Two hundred and eighty students from the University of the South Pacific received certificates during a formal ceremony in Suva, Fiji, for taking part in a virtual Japanese student programme over the last two years.

In 2020, a total of 207 students completed the Japan East-Asia Network of Exchange (JENESYS) program with 14 “tours” of Japan, while 73 students completed it with four “tours” in 2021. The tours were done virtually due to the impact of COVID-19 on borders.

USP Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Regional Campuses and Global Engagement), Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Pāunga said the JENESYS team at USP and the Japan Overseas Cooperation Association (JOCA) implemented the virtual tours in the most creative, informative, inclusive way to ensure meaningful participation by all selected young people.

He said the project would see the building of closer relations between Japan and Pacific Island Countries (PIC).

Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, HE Mr Kawakami Fumihiro said the JENESYS programme was initially inaugurated as the “Kizuna Project” in 2012 as part of the Japanese recovery and reconstruction initiative to promote global understanding of Japan’s revival after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.

To date, 1,960 youths from 14 Pacific Island Countries have benefited from participating in the programme, he said.

“Young people are our future, and strong ties among our young people is key to our strong and lasting relations,”

The USP International Office coordinates the programme in the Pacific for the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.