Pioneer Students Complete the University of the South Pacific Postgraduate Certificate in Border Security

The first group of students enrolled in the University of the South Pacific (USP) Postgraduate Certificate in Border Security have successfully completed their course graduating in September 2020.

The online Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Border Security, which is a joint collaboration between the Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) and USP, commenced in January 2020 with over 60 students from across the region enrolled.

This pioneering group of graduating students, many of whom are Immigration and Customs officers, have paved the way for border security and law enforcement officers across the Pacific who are now able to study online for a relatively affordable and recognised postgraduate certificate and diploma in Border Security with the University of the South Pacific. The programme, which looks to strengthen Pacific Island critical thinking about border security, was developed by PIDC and USP to:

1. develop PIDC Pacific officers’ ability to function within a regional border security and management context;
2. build a body of knowledge to enhance critical thinking and analysis regarding common migration issues facing the region; and
3. promote knowledge transfer to facilitate border security practices informed by understanding of local, regional and international theories, philosophies and principles.

Ms Rasieli Rabukuwaqa from Fiji Immigration stated “the PIDC USP Border Course has strengthened my knowledge of immigration and border enforcement significantly.  The course has allowed me to access a lot of new academic, policy and operational information from across the Pacific Islands and this helps me directly in my border enforcement role.  Overall, I commend the topics covered in each unit, which are highly relevant to our daily work; it gives us great confidence in its application. The online course afforded me the opportunity to pursue my study through a program that was flexible and convenient for my schedule. It gives me great pleasure to say with pride that I have completed my Post Graduate Certificate as one of the pioneers of this program.”

Mr Paul Ah Kuoi of Samoa Immigration also stated “I found the USP Course Materials very useful with a lot of relevant and current information.   The academic information supports my operational and procedural knowledge of Samoa Immigration laws and I am very happy to be enrolled as a pioneer in this course.”

Mr Ioane Alama, Head of Secretariat for PIDC on speaking about the course stated “the USP online academic programme is a real game changer for immigration agencies and the broader law enforcement community in the Pacific Islands.  In fact anyone that works with migration issues in the Pacific will find this information extremely useful.  PIDC is happy to have supported this activity given it provides an information product and service that was not readily accessible to most border officers and public officials in the region.  The fact that USP had to turn some students away due to the high class number shows that there is significant interest in the region.  We are especially happy because the programme modules view the academic teachings and principles through a Pacific Islands lens and it was a great milestone when we had a recent online lecture attended by a significant number of Pacific Island students to analyse the Boe Declaration on Regional Security and its impacts on their agencies and communities.”