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The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is proud to announce that Professor Transform Aqorau, Vice Chancellor of SINU, has been chosen as the President of the Pacific Islands Political Studies Association (PIPSA) during the 2025 PIPSA Conference held in Wellington, New Zealand. This is a momentous achievement for SINU and the Solomon Islands, signifying the growing influence of Pacific-led political research and governance scholarship on the regional and global stage.
As President of PIPSA, Professor Aqorau will lead regional discussions on governance, political stability, and policy innovation, ensuring that Pacific voices and indigenous scholarship play a more prominent role in shaping governance frameworks and regional cooperation efforts.
In a historic first, SINU has also been confirmed as the host of the 2027 PIPSA Conference, a landmark event that will bring leading academics, policymakers, and governance experts from across the Pacific and beyond to Honiara.
Professor Aqorauโs selection as PIPSA President marks a significant milestone for SINU, positioning the university as a regional hub for governance, political science, and policy research. This achievement underscores SINUโs commitment to strengthening higher education, fostering academic excellence, and contributing to the broader development of the Pacific region.
The hosting of the 2027 PIPSA Conference in the Solomon Islands is an unprecedented opportunity to:
โ Elevate SINUโs profile as a centre for academic and policy discussions in the Pacific.
โ Attract global scholars, policymakers, and governance experts to Honiara, fostering research and knowledge exchange.
โ Promote the Solomon Islands as a thought leader in governance and regional cooperation.
โ Strengthen partnerships with universities and institutions across the Pacific and beyond.
โ Encourage local academic and policy engagement to tackle pressing governance and political issues.
Speaking on his appointment and the upcoming PIPSA 2027 Conference, Professor Transform Aqorau stated,
“It is a great honour to be chosen as President of PIPSA, a role that underscores the Solomon Islands National Universityโs growing influence in shaping regional political and governance discourse. This is not just a personal achievement but a collective milestone for SINU and the Solomon Islands. The Pacific must take ownership of its governance, policy, and development trajectory, and SINU is ready to play a leading role in advancing independent, Pacific-led research and scholarship.
“Hosting the 2027 PIPSA Conference is a historic opportunity for SINU and our nation. We will do our utmost to ensure that the conference is a memorable and impactful event, bringing together some of the finest minds in Pacific governance and policy studies. We look forward to welcoming academics, policymakers, and thought leaders to Honiara to engage in meaningful discussions that will shape the future of our region.โ
The 2027 PIPSA Conference will focus on critical challenges and opportunities shaping Pacific governance and political development. Key thematic areas under consideration include:
– Pacific Sovereignty in the 21st Century โ Addressing how Pacific nations can maintain independence amid growing geopolitical competition.
– Political Stability and Electoral Reform โ Examining best practices for governance, democratic resilience, and electoral reforms.
– Climate Change, Migration, and Regional Security โ Exploring the legal, political, and security implications of climate-induced displacement.
– Higher Education and Policy Influence in the Pacific โ Strengthening universities as drivers of political thought, public policy, and governance innovation.
– Traditional Governance and Modern Political Systems โ Analysing how indigenous leadership structures can complement contemporary governance models.
SINU is committed to working closely with PIPSA, regional universities, policymakers, and development partners to ensure the success of the 2027 PIPSA Conference. Preparations will soon commence, including the establishment of a PIPSA 2027 Steering Committee to oversee planning and execution.
With this announcement, SINU invites academics, researchers, policymakers, and development partners to engage in collaborative research and policy discussions leading up to the conference.
The selection of Professor Transform Aqorau as PIPSA President and the confirmation of SINU as the host of the 2027 PIPSA Conference mark a historic moment for higher education, political research, and governance studies in the Solomon Islands and the Pacific. These developments reaffirm SINUโs role as a regional leader in shaping political discourse and strengthening governance research.
SINU looks forward to delivering a world-class conference that will leave a lasting impact on political thought, policy development, and regional cooperation in the Pacific.
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