The Norway-Pacific Ocean-Climate Scholarship Programme (N-POC) Team have welcomed the establishment of a Collaborative Research Space for its first PhD cohort at The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus. This space is also open to other PhD research candidates at USP who may need a work space.
While officiating at the opening and blessing of the N-POC Research Office, USP Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Regional Campuses and Global Engagement, Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Pāunga said, “This is a very special moment for our research candidates. We can go around the Pacific. It’s always good to travel around when you know that there is a place you can come home to, a place for you. This office serves as a home for our N-POC PhD candidates during your research journey.”
“It is not very easy to get a space to study for only a certain group, and I am glad that we are here to celebrate. This will also be your classroom to help you be more productive and focused at the work that you are doing,” Dr Pāunga added.
Dr Pāunga encouraged the PhD candidates to work together and utilise the space well whilst conducting their research.
Dr Paunga also took time to hand out to N-POC Candidates’ laptops funded by N-POC programme to support their research.
The blessing of the space was conducted by Mr Joape Toganivalu, a participant from the N-POC Research Support Week.
PhD Candidate, Mr Peter Emberson acknowledged Dr Pāunga, USP and UiB for the support rendered to him and his fellow PhD candidates as they begin their research journey as part of the first N-POC Cohort.
The N-POC Team also appreciated the collaboration and assistance that N-POC has received from other departments of USP in making this space event possible. “Without your support, today’s event would not have happened. Thank you for your contribution to research at USP”. Dr Mele Katea Paea acknowledged.
ITS Manager, Mr Peni Sigabalavu; Dr Vandhna Kumar from UiB, N-POC PhD candidates, USP N-POC supervisors, staff of the Office of the DVC(RI), families, supporters and friends of N-POC were also attending the blessing of the space.
This space event concluded the N-POC Research Support Week 2/2023, 17 – 21 July, aimed at supporting N-POC and research candidates at USP to get their research on track for on-time completion. N-POC recruited a total of 10 PhD candidates who have registered for their respective PhD program within the relevant school at USP.
N-POC is an ambitious research partnership between the University of Bergen (UiB) and the University of the South Pacific (USP)
N-POC is funded by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation to build a strong interdisciplinary Pacific cohort of PhD researchers to address urgent challenges for ocean and climate; new multidisciplinary Pacific research on the ocean-climate nexus for regional and global policy impacts; and enduring partnerships between researchers and universities in Norway and the Pacific Islands.
