Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management and the Role of Education: Benefits and Challenges of Online Learning for Pacific Small Island Developing States

Abstract

Climate change and disaster risk management education in the context of the Pacific Small Island Developing States is crucial, but even more so, is ensuring that access to this education is available to those who require it. The Pacific Small Island Developing States are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and disasters and have limited capacity to address this so the move by the University of the South Pacific to develop a post graduate diploma in climate change program and make this fully available online is an important one. This paper presents experiences and observations of the benefits and challenges of online learning in the context of the Pacific Small Island Developing States. Special focus is given to the documentation of staff and student experiences from across the Pacific Small Island Developing States region. Lessons learnt are shared and recommendations for actions to address the challenges are proposed. As the only institution providing post graduate climate change and disaster risk management education online in the Pacific Small Island Developing States region, this paper is aimed at informing individuals who wish to engage in climate change and disaster risk management related online learning and institutions who would like to venture into this mode of climate change and disaster risk management education.