Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai is very keen to see the USP Emalus Campus providing other courses so that more Ni-Vanuatu students can study at home.
Mr Salwai informed the Pro Chancellor and Chair of USP Council, Winston Thompson that local students can only get law studies at Emalus Campus and Vanuatu has already a good number of lawyers.
He says he wants to see whether USP can provide studies in engineering and other sectors to feed the current priority needs of the country.
Mr Salwai says Vanuatu is developing its infrastructure such wharf, roads and airports but there is a lack of local engineers.
"We have only 7 engineers at the moment," he said.
He said that country needs more technical students to come back and contribute to development of their country.
He said USP is the organization that each year, government has to table its budget in parliament compared to other regional and international organizations.
Mr Salwai told the USP's chancellors that Vanuatu has committed and will continue its financial support to this regional organization but want it more studies at Emalus Campus and not only the law studies.
Mr Salwai said government is putting over 600 million vatu per year for its students to study in Fiji, New Caledonia and other regional countries but the rate of failure is high.
Prime Minister Salwai said that is one the main reasons why he wants Ni-Vanuatu to study at Emalus Campus.
He gave the example of the Ni-Vanuatu students who are currently studying at French university of Port Vila, AUF.
He said the rate of successes is over 80% and it is because they stay in their country and they have continuous support of their families in their studies.
Mr Salwai also presented an amount of 11 million vatu to the USP chancellors to help the running of PacLII.
Photo supplied Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai (left) and Pro Chancellor and Chair of USP Council, Winston Thompson