Over the past three months, the University of New Caledonia (UNC) and the CRESICA Consortium have welcomed seven research interns from the University of the South Pacific campuses in Fiji and Vanuatu through the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility programme.

Hosted within UNC laboratories and partner research institutions, including the Institut Pasteur, Institute for Sustainable Development and the Language & Mobility Hub, the interns gained valuable hands-on research experience while discovering a new academic and scientific environment. They also benefited from French language training, helping them further immerse themselves in New Caledonia’s Francophone academic community.

Beyond individual learning experiences, these internships have strengthened research links across the Pacific, leading to new opportunities for joint publications, co-supervised doctoral projects, and deeper collaboration between regional research institutions.

Supported by Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility and the Pacific Islands Universities Regional Network (PIURN), these exchanges contribute to building a stronger, more connected Pacific research community and nurturing the next generation of regional researchers.