From good neighbours to strategic partners
The Pacific is central to UQ’s global engagement—as neighbours, partners and collaborators. Built on long-standing relationships across the region, UQ works with Pacific partners in medicine, health, science and international development to strengthen economic, governance and social systems. Through collaborative research in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, we also support the protection of oceans, crops and ecosystems that Pacific communities depend on—advancing shared resilience and sustainable futures.
Fast facts
Dataset includes Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
97
Students from the Pacific enrolled at UQ
43
Pacific-UQ co-publications
11
academic staff born in the Pacific
6
research project collaborations
1,168
alumni in the Pacific
11
agreements with 11 official partners
Fast facts show full year 2025 data.
Collaboration in action
- Education has not come easily to Cedric Cotu Kengi, who arrived at UQ in January 2025 from his home in Papua New Guinea with a prestigious Australia Awards Scholarship to undertake a Master of Governance and Public Policy (2025-27). It is a long way from his beginnings.
- UQ’s most successful and largest NCP Scholar cohort to date was announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) today. All 11 shortlisted UQ students were awarded NCP Scholarships.
- This year’s UQ New Colombo Plan Scholar Liam Lyttle has recorded a video from where he is currently studying at the Laucala campus at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji.
- UQ New Colombo Plan Scholar Liam Lyttle is Australia’s inaugural Pacific Fellow, currently studying at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. Among other significant experiences, his short documentary Mudgumbo – Bikini recently premiered at the 4th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival in Suva. In this film he explores the scale and impact of more than 300 nuclear tests conducted by the US, UK and France in the Pacific region between 1949-1996.
- After a competitive selection process, 17 initiatives have been awarded funding totalling $217,174 for the second round of The University of Queensland (UQ) Global Partnerships Funding Scheme, launched in 2024.
- When embarking on a mid-career return to study, preparation and connection are key to successful completion. In July 2024, Australia Awards scholars from Papua New Guinea spent time with UQ Sponsored Students Regional Coordinators Holly Peel and Rachel Panousis, who travelled to Port Moresby for the Australian Study Mission.
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Alumni
UQ has more than 2,148 alumni in the Pacific (excluding Australia). Alumni with strong links to the region include: