This chapter examines the context of higher education in the Pacific. A brief explanation of the role of colonialism in the formation of institutions of higher education in the region is followed by discussions of policies and practices that empower local dissemination and production of knowledge by and amongst faculty, students, and the communities which they serve. The author concludes that a balance between advancing knowledge in a way that is respectful to academic traditions and cultural traditions in the Pacific can be achieved by harnessing the best values and qualities in common between those traditions.
TopBackground
Oceania is a fluid term, sometimes referring to the grand global expanse of islands, but more commonly distributed between the Pacific Ocean and Indian Oceans. The Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas certainly have elements in common with the larger oceanic bodies but can share more characteristics with the nearby continental land masses. For the purposes of this chapter, the focus will be Pacific Oceania, stretching from Taiwan through the Philippine Sea, the Mariana and Micronesia Islands, down through the coast of Australia to include New Zealand, the Samoan Islands, and up through the central Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands. Many of the examples and cultures referred here will be from the Micronesia and Marianas Island groups. As a geographic concept, the Micronesian Islands range from Palau and Yap nearest the Philippines through to the Marshall Islands, nearest Hawai’i.
It is impossible to discuss seriously the region without understanding something of the history of colonialism in the Indo-Pacific. The major colonial actors in the region have been the Spanish, British, American, and French, although the presence of the Dutch and Germans is also felt in the region. The major periods of colonialism begin after the initial migration with European “expansion” and include major shifts in the early 20th century, a devasting WWII experience, and the current post-war era.
Migration
The original migration occurred over thousands of years. Currents from Taiwan swept through the Philippine Sea, past coastal Australia, to New Zealand and up to Hawai’i through the Tahiti and the Samoan Islands. Ironically, Hawai’i, where many Americans begin their understanding of islanders, is the end of the migratory experience.
The major influences of the original migration are the spread of collectivist cultures, similarities in languages, and common ancestry, although time, geography, and climate have allowed those cultures to grow and evolve into a rich tapestry of individual cultures and societies. The importance of family and living in harmony with the sea are common throughout most Pacific cultures, although there are differences in how cultures regard the land. Pacific cultures believe in taking care of all members of the community.