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
- Enormous asymmetries exist between the people living in the South Fly region of Papua New Guinea and those living just across the border in the Torres Strait in terms of livelihoods, opportunities, and more. UQ researchers engaged with people and communities in this complex border region between PNG and Australia to develop recommendations that aim to improve the livelihoods of those residing in the South Fly.
- Pacific communities are considered to be the ‘most vulnerable’ to the impacts of climate change. Consequently, aid is now being redirected to community-scale adaptation. UQ researchers are engaging with Pacific communities to evaluate community-based adaptation initiatives and generate recommendations to optimise future efforts.
- The way Pacific Island communities on the frontline of climate change are experiencing and working through loss and grief is being documented in a project that could become a ‘wake-up call’ for the rest of the world.
- 23 August 2019Dr Michelle Dunn explains the important role universities can play in developing and implementing effective aid programs in the Indo-Pacific region, while empowering communities and governments at all levels.
- The University of Queensland has partnered with Papua New Guinea's largest technological institution to support sustainable development outcomes across the country’s resources sector.
- 30 July 2019The University of Queensland’s International Development and Sustainable Minerals Institute delivered a minerals policy and economics training course for emerging leaders in Papua New Guinea (PNG), together with The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, and HopgoodGanim Lawyers.
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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: