New postgraduate course deepens understanding of Pacific security
Pacific Security College Research Fellow Hugo Temby and Director Professor Dave Peebles are convening a new course on Pacific security the Australian National University. Photo: Pacific Security College
A new course launched by the Pacific Security College will support the Pacific national security community, Australian public servants and other interested students to deepen their understanding of the region’s security environment.
Pacific Regional and National Security Policy is the first postgraduate course developed by the College and is available in Semester 2 to students enrolled in a Master of National Security Policy and other selected postgraduate degrees at the Australian National University.
Convener Professor Dave Peebles, Director of the Pacific Security College, said the course would strengthen students’ understanding of regional security priorities, security architecture, and national security policymaking.
“The Pacific is facing a growing set of converging security challenges – described by Prime Minister Rabuka as the region’s ‘polycrisis’. This has led to innovative action and cooperation,” he said.
“Through this course, students will look at some of those policy responses, including national security strategies developed by Pacific Island countries, regional declarations and agreements, and the broader regional architecture.”
The course will include presentations from the Pacific Fusion Centre and other regional experts, and incorporate innovative teaching practices such as scenario and futures exercises.
“It’s an interesting and challenging time for Pacific security. The course is an opportunity for students to hear from some of the Pacific security leaders developing the responses to those challenges,” Professor Peebles said.
“Students will come away with a very real sense of the challenges, but also the opportunities, as the Pacific pursues its holistic approach to security.”
Pacific Regional and National Security Policy will analyse some of the key challenges before the region, and the policy responses. Students will learn about the key regional organisations and security agreements, including the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the Boe Declaration on Regional Security and the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration.
Pacific Security College Research Fellow Hugo Temby said: “The new course has a strong focus on real world problems and solutions, and aims to give students a strong grounding in Pacific security, as it is as broadly defined by the region.
“So, as well as more ‘traditional’ security issues we will also be grappling with climate change, transnational crime, oceans, and cultural security.”
The course will examine how members of the Pacific Islands Forum are applying the regional frameworks in their national security policymaking, and the key elements in successful Pacific national security policymaking. Students will also participate in a futures exercise, in which they will apply these learnings to chart the journey to 2050.
Pacific Regional and National Security Policy is a collaboration between the ANU National Security College and the Pacific Security College.
