France and EU commit over VT471M to NUV
May 19, 2022 10:58 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
France signed two financing agreements for over VT471 million (€3.8 M) with the National University of Vanuatu (NUV) on Thursday, 19 May 2022.
This operation, financed by a grant from the French Development Agency (FDA) represents a major strategic issue in Vanuatu’s education and digital development policy.
The NUV is the country’s first national university. Through this funding from the FDA, France is supporting the Government of Vanuatu in the structuring of its national multilingual University by supporting the development of its infrastructure, training offer, its governance, its human resources, and its technical, digital and pedagogical means. This approach is in line with Objective 2.4 of Vanuatu’s National Sustainable Development Plan 2016-2030 (NSDP), which aims to increase higher education opportunities, including technical and vocational training and skills through a law establishing the National University of Vanuatu (Act No. 34 of 2019 published on 24 January 2020).
To carry out its ambitious project, the University must equip itself with the infrastructure and the human and financial resources necessary for its development. It is in this context that the Vanuatu government requested the support of the FDA. A first project was developed for a total of VT372 million (€3 million) to fund the construction of infrastructure, the support for the strengthening of governance and institutional, organizational and human capacities, as well as the development and upgrading of academic programs.
The FDA is also financing a project with funds delegated by the European Union, aimed at developing the NUV’s digital infrastructure by acquiring computer equipment (hardware and software), strengthening human capacities and creating a connectivity network within the NUV’s main campus linking it with its peripheral campuses. This project will act as a boosting catalyst in NUV’s digital strategy and development. The University will thus be able to position itself as a key player among regional universities in the Pacific. The accelerated development of the data centre, documentation centre and language centre will provide students with access to resources essential for their learning.
