be it great or small, in the completion of the project,” he further said.
To conclude the project, Dr Williams, Mr Fukushima and Ms Alumeci Tuisawau from the Ministry of Education in Fiji signed off on the minutes of the meeting which was witnessed by Mr Yoshiara.
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