Port Vila, Vanuatu – Friday 12 June 2026: The National University of Vanuatu (NUV), in partnership with the Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network (PaCSON), has developed a new Cyber Safety Video to strengthen cyber awareness among students. The initiative was made possible through the support of the Government of Canada and represents a new student-focused initiative.
The project aligns with NUV’s mission of delivering academic excellence and lifelong learning while equipping students with practical skills needed in an increasingly digital world. It also supports the Vanuatu Government’s digital transformation agenda and PaCSON’s vision of creating a safe and resilient digital environment across the Pacific.
Established in 2020, NUV was created to provide higher education and professional excellence through teaching, research and international cooperation. As the country’s national university continues to expand access to digital learning, cyber safety has become an essential component of student success.
PaCSON, founded in 2017, connects cyber security professionals across the Pacific and focuses on building regional resilience, fostering collaboration, and developing cyber expertise through practical operational support and training. Vanuatu is a founding member of PaCSON.
According to NUV IT Manager, Mr Benoit You, the widespread use of digital technologies across the University requires a dedicated awareness programme.
"As NUV continues to provide students with digital tools and skills, they must understand cyber risks and learn how to protect themselves, the University and their communities. This module forms part of NUV's broader commitment to strengthening cyber safety awareness and promoting responsible digital practices among students and staff," said Mr You.
NUV has already integrated the video into a dedicated training module within its Learning Management System (Moodle). The module includes an assessment quiz completed after viewing the video, and participants who achieve a minimum score of 90 per cent receive a Cyber Safety Awareness Certificate of Completion.
The University plans to roll out the module to students at the start of the second semester of 2026 and incorporate it into future student and staff induction programmes.
John Jack, Director of the Department of Communications and Digital Transformation under the Ministry of the Prime Minister, welcomed the initiative and emphasised the importance of cyber security for Vanuatu.
"As Vanuatu advances its digital transformation journey, cyber security awareness must be embedded across all sectors of society. We encouraged this partnership between NUV and PaCSON because educating young people and institutions is essential to building a safer and more resilient digital future for our country," Mr Jack said.
The project builds on existing work undertaken through the PaCSON Cyber Upskill Program (CUP) and aims to build upon the CUP by filling an important gap by introducing a student-focused component that complements resources already available for business, administration and personal cyber safety.
Etienne Lambert, First Secretary (Cyber/Digital) at the High Commission of Canada, recognised the value of this project for students now and into the future. He said, “Canada is proud to be supporting this project with NUV and PaCSON and we look forward to hearing more about its impact. This project addresses a key need for students as they continue their studies and begin their careers. We are pleased to be part of a project that will have an impact in Vanuatu as well as the broader region.”
Siebert Neethling, Chief Executive Officer of Imprint Strategic Pty Ltd, said the collaboration demonstrates the value of regional partnerships.
"This partnership brings together government, academia and the cyber security community to deliver practical outcomes. By combining local leadership with regional expertise, we are helping to build lasting cyber resilience and empowering the next generation of digital citizens in Vanuatu," Mr Neethling said.
Through its existing cooperation with the Department of Communications and Digital Transformation and PaCSON, NUV intends to continue strengthening cyber security awareness and implementing additional safeguards to support the University's growing digital ecosystem. NUV’s development is aligned with the Vanuatu People’s Plan, the National Digital Transformation Masterplan, the National Cybersecurity Strategy and the Vanuatu Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan. The education and training programs under NUV are based on the priorities of the country’s National Human Resource Development Plan 2020-2030 (NHRDP).
Media Contacts:
The National University of Vanuatu
Florence Bellon
Communications Consultant
Email: florence.bellon@univ.edu.vu
Tel: 29 792
About the National University of Vanuatu
The National University of Vanuatu was established by the Act n°34 of 2019 adopted by the Parliament on 17 December 2019 and officially published on 24 January 2020.
The purpose of the University as stated in its article 3 is “to provide higher education advancement and lifelong learning through academic and professional excellence by way of training, teaching and learning, in both the English and French official languages, research and international cooperation”.
Based on the Act, the NUV is authorised to offer the current Bachelor Programs and to develop collaboration with new partners on the implementation of other Bachelor and Master programs.
The Act also paved the way for merging existing Vanuatu PSET training into the NUV over time, and under the overall supervision of the MoET, including the following institutions which are approved to deliver accredited degree-level courses according to Vanuatu Qualifications Framework (VQF): The Vanuatu Institute of Teacher Education (now School of Education), the Vanuatu College for Nursing Education, and the Vanuatu Agriculture College. Inclusion in the NUV requires meeting high-quality tertiary education and training standards and accreditation requirements by the laws of Vanuatu.
The National University of Vanuatu works in collaboration with several international universities, which support the development of the institution by issuing internationally recognised diplomas.
About the Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network
PaCSON is an operational cyber security network of regional working-level cyber security experts in the Pacific. PaCSON coordinates activities which benefit the regional network of cyber security incident response professionals through encouraging collaboration on best practice, sharing information and developing incident response capability.
The PaCSON network consists of technical experts from eligible governments across the Pacific, and is supported by other partners including not-for-profit organisations and academia. Participation in PaCSON includes representatives from Australia, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.