What We Do
Learning and Training
Learning and training are at the heart of our service.
Our commitment
Our courses reflect Pacific knowledge, Pacific voices and Pacific priorities. We draw on alumni expertise to co-design training with a Pacific context. Our facilitators encourage contributions from participants to promote rewarding conversations and deep engagement. Some of the best learning in our courses emerges from their shared Pacific expertise.
We engage Pacific experts and the Australian National University (ANU) in the design and delivery of the courses.
Courses
Our short courses focus on two main areas.
We offer courses on the security priorities set out by Pacific leaders in the Boe Declaration and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
We also offer skills-building courses, based on the needs identified by Forum security policymakers.
The College is offering more courses as micro-credentials from ANU. When participants complete an assessment, they’ll receive a formal micro-credential to bolster their career development and recognition of their skills and competencies.
We also conduct workshops, scenario exercises and an executive leadership course for senior policymakers.
Delivery
We deliver courses in country and in person. Everyone benefits from face-to-face interaction and rich local context that’s only possible with in-country delivery. Short courses usually run for three days but they can be adjusted at the request of Forum members.
Policy Engagement
We’re here to support Pacific Islands Forum countries create, implement, review and update their National Security Strategies.
Given the complexity of security issues facing the Blue Continent, Forum Island Country (FIC) leaders have agreed to produce national security strategies. This is challenging due to the scope of the issues, FICs’ small size and limited financial resources.
The College can assist Forum members with this process. Governments always make the sovereign policy decisions in a strategy. Our work behind the scenes is supportive and respectful of the people, values and processes of Forum members.
Cook Islands National Security Policy 2023-2026
Our work on the Cook Islands National Security Policy is an example of our policy engagement. Prime Minister Mark Brown launched the policy on 26 June 2023. The Cook Islands also hosted a regional workshop on national security strategies.
Cook Islands National Security Director Maara Tetava led the work that created the strategy. At his request, we provided the technical experts they chose to consult across the Cook Islands. These consultations helped reflect Cook Islands’ needs and priorities in the final strategy.
When invited to do so, we assisted in the design and printing of the final document and in the logistics of the regional workshop. We continue to support the Cook Islands in the implementation of their policy.
Regional Collaboration
We align our purpose to the broader regional security efforts in the Blue Pacific, working closely with the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and the Forum Sub-Committee on Regional Security.
We contribute to building a community of security experts in the region. Expanding our alumni network is an important step in connecting friends to discuss challenges, opportunities and collaborations. We have a growing register of security technical experts available to work across the region. We support regional conversations about security, connecting government and academia – a key example is the Pacific Regional and National Security Conference.
The Pacific Regional and National Security Conference – A dialogue about Pacific security cooperation to 2050
The Pacific Regional and National Security Conference (PRNSC) brings together key security actors from across the Pacific to tackle the polycrisis before the region. Political representatives, regional and national officials, and academic, business and civil society representatives gather to share their wisdom and perspectives.
PRNSC supports a collaborative, Pacific-led approach to promoting security, aligned with the region’s vision for a secure and resilient Pacific by 2050.
The program features panels, keynote speeches and discussions on a wide range of issues, reflecting the priorities outlined in the Boe Declaration on Regional Security. Sessions capture the diverse and interconnected nature of regional security challenges, including climate change, human security, transnational crime, protecting maritime and environmental resources, cyber security, and geopolitics. The conference also includes a futures exercise on the pathway to 2050.
The 2025 conference was held in July at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji. It brought together more than 150 delegates, including political representatives, regional officials, civil society leaders, academics, and representatives from Forum Dialogue Partners.
