USP Samoa welcomes biggest students delegation from Monash University

By Dwayne Mahimkar*

Apia, Samoa – 22 January 2025 – For two weeks, USP Samoa hosted the biggest delegation of staff and students from Monash University, as they immerse themselves in Samoan culture and way of life.

The first day of the USP-Monash Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) Programme saw the welcoming of the visiting students and staff of the Melbourne-based University, led by Prof. Gabrielle Brand.
The delegation was welcomed with a traditional Ava ceremony performed by the USP Samoa Students Association.

Taupou (Sara Toleafoa) and USP staff and students performing the Taualuga with the visiting delegation joining in the fun.

It was the delegations introduction to Samoan culture before Dr Brian Alofaituli of the National University of Samoa talked briefly about Samoa’s history and way of life.

Dr Alofaituli touched on Samoa’s voyaging history and shared ancestry with other Pacific islands and Samoa’s colonial history and spirituality.

All the students got to tour around the campus to interact and introduce themselves to their buddies (mentors) who would assist them during their two-week stay.

After a short break, the first Reflect and Reframe session of the 4th cohort took place in the USP Lecture Room, and it was conducted by Prof Gabrielle Brand.

It is important to note that the GIG program is a two-week initiative aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of humanity’s impact on the environment while exploring innovative sustainable solutions.

Throughout the next two weeks, they will be researching certain issues dealing with agriculture and food security and will be tasked to present their issue and provide possible solutions on the final day of the trip.

The final lecture, which is on the Samoan language, was conducted by the professor of Applied Linguistics at NUS; Dr Emma Kruse Va’ai.

She touched upon the common phrases and etymology behind the terminology. She gave a brief presentation on the origins of Samoan and how certain elements of the language are shared among the Austronesian language family.

The lecture on Samoan History by Dr Brian Alofaituli, while students listen attentively to the NUS Academic.

The final event of the day was the Amazing Race. Unlike the intense and celebrated reality competition, the students took their time to wander around downtown Apia and exploring the different sites.

The students hit the town.

The day ended with the students making their way back to the Lava Hotel in Sogi for some much needed rest and relaxation.

*Dwayne Mahimkar is a USP Second year BA Communications and Media student.