The Norway-Pacific Ocean-Climate Scholarships Programme (N-POC) had the distinct honour of hosting the Ambassador of Norway to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, Her Excellency Anne Grete Riise, alongside the Norwegian Honorary Consul in Fiji, Neil Underhill, at the closing ceremony of the N-POC Research Facilitation Workshop.
The event took place at the N-POC Research Collaborative Space at The University of the South Pacific’s (USP), Laucala Campus and marked the successful conclusion of the workshop that was held from 3-7 March 2025.
The workshop, led by a team from the University of Bergen (UiB), provided a unique platform for N-POC scholars to enhance their research skills, specifically in the areas of climate change and its impact on the Pacific region.
The ceremony was also attended by the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Innovation), Professor Gurmeet Singh, who expressed his support for the programme’s objectives and the continued collaboration between N-POC, USP and UiB.
Professor Gurmeet Singh emphasised the collaborative nature of the N-POC programme, highlighting its joint launch by the Government of Norway, the University of Bergen, and USP. He noted that climate change is a critical issue for the region, stating that, “We are affected by climate change and need to do more research in this area.”
Professor Singh expressed gratitude to the Norwegian team for their role in the programme’s success and underscored the significance of the scholars’ research endeavors.
He added that, “The true measure of success lies in the completion of your PhDs and the development of viable solutions, that’s where these publications are important to disseminate your research globally.”
The Norwegian Ambassador, Her Excellency Anne Grete Riise commended the work being carried out by the N-POC programme and PhD candidates, emphasising the significance of their studies for the Pacific region.
She highlighted the importance of publishing in journals, adding that, “Such publications serve as vital conduits for sharing unique interpretations, preserving cultural heritage, and disseminating indigenous knowledge.”
Professor Edvard from UiB expressed his gratitude to Dr Natalya for demystifying the process of publishing journal articles.
He emphasised the motivation behind writing, stating that, “We write because we want to get knowledge out to the wider audience.”
Professor Amund from UiB stressed that effective research involves collecting robust data and presenting it clearly.
“This clarity ensures that findings, results, and interpretations are easily comprehensible, allowing future scholars to replicate the study and build upon previous work,” he said.
“N-POC is a really special programme addressing the ocean-climate nexus, a critical issue both now and for our future under climate change,” Dr Natalya highlighted.
She highlighted the rapid changes in our reliance on ocean resources due to climate change, underscoring the programme’s importance.
Martha Manaka, an N-POC scholar in law, shared her heartfelt appreciation for the workshop, expressing that “the wealth of knowledge Dr Natalya delivered to all of us, with the support of Professor Hviding and Professor Amund within a short time frame, is invaluable.”
“Personally, the exercises were exceptional. The skills development through the step-by-step exercises we undertook were intensive and have prepared us for greater heights in terms of research horizons.”
Fellow N-POC scholar, Viliame Bainivesi also highlighted the valuable knowledhe he has gained from the programme.
“As a government official working in fisheries management, I had the opportunity to delve deeper into the impacts of climate change and explore how Fiji can become more resilient and adapt sustainably.”
As the ceremony came to a close, the UiB delegation were warmly farewelled by attendees with the traditional singing of the Isa Lei song, symbolising the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between Norway and the region through The University of the South Pacific (USP).
The Norway-Pacific Ocean-Climate Scholarship Programme (N-POC) is an ambitious research and PhD training partnership between the University of Bergen in Norway and The University of the South Pacific (USP). It is funded for 2021–2026 by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
