The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Emalus Campus was once again part of the organisations that hosted this year’s Pacific ICT Day in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Other partners included the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Vanuatu Tourism Office and other business houses.
The Pacific ICT Days 2017 was hosted with theme “Big Data, Big Impact”.
Staff from the Student Administration Services (SAS) were present at the venue of the Pacific ICT Days promoting USP programmes to potential students.
The IT Department staff demonstrated how ICT technologies assist students in their studies at USP and there was also General Knowledge, PaclII and Moodle quiz in which the public participated to win prizes.
Other Campus staff also participated as panellists in forums which was broadcasted live online, via the local radio and Television. Elisabeth Leekly, the Campus Librarian, contributed to the Online Privacy Forum, while Dr Kriskna Kotra, Science Coordinator, spoke on Education. Ms Nettie Collins, IT Manager, attended the Pacific Internet Governance Forum and spoke on Education Accessibility.
In his speech, Ham Lini Vanuaroroa, the Acting Prime Minister and Acting Minister responsible for ICT and Telecommunications extended a “warm Vanuatu welcome to participants of the Pacific Internet Governance Forum, the National Emergency Telecoms Planning Workshop and the Internet Society (ISOC) Online Privacy Workshop, and partners for choosing to host the event alongside the annual Pacific ICT Days”.
He said, “Today Vanuatu joins other ITU (International Telecommunication Union) members to celebrate the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2017. ICT’s are now essentially a part of our lives. Children, youth, women, men, chiefs, church leaders, everyone has access and use ICTs.”
He mentioned that the Government was doing its part to develop policies and establish regulatory frameworks that enable Vanuatu will continue to embark on technologies as a driving force to achieving the national vision.
The Acting PM stated that the National ICT Policy expresses a firm commitment by the Government to maximise the contribution, efficiency and effectiveness of information and communication technologies, and empowering and benefiting every citizen and resident of Vanuatu.
The two day event took place at the Convention Centre in Port Vila.