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The University of the South Pacific (USP) has announced that its Land Management programs will soon be offered at USP’s Emalus Campus in Port Vila starting in Semester 1, 2026. This milestone decision follows the USP Council’s directive to decentralize programs across all Pacific Island Countries (PICs), allowing students to pursue key disciplines without leaving their home nations. During his recent visit to Port Vila, Dr Joeli Varo, Head of the Land Management Discipline under USP’s School of Business and Management, met with potential students, government stakeholders, and alumni working in land-related sectors. Dr. Varo emphasized that this expansion marks a significant step in improving access to higher education in land management and related fields in Vanuatu. “This initiative allows students and professionals in Vanuatu to study at their own pace without the need to travel overseas,” Dr Varo said. “We are bringing quality tertiary education closer to the people, with dedicated cohorts in both Land Management and Survey and Geomatics programs.” Dr Varo, who has been instrumental in developing the program regionally, explained that USP aims to create clear study pathways from undergraduate to postgraduate levels. “Civil servants who already hold qualifications in surveying, land valuation, or geographic information systems (GIS) will now be able to upgrade to postgraduate studies right here at home,” he added. During his visit, Dr Varo also delivered a seminar at the National University of Vanuatu (NUV) on the importance of effective land management and the pressing need to address land issues across the country. Students and staff welcomed the lecture, describing it as timely and inspiring. One NUV student shared, “I never thought we’d see a land management program offered here in Vanuatu. It opens up new career possibilities, and I’ll definitely encourage my friends and family still in high school to consider this field.” Key government officials and land sector stakeholders expressed strong support for the program, acknowledging the importance of building local expertise in managing land resources, valuations, and spatial data, skills that are crucial for sustainable development and effective policy implementation. The introduction of USP’s Land Management programs at Emalus Campus is expected to complement the Government of Vanuatu’s efforts to strengthen land governance and ensure equitable, transparent, and sustainable use of land for future generations.
