THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has marked a significant milestone in its journey to reshape higher education with the official launch of the Centre for Islands Futures (CIF).
The inaugural event, held on 17 March 2025, was attended by staff, students, and distinguished guests, including members of the Islands Knowledge Institute (IKI).
The event was graced by Hon. Paterson Oti, Speaker of the National Parliament, who attended in his capacity as a Board Member of the Nende Cultural Group; Dr. Chris Filardi, representing Nia Tero; Dr. Morgan Wairiu, representing IKI; and Professor Transform Aqorau, Vice Chancellor of SINU. Each speaker underscored the transformative role CIF will play in fostering an education model rooted in indigenous knowledge, sustainability, and practical learning experiences.
In his keynote address, Professor Transform Aqorau highlighted the pioneering approach of the Centre for Islands Futures, which challenges traditional Western academic paradigms and places indigenous knowledge at the heart of research, governance, and sustainability.
“The Centre for Islands Futures is not just another academic unit—it is a movement. It is a space where indigenous epistemologies, traditional ecological wisdom, and modern scientific inquiry come together to create a truly decolonised and transformative learning experience,” said Professor Aqorau.
He further noted that the postgraduate diploma in Islands Knowledge and Futures (PGDipIKF) will provide students with immersive, real-world learning opportunities through Solutions Ontological Immersion Learning (SOIL)—a model that embeds students in rural communities to learn directly from elders, environmental custodians, and cultural leaders.
Speakers at the event reaffirmed CIF’s commitment to ensuring that research serves the communities from which it originates. Through partnerships with organisations such as the Indigenous Knowledge Institute (IKI), Arizona State University, and Nia Tero, CIF will pioneer ethical research practices that prioritise indigenous data sovereignty and community-led innovation.
Dr. Chris Filardi of Nia Tero commended SINU for positioning itself as a regional leader in sustainability and indigenous knowledge systems, while Dr. Morgan Wairiu of IKI emphasised the need for customary law and governance training programmes to strengthen local leadership in resource management.
Hon. Paterson Oti, speaking on behalf of the Nende Cultural Group, praised CIF’s approach in developing regional knowledge hubs to document oral histories, traditional governance, and ecological changes, ensuring that island communities remain at the centre of global sustainability discussions.
A key focus of CIF will be the empowerment of future Pacific leaders, with postgraduate and doctoral pathways aimed at equipping scholars with the tools to influence governance policies, climate resilience strategies, and sustainable development initiatives across the region.
Professor Aqorau stressed that CIF will actively support Women in Island Leadership (WIL) Fellowships and Youth Ambassadors Programmes, ensuring that all voices—especially those of women and youth—are central in shaping the future of Pacific societies.
“Through CIF, we want to create a generation of critical thinkers who embody ethical governance, cultural intelligence, and innovative problem-solving. The answers to our biggest challenges—climate change, cultural erosion, and sustainability—are not external; they are already within our own ways of knowing,” he stated.
The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration between academics, policymakers, community leaders, and students to reshape education, research, and development in ways that honour the wisdom of island communities while addressing global challenges.
“This Centre is not just about studying island futures; it is about shaping them. Through Living Labs, participatory research, and community-led governance models, CIF will ensure that our islands are not marginal spaces but central to global sustainability solutions,” Professor Aqorau affirmed.
With these inspiring words, the Centre for Islands Futures was officially declared open, marking the beginning of a new era for SINU and the broader Pacific region.
Source: SINU Press Release
