N.U.S. looks abroad for assistance

By Hyunsook Siutaia 11 August 2020, 5:48PM

The National University of Samoa [N.U.S.] President and Vice Chancellor is hoping China, Japan and the United Kingdom can contribute to the development of the university.

The head of the N.U.S., Aiono Professor Dr. Alec Ekeroma, said he has held discussions with the British High Commissioner and the Chinese Ambassador to identify areas of mutual interests that the two foreign governments could support.

"Britain has a lot of money going into the Pacific including Samoa, through multilateral aid and through the Government and other various projects, and even through the conservation society and the Save the Manumea Campaign," Aiono said.

Discussions around potential scholarship opportunities for Samoans to study in the U.K. or British lecturers and teachers being invited to take up academic positions in Samoa is also on the table.

These include ongoing research collaboration between the N.U.S. and Britain’s Stirling University.

"There’s an ongoing research study between lecturers from N.U.S. and Stirling University, Britain and there’s a collaboration between the two universities," Aiono added.

"And our local lecturers are being paid by Britain for their involvement in the research study."

The Vice Chancellor has also met with the Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, Chao Xiaoliang.

"Most of the assistance from these countries comes through the [Samoa] Government under the Ministry of Finance," he further reiterated.

Japan, another development partner, has already offered assistance to the N.U.S. Faculty of Health Science as well as the Learning Resource Centre.

Aiono said Japan’s assistance has been in discussion for almost 10 years and details on that particular project will be announced soon by the Samoa Government or Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.

"Much of the assistance goes towards the development of the health workforce,” he said.

Other N.U.S. projects that the Vice Chancellor also made reference to include an amphitheatre for the university as well as a new campus in Salelologa, Savai’i.

By Hyunsook Siutaia 11 August 2020, 5:48PM

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