Page 28 - IB April 2025

Education

A BETTER WAY

NEW UNIVERSITY OFFERS ALTERNATIVE TO CURRENT SYSTEM

By Netani Rika

Across the Pacific, economies rush to stay abreast of global
changes, jumping immediately to the tune of Washington,
Beijing, London, or Canberra.
When United States President Donald Trump announced
punitive tariffs on a swathe of economies, the Pacific was
immediately affected. Countries scrambled to find ways to
shore up their relationships with the US.
Despite political independence, Pacific economies have
been built largely on the premise that the western, capitalist
model is the best system for development and prosperity.
And there has been a move—with urbanisation—away from
the communal style of living and shared economics to a more
individualistic, private lifestyle.
But is there a better way? Can Pasifika people move forward
and embrace a future which involves western economies Pasifika learning ... intergenerational teaching will be a cornerstone of the new
while maintaining the ancient values of their cultures – regional university. Photo: Netani Rika
mutual respect, the equitable sharing of wealth, responsible
use of renewable resources, and economies which ensure that balance between humans and the rest of nature,’’ Vaitusi
the vulnerable are the responsibility of the strong? said.
That is the focus of the Pasifika Communities University “More than that, it’s about learning from the ancient
(PCU) - launching on May 1 in Suva, Fiji – after 60 years as the knowledge to ensure that the people of today pass on the
Pacific Theological College (PTC). skills and ways of life to those who come afterwards so that
Across the university in all its schools – theology, ethics, there is always sufficiency – even abundance.”
history, mission, and ecumenism – the institution has The Pasifika Communities University’s Whole of Life
embraced what it describes as a Whole of Life Approach. And approach is about, among other issues, encouraging Pacific
it does not end there. The university institutes of leadership, leaders to look at development through a cultural or biblical
indigenous knowledge, climate change, and its women’s lens which urges responsibility and sustainability.
centre have taken the same focus. Manu Folau Vaai put the concept in these terms: “Learning
PTC Principal, now university Vice Chancellor (known as experiences at the university will use living philosophies of
the Manu Folau), Samoan Professor Reverend Dr Upolu Vaai, [Pasifika] communities that are very different from Western
said the PCU would challenge the current notions of Pacific philosophies. But outside of this fast-paced centre of
development. development is a society whose livelihood is determined by
“The Pacific’s development narrative is heavily shaped the wisdom of restraint.
and driven by the One-fication Way of Western philosophies “Restraint is the wisdom behind the inevitable pause,
that can be traced back either to the classical Platonic or rest, and wait in many islands’ cultural practices. It is an old
Aristotelian philosophical camps,” Vaai said wisdom to monitor greed and guard us against entering the
“These philosophies have influenced how we create house of pride.’’
development policies around issues such as climate change, As a start, the Pasifika Communities University has turned
human rights, gender, security, diplomacy, economic, and the learning experience on its head, entering villages, and
even our thoughts around religion.’’ allowing candidate selection by the village which then
Dr Vaai is a decolonial educator and theologian who has sponsors students—most of whom dropped out of tertiary level
written and spoken extensively on Pasifika relationality, education—to attend diploma courses.
amongst other issues. Pasifika relationality is based on ancient “From those diploma courses, they find their way into
philosophies which accept and appreciate the finely tuned employment or use their skills to become leaders in the
co-existence of human beings with the animal kingdom, villages,’’ said Aisake Casimira, head of the Regional Institute
waterways, the sky, sea, and all of creation. for Leadership and Development.
Tuvaluan historian and ordained minister, Reverend Ulufale “These courses are available in Fiji, Kiribati, and Vanuatu at
Vaitusi, said it was impossible to separate humanity from present. Later we want to cover the whole region.’’
the rest of creation without destroying a divinely ordained A new education order is taking shape, drawing from the
balance. wisdom of the past and the knowledge of today to prepare a
“The Whole of Life philosophy is about maintaining the system that will be sustainable well into the future.

28 Islands Business, April 2025