France Commits €130,000 to Boost Pacific Student and Researcher Mobility in 2025

France Funds Pacific Academic Exchange

France has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening academic and scientific cooperation in the Pacific by allocating €130,000 under its Campus Mobile Pacifique programme for 2025. This funding is set to support 70 students and researchers across the region, fostering greater mobility and collaboration in higher education and research.

Programme Objectives and Origins

The Campus Mobile Pacifique programme, funded by France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), aims to deepen academic ties and strengthen collaboration between French territories and Pacific Island states. The initiative was launched following President Emmanuel Macron's 2023 Pacific visit, during which he emphasized the importance of enhancing human exchanges with countries in the region. The programme is designed to stimulate international exchanges among students and researchers, promoting French university education and research centers within Pacific Island states.

Key Allocations and Beneficiaries

The €130,000 allocation for 2025 will support various cooperation projects involving universities and research institutions across several Pacific nations. Beneficiary countries include Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia. Specific allocations include:

• €50,000 for the Pacific Islands Universities Regional Network (PIURN)
• €44,000 for Vanuatu–New Caledonia Research Exchange
• €17,000 for University of Goroka (PNG) French Language Immersion
• €10,000 for Fiji National University Research Partnerships
• €4,000 for a Language Education Conference in French Polynesia

Matilda Souchon, PIURN Coordinator based at the University of the South Pacific (USP), highlighted a PIURN Summer Institute providing training for PhD students on climate change in the Pacific, focusing on Pacific research methodology and climate negotiation contexts.

France's Broader Engagement in the Pacific

This funding is part of France's broader strategy to strengthen its presence and cooperation in the Pacific region. France is a founding member of the Pacific Community and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), contributing significantly to their budgets. The country's engagement also includes initiatives in environmental cooperation, regional security, and state action at sea, reflecting a comprehensive approach to its role in Oceania. The Campus Mobile Pacifique programme underscores France's commitment to fostering human exchanges and academic mobility as a key component of its regional strategy.