From June 29 to July 3, 2026, the SOI Pacific team visited Suva, Fiji, together with members of the ARENA-PAC team. The visit formed part of SOI Pacific’s ongoing efforts to deepen regional understanding, strengthen partnerships, and explore opportunities for collaboration in research and education across the Pacific.
A major focus of the visit was engagement with academic institutions and regional stakeholders to exchange perspectives and identify opportunities for future collaboration. Together with members of the ARENA-PAC team, SOI Pacific engaged with the University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji National University (FNU), and other regional stakeholders to discuss strengthening research and education networks, student exchange, and future collaborative opportunities. Through these discussions, both sides shared their perspectives and priorities, deepened mutual understanding, and confirmed their commitment to further developing collaboration. These conversations marked an important step toward building long-term institutional partnerships.
In addition to these meetings, the Keio team paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Japan in Fiji, where they exchanged perspectives with the Ambassador on regional developments and gained valuable insights into Fiji’s role within the broader Pacific region. Separately, the UH team visited the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) in Nadi, a long-standing partner in regional training in meteorology and disaster communications. Together, these engagements deepened SOI Pacific’s understanding of the regional context, strengthened relationships with key stakeholders, and provided valuable insights that will help inform the project’s future activities across the Pacific.
The visit marked another important step in SOI Pacific’s efforts to build trusted partnerships across the region. By continuing to work alongside universities, government agencies, and regional organisations, the project aims to foster meaningful collaboration that strengthens research and education networks, promotes digital connectivity, and contributes to a more connected and resilient Pacific.
