In early October 2023, The University of the South Pacific (USP) played an active role in the Family Farming, Lifestyle, and Health (FALAH) workshop hosted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, marking a significant step in their engagement.
Their involvement in this event, from the 4th to the 6th of October, 2023, is essential in the institution’s history, profoundly impacting academia and research.
At the heart of this achievement lies the FALAH Project, a significant undertaking that falls under the purview of the European Commission Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions and Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) programme. This project awarded the consortium members an impressive 1.3 million euros, fueling their research and innovation endeavours.
The USP team, led by Dr Hilda Waqa-Sakiti, Mr Filipe Veisa, and Ms Mathilde Souchon (Pacific Islands Universities Regional Network – PIURN Coordinator), demonstrated their commitment and dedication by actively participating in the 7th FALAH Workshop.
The workshop aimed to “Enrich and share methodological intersections between Work Packages for the scientific valorisation of the FALAH project.”
In close collaboration with colleagues from UNC, UNSW, the Solomon Islands National University, the University of Sydney, and LMU Munich, the USP team pooled their collective knowledge and expertise towards the scientific valorisation of the FALAH project. Their combined efforts encompassed creating impactful publications and delivering compelling presentations, leaving an enduring mark on the research landscape.
Furthermore, the USP team was privileged to receive a presentation from Euraxess Australian & New Zealand, shedding light on the numerous funding opportunities presented by the European Union through the Horizon Europe research programme.
The participation of the USP team in the FALAH workshop was made possible through the implementation of the successful project, “Developing Resilience through Capacity Development on FALAH in PICs: Solomon Islands & Vanuatu,” which was spearheaded by USP and funded by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) under their NERE NAHAL project call.
This remarkable journey signifies USP’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and international collaboration in research and education. Their story is one of inspiration, and the impact of their participation will undoubtedly resonate across academic circles in years to come.
