University of Auckland’s commitment to support Pacific-led research was on proud display with Vice Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater travelling to Sāmoa.

In an historic move Professor Freshwater signed a university-wide MOU with the National University of Sāmoa (NUS) that will impact students, academics and professional staff.

It was Professor Freshwater’s first visit to Sāmoa accompanied by Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau, Lemoa Henry Fesulua’i, and Sili-Mireta Ropati. They met with NUS Vice Chancellor Professor Tuifuisa’a Patila Amosa and Deputy Vice Chancellor Peseta Dr Desmond Lee Hang.

Together the University heads made a commitment to collaborate closely together to support Pacific-led research and ensure effective pathways for tertiary success for Sāmoan students, signing the MOU between Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland and NUS on 5 July.

Professor Freshwater said travelling to Sāmoa was significant, given the relevance and importance of the Pacific and its connection to Aotearoa, New Zealand.

The University of Auckland is part of the United Nations Academic Impact, an initiative that aims to align tertiary institutions to contribute to realising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Four years ago, the University was appointed as the official hub for Social Development Goal 4 - Quality Education, by the United Nations Academic Impact.

“The University has a long-standing commitment to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all,” says Professor Freshwater.

Vice Chancellor Professor Amosa says she was very honoured to host the University of Auckland’s Vice Chancellor in Sāmoa to formalize its future collaborations.

“We are very honoured, we are very grateful for your time to come to Sāmoa,” she told Professor Freshwater.

“We look forward to the initiatives that will come out of this agreement, we thank you for that.”

Professor Freshwater says the importance of face-to-face meetings allowed for greater engagement, ensuring the delegation from both universities were able to discuss extensively, many of their shared goals for Sāmoan students.

“Thank you for the engagement, we are really looking forward to what we can do together,” Professor Freshwater responded.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau says working collaboratively with academic researchers, professional staff and students from NUS could only lead to better outcomes for Pacific peoples.

“We are here to demonstrate our willingness and desire to align with NUS, and discover ways we can support each other and in doing so improve success for our Sāmoan university students.”

Pacific Portfolio lead from the University of Auckland’s office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Pacific) Sili-Mireta Ropati, says the new agreement signalled a great opportunity for Sāmoan students.

“This is the University of Auckland actioning its commitment to Pacific communities beginning with Sāmoan youth and Sāmoan students from the National University of Sāmoa. Our young people here in Sāmoa will have opportunities they have never had before, such as the recognition of their learning here, allowing that to be accredited so they can pathway into being educated at Waipapa Taumata Rau.”

On a day of firsts, the significance of the Sāmoan language came to the fore with the launch of the first Sāmoan dictionary at NUS. University of Auckland’s Sāmoan language lecturer Lemoa Henry Fesulua’i says the resource would be invaluable in Pacific Studies, for learners of the Sāmoan language.

Professor Freshwater was presented with a copy of the dictionary.