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The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) on Friday, 8th August 2025, officially launched its new Postgraduate Diploma in Security Studies.
The programme, hosted by the Faculty of Education and Humanities (FEH) through the School of Humanities, was launched at Panatina Campus by the Minister of Police and National Security, Hon. Jimson Tanagada.
In his remarks, Hon. Tanagada congratulated SINU on this milestone, describing it as a reflection of both national leadership and international partnership. He commended the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Transform Aqorau, Dr. Patricia Rodie, and Associate Professor Dr. Danielle Watson for laying the foundation for this initiative, calling it both โtimely and diplomatic.โ
The Minister also expressed appreciation to the Government of Australia for its continued support towards human development in the Solomon Islands, noting that this speaks volumes about the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries. He described the programme as a national asset that will equip public servants, policymakers, and professionals with the knowledge and skills required to address the countryโs security needs. He reaffirmed the Governmentโs commitment to supporting the programme going forward.
Speaking at the launch, the Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, congratulated SINU for developing the programme within a short timeframe. He said the programme was designed based on the sovereign needs of the Solomon Islands security sector, and assured continued Australian support under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) framework.
โTodayโs launch marks a significant achievement, making Solomon Islands the first and only country in the South West Pacific to offer a postgraduate programme in Security Studies,โ he said. โEight months ago, I stood here as consultations for this programme began, and now we already have security practitioners attending classes at SINU. Australia is honoured to have supported this initiative from design and consultation through to development and delivery.โ
Acting Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Academic, Dr. Eric Katovai, expressed deep gratitude to the Government of Australia for recognising the importance of security education in the Pacific and providing the funding that made the programme possible. He acknowledged the leadership of Dr. Patricia Rodie, Dean of FEH, and Dr. Ben Wate, Head of the School of Humanities, for driving the initiative forward, and paid special tribute to Associate Professor Dr. Danielle Watson for her commitment and partnership.
Dr. Katovai highlighted the urgency of quality security education in the region, noting that security challenges now extend beyond borders and physical safety to include transnational crime, environmental degradation, human security, cyber threats, intelligence capacity, and public policy vulnerabilities. He said the programme aims to instil deep understanding, critical thinking, evidence-based strategies, and practical skills in students.
The Acting VC noted that the pilot Postgraduate Certificate in Security Studies, introduced in Semester Two this year, targeted professionals in law enforcement, immigration, NGOs, and the public service. The transition to a full Diploma, starting January 2026, responds directly to the growing demand for qualified security professionals in the region. He emphasised that building academic expertise in this emerging field will remain a top priority for SINU.
Dean Dr. Patricia Rodie described the programme as a direct response to the growing complexity of national and regional security challenges, as well as the need for enhanced professional competencies across the security sector. She thanked development partners for their contributions.
Head of School Dr. Ben Wate explained that the programmeโs development took nearly ten months of planning, consultation, idea-sharing, and navigation of SINUโs quality assurance and standards processes.
Associate Professor Dr. Danielle Watson, instrumental in shaping the programme, outlined its structure:
Core Units
- Foundations of Security Studies
- Human Security and Development
- Transnational Crime & Border Security
- Climate & Environmental Security
Additional Units
- International Security & Geopolitics
- Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding
- Cyber Security & Threat Management
Electives (Choose one)
- Intelligence & Strategic Analysis
- Food, Health & Human Security
The launch marks a historic step for SINU and the region, reaffirming the Universityโs mission to deliver relevant, contextualised, and transformative education that addresses real needs in the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific.
ENDS//