There is progress on plans by the University of the South Pacific for a new campus in the Marshall Islands with a ground breaking ceremony last Friday.
The Marshall Islands President, Christopher Loeak, announced an initial grant from his government of half a million US dollars, during the ground breaking.
The Education Minister, Dr Hilda Heine, says the ceremony was a testimony of the government's support for and commitment to the USP.
She says the development of human resources is a central tenet of the new government's policy, and the university initiative would considerably add to the human resource development of the Marshall Islands.
The USP's Vice-Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra says the new campus will ensure an even better quality student experience for Marshall Islanders.