The Pacific Skills Summit currently underway aims to address the skills gap in the region.

Nauru President and Chair of the Pacific Island Forum, Baron Waqa says with the growth of the technological sector, human interaction must be maintained.

“Climate change and technological advancement for Pacific people, but when we talk about next generation skills, we are not just talking about technological advances and technical solutions such as the cloud computing, robotics and artificial intelligence, important as they are.  We are also talking about those skills that will allow us to flourish in our full humanity.”

Pro Chancellor for the University of the South Pacific, Winston Thompson while agreeing with the sentiment, notes the importance of regional cooperation and working together.

“USP has been fulfilling its development goals in the region in addition to its core university functions.  Given the importance of USP’s regional work, our Strategic Plan 2019 – 2024 has included a priority area on its own on regional cooperation and integration.  USP as the leading CROP agency for Human Resources Development and ICT working group is addressing critical elements as part of the framework of Pacific Regionalism.”

Meanwhile, Board Chair for the Australia Pacific Training Coalition Kaye Schofield, another partner of the summit says the event will challenge educators to think harder and deeper and more creatively to imagine new ways of doing things and not clinging to the ways of the past.

The two day summit at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus in Suva ends today.