A Study on Regional Higher Education and Development in the Pacific Island Countries: The University of the South Pacific as a Case Study

The current study examines the hurdles encountered in implementation of distance learning education by The University of the South Pacific （ USP ） in the Pacific Islands Region. The provision of quality education has been recognised as imperative across all co-horts to achieve sustainability in development. Education has also been identified as the lynchpin for achieving Sustainability Development Goals （ SDGs ） set by the United Nations Development Program （ UNDP ） for the world. Educated citizens are well aware and can effectively work on economic, social and environmental aspects of their nation ’ s progress, thus ensuring national self-reliance. The learning experience is enriched when participants share the prevailing practices for disaster mitigation and management, thereby also allowing the drawing of parallels if appropriate. In the present study, these experiences will be examined in detail with the purpose of deriving lessons that could help improve quality and accessibility to education in developed countries. Education in the developed world may be exorbitantly expensive and students are often crumbled under debt or otherwise impeded of accessing higher education. The USP distance learning program has overcome cultural and language diversities to successfully spread and impart education to motivated students at economically feasible costs. The primary objective of this study is to investigate and understand the methodol-ogy adopted and hurdles overcome by USP during implementation of distance education program in Pacific Islands. It will also focus on the lessons that can be learnt by the developed countries from USP in making education effective, cheap and accessible to all. The “ Pacific Islands Region ” consists of a myriad of small island countries and ter-ritories. The islands are developing economies separated by vast distances, diverse cultures, languages, and different political structures exhibiting a complex network of regional and international affiliations. The citizens of this region are attached to their culture and