Port-Vila, Vanuatu – Tuesday 24 November 2025: The National University of Vanuatu (NUV) took part in the 2025 International Organisations and Global Governance Forum, held in Shanghai, China, in November 2025. The university was represented by its Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pascal Michon, as the NUV representative for the World Trade Organisation Chair Programme (WCP).
This year’s forum brought together global leaders in education, multilateral cooperation, trade, and sustainable development with discussions focusing on the themes of Strengthening Trade Education and Engaging Stakeholders in WTO Reform and Regional Integration. NUV’s presence reflects the university’s growing international engagement and its commitment to contributing to global dialogue on higher education and sustainable development.
In June 2025, NUV signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the WTO, marking a significant milestone in the university’s international partnerships. At the Shanghai forum, NUV presented an overview of the university as well as details on its project with the WCP to develop the Bachelor of Integrated & Sustainable Tourism, a pioneering programme designed to support Vanuatu’s long-term sustainable development and enhance capacity-building in the tourism sector.
Prof. Michon highlighted the importance of this collaboration, noting that the WTO partnership supports NUV’s efforts to strengthen research, curriculum development, and evidence-based policy engagement in Vanuatu. He said, “Participating in this high-level forum is an important step for the National University of Vanuatu as we expand our international partnerships and prepare our students for a rapidly evolving global landscape. Our collaboration with the WTO, particularly through the development of the Bachelor of Integrated & Sustainable Tourism, demonstrates NUV’s commitment to delivering programmes that directly support Vanuatu’s long-term sustainable development. Engagements like this forum help ensure that NUV remains connected, forward-looking, and globally relevant.”
The new Bachelor of Integrated & Sustainable Tourism will play a key role in supporting Vanuatu’s sustainable economic development, equipping graduates with the skills needed to lead a tourism industry that balances environmental stewardship, cultural respect, and economic opportunity.
Participation in the International Organisations and Global Governance Forum aligns strongly with the NUV Strategic Plan to 2030, particularly in its focus on internationalisation and global engagement, the development of high-quality and relevant academic programmes, the strengthening of research and innovation capacity, and the cultivation of partnerships that contribute directly to national and regional development. The education and training programs under NUV are based on the priorities of the country’s National Human Resource Development Plan 2020-2030 (NHRDP).
