A Memorandum of Understanding to launch the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP)-Pacific initiative and formalise cooperation between the USAID and The University of the South Pacific has been signed.
The MoU signing at the Laucala Campus’ Japan ICT Centre will engage broadly across the Pacific through a network of campuses to implement USAID’s flagship digital program to advance an open, interoperable, secure, and resilient Pacific region.
The project seeks to improve broadband access, support the digital delivery of public services, promote policies and regulations to enable the region’s digital transformation and upgrade digital skills and competencies, including increasing cybersecurity capacity.
USAID Deputy Mission Director Michael Glees says digital transformation will encourage sustainable economic growth across the Pacific.
He says their partnership with USP highlights the regional connection and leverages the existing USP network to allow for the exchange of knowledge, good practices and lessons learned by stakeholders in the design and implementation of key activities.
USP Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia stresses this new partnership is not a short-term one, but rather an exciting step in what is going to be a long journey of collaboration.
He says USP is well positioned to contribute to the challenges of the Pacific and in some key areas.
Ahluwalia says for the last 50 years, USP has been at the forefront of building connectivity infrastructure, resulting in the progress of digital transformation.
The USP Vice-Chancellor adds the partnership to strengthen cybersecurity in the region is timely as it will boost the university’s IT capability, which grapples with many cyber threats daily.
