USP joins global leaders, signs landmark declaration

The University of the South Pacific (USP) recently participated in the inaugural International Forum of Marine Universities held in Nice, France prior to the UN Ocean Conference.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, represented USP at the forum, which gathered universities worldwide to reinforce knowledge sharing, improve scientific training, and enhance public awareness to address ocean challenges.

A key outcome of the Forum was the “Founding Declaration of Marine Universities” – a landmark document outlining collaborative actions and commitments to addressing global ocean challenges.

The forum, organised in partnership with Université de la Côte d’Azur and the French Network of Marine Universities, focused on key areas aligned with the Declaration’s principles.

This included:

• Advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 through systemic and transdisciplinary approaches to marine science education. This echoes the Declaration’s emphasis on the need for interdisciplinary approaches encompassing natural, human, and social sciences.
• Strengthening relationships between universities and the socio-economic sector to foster a regenerative blue economy. Aligned with the Declaration’s focus on the rapidly expanding blue economy and the demand for specialised skills.
• Highlighting the role of universities in lifelong learning and capacity building to promote awareness of civil society.

USP proudly joined other leading institutions in endorsing the Founding Declaration, committing to key recommendations such as:

• Integrating interdisciplinarity into academic programmes.
• Promoting inter-university collaborations.
• Enhancing ocean education and public awareness.
• Strengthening dialogue with blue economy stakeholders.

“USP’s participation in this forum and our signing of the Founding Declaration underscores our deep commitment to ocean sustainability and the vital role education plays in addressing these challenges,” said Professor Pal Ahluwalia.

“In the Pacific, we have a rich heritage of traditional knowledge and practices related to the ocean. By weaving this indigenous knowledge with modern science, and learning from the lessons of the great navigators and ocean explorers of our region, we can develop innovative and culturally appropriate solutions for a sustainable future.”

Professor Ahluwalia emphasised the importance of international collaboration in tackling ocean issues, referencing the Declaration’s call for establishing national and regional networks of marine universities.

The International Forum of Marine Universities offers an invaluable opportunity for USP to share its expertise, learn from others, and contribute to global efforts to protect our oceans.

Looking ahead, USP is committed to the Declaration’s vision for UNOC 4 in 2028, including establishing shared training-at-sea programmes, creating an international observatory for ocean science education, and launching a regional network of university incubators dedicated to the blue economy.

The forum aligns with USP’s mission to provide relevant, high-quality education and research that addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of the Pacific region.

USP looks forward to actively participating in the ongoing work of the forum and implementing the principles of the Founding Declaration.