NMC highlights importance of education in Japan summit

Northern Marianas College highlighted the importance of a highly educated workforce for economic development during a recently concluded conference in Okinawa, Japan.

NMC president Tony V. Deleon Guerrero presented during the Pacific Islands Academic Summit on “Sustainable Development for Islands: Education, Tourism, Environment and Economic Development” last weekend.

Deleon Guerrero’s presentation focused on “Promoting Higher Education Institutions as Community Resource Centers,” stressing the interrelationship between education and sustainable economic development.

“Latest research tells us that the wave of the future in sustainable economic development lies in creating and maintaining a workforce that is highly educated, constantly upgraded, and continually focused on increasing quality and productivity,” he said.

He added that educational institutions could further advance its contributions as community resource centers by exploring innovative educational partnerships such as diversifying the learning experiences of students by enrolling citizens from other countries; promoting global education in the curriculum and establishing appropriate international exchange programs; integrating international education with appropriate international trade and commercial opportunities; and, developing effective faculty exchange programs and providing valuable technical assistance services to hosting countries.

The summit participants included presidents from the University of Guam, University of New Caledonia, Northern Marianas College, Palau Community College, College of Micronesia- FSM, College of the Marshall Islands, the deputy vice chancellor from the University of the South Pacific, the associate vice president of the University of Hawaii Community College System, and professors from the Australian National University and the University of Otago in New Zealand.

Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of the Ryukyus, with support from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, hosted the regional gathering.

Deleon Guerrero said the primary objective of the summit was to discuss common issues and concerns among the small island nations of the Pacific. He said the first part of the event included opening remarks by Shigeie Toshinori, Ambassador In-Charge of Okinawan Affairs, and president Moshin Morita of the University of Ryukyus.

Kuniwo Nakamura, former president of the Republic of Palau and one of the founding leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, gave a keynote speech on “The Future of the Pacific Region.”