This event is part of the School of Education's Bristol Conversations in Education research seminar series. These seminars are free and open to the public.

This event is taking place 11:00pm Tonga Time (TOT) (10:00am UK time (GMT)).

Hosted by the Education in Small States Research Group (ESSRG) Centre for Comparative and International Research in Education (CIRE)

Speaker: Dr Seu’ula Johansson Fua (Director of the USP Institute of Education in Tonga)

A Talanoa with Seu'ula Johansson-Fua and Michael Crossley about Higher Education in the Islands States of Oceania. The Talanoa (conversation) hopes to shed light on the unique nature of higher education in the Pacific and the contemporary challenges that these institutes face. Particular attention is given to interrogating the influence of international agenda on developments within higher education and the enduring sociopolitical tensions in this region. In addition, some reflection on related environmental, cultural and epistemological implications for the higher education sector. Like all Talanoa, it is an invitation to collectively reflect and explore new possibilities, and in this instance - higher education in the Island States of Oceania.

Seu'ula Johansson-Fua is Tongan and lives in Tonga with her family. She was educated in New Zealand and in Canada. Her research interest includes educational leadership, planning and policy development and indigenous Pacific research methodologies. She is currently the director of Education at the University of the South Pacific' Institute of Education.

Michael Crossley, FAcSS, is Emeritus Professor of Comparative and International Education, Senior Research Fellow and Director of the ESSRG at the University of Bristol. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Education at The University of the South Pacific.

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