The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Tonga Campus received a courtesy visit from a delegation from the United States Embassy in the Pacific including, the U.S. Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for Public Diplomacy (R/PPR), Mr Paul Kruchoski, and U.S. Director for Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of East Asian Affairs Mr Brian Gibel.
While the two and their delegations were in Tonga earlier this month, they also took the opportunity to visit USP Tonga Campus where they discussed potential educational partnerships, exchanges, and research opportunities.
The Director for the Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R/PPR) Paul Kruchoski and the Director East Asia Pacific Public Diplomacy Brian Gibel visited the Tonga Campus of USP to gain a better understanding of the University and its programmes as well as identify potential collaboration with Embassy Suva’s Public Diplomacy section. Such collaboration may include support to in-service teachers and language preservation of the endangered Niuafo’ou language.
USP Tonga Campus Director Dr Robin Havea said they have received visits from the U.S. Embassy twice this year.
“This is important to us because it shows that they are very much interested in what we do here in Tonga, and we could build a partnership where both could benefit. I see great potential and based on the discussions we had, we identified key areas where assistance could be sought from them including cultural-related matters,” Dr Havea added.
He also highlighted that USP Tonga Campus is looking forward to working closely with the US Embassy Suva on education matters ranging from the Arts to the Sciences. Further, they anticipate a closer collaboration once the U.S. mission office opens in Tonga.
