The 2022 Japan East-Asia Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS program), in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific (USP), successfully concluded on Wednesday last week with the graduation of the 110 participants that traveled to Japan for a cultural experience.
The JENESYS 2022 Project also consisted of its Alumni Follow-up program, which included the Japanese Language class for two weeks, Japan and the Pacific Celebration Expo, and the Online Students’ Conference, which concluded on March 28th, 2023.
Students and youth from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands (RMI), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu have been part of the project since its inception in 2013. Australia and New Zealand are also participating members of this project.
The USP VC stressed that the program project promotes people-to-people exchange and mutual understanding between Japanese and Pacific Island youth.
USP Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Giulio Paunga, in his address to the hundreds of participants, said,
we have come together with the Government of Japan to support one another towards accomplishing a common goal of strengthening future friendship, cooperation, and understanding of each other’s society, history, rich and diverse culture, politics, and diplomatic relations.
The JENESYS program, born from the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM), is aligned to USP’s Priority area 3, Objective 3 – Internationalize the culture, engagement, and Impact of the University where we need to increase outgoing and incoming mobility for USP students under the 2022-2024 USP Strategic Plan and create an understanding culture of creativity across the region.
Given its leadership role in the Pacific concerning research and education, USP requires a significant effort of growing collaboration with the private sector, industries, tertiary institutions, development partners, international institutions, and the communities in support of building trust and understanding as a basis for future friendship and cooperation.
Dr Paunga
Japanese Charge d’ Affaires Kenichiro Tanaka commended USP’s efforts and effective implementation of the respective JENESYS program.
The focus of the JENESYS program is on developing and strengthening new and existing bonds between Japan and the Pacific.
Mr Takana
Born from the Kizuna Project following the PALM5, JENESYS focuses on building closer relations between Japan and the Pacific Island Countries, resulting in the successful coordination of nine projects since 2013.