by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is preparing to introduce a new course on national security, supported by the Australian government.
The SINU Security Studies Pilot was launched in Honiara as part of the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership.
Scheduled to commence in 2025, this course aims to enhance the Solomon Islands’ ability to produce analytical writing and provide high-quality education on national security, according to the Australian High Commission in the Solomon Islands.
Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Jimson Tanangada, emphasized that national security is crucial for sovereignty and stressed the importance of such a course “in an increasingly unpredictable world.”
Rod Hilton, Australia’s top diplomat in the Solomon Islands, mentioned that the initiative will empower Solomon Islanders to narrate their own security story, created by Solomon Islanders for Solomon Islanders, and to share it with the Pacific region.
Hilton expressed Australia’s pride in collaborating with SINU and responding to the needs of local academics and security experts.
He noted that while many scholars are engaged in writing and teaching about security in the Solomon Islands, much of this activity occurs outside the country.
According to the Australian High Commission, the course will feature tailored national security training for security professionals at SINU, along with study tours and exchanges between SINU and Australian universities.
