Australia Awards Short Course launched
The first Australia Awards Solomon Islands Short Course Award- a Graduate Certificate in Fisheries Management and Development- has officially launched. Economic contributions, food security, and jobs creation makes fisheries a critical sector for Solomon Islands and all Pacific Island countries and territories.
This Australia Awards Short Course is a collaboration between the University of Wollongong, Australian National Center for Ocean Resources and Security, and the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) aiming to provide a foundation qualification for Pacific fisheries managers and officials and build essential expertise and knowledge in fisheries management, development, and governance.
The first cohort comprises of regional participants including from Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
L-R, University of Wollongong Professor Quentin Hanich, Andrew Schloeffel Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Professor Transform Aqorau Solomon Islands National University Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Manu Tupou-Roosen, Forum Fisheries Agency Director General (outgoing) cutting the cake to officially launch the Australia Awards Short Course.
During the launch, participants received their Australia Awards certificate of participation from the Deputy Australian High Commissioner, Mr Andrew Schloeffel. He said that “this inaugural Australia Awards Short Course represents the model we want to promote across our many investments in growing skills development in the Solomon Islands”.
Australia has further committed around SBD2.8 million dollars for the second Graduate Certificate in Fisheries Management and Development cohort in 2025, to grow SINU’s capacity, in collaboration with University of Wollongong, to deliver this world class accreditation in the future.
Sustainable management of both coastal and offshore fisheries is crucial for the economic future of Pacific Island nations and the wellbeing of their communities.
Australia is Solomon Islands’ nambawan education partner.
ENDS///
– AHC Press Release