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This chapter provides an overview of the South Pacific states from geographic, environmental, cultural, political, economic and demographic perspectives. Topics covered include environments and hazards, climate change, cultural diversity, colonialism and late independence, economic development, population and migration, trade, and aid. The contribution of the most important industries of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining and tourism are reviewed. In terms of the future, it is argued that the key challenge in the South Pacific states is that of creating sustainable development, alongside employment and growth, and coping with environmental change.

The purpose of this paper is to create an area profile of significant activity and possibility in higher education for sustainable development (ESD) in the island nations of the South Pacific Ocean.

This is a descriptive research paper on philosophy, policy, and practice according to a methodology of categorical analysis by developments, challenges, and prospects. The focus is on higher education institutions, particularly the University of the South Pacific, the regional university of 12 Island nations in Oceania. The developments and prospects are contextualized, however, in the larger regional Pacific Education for Sustainable Development Framework and the Action Plan for Sustainable Development in the Pacific Islands 2008‐2014. Academic programs, policy statements, and education projects are analyzed.

South Pacific universities possess rich missions that valorize traditional knowledge and culture. The region also has a sophisticated policy environment for sustainability. These factors create many opportunities for sustainability in higher education. Nevertheless, enormous challenges of distance, funding, cultural traditions, globalisation, and adaptation to the devastating effects of climate destabilisation make progress difficult. Successes and promising prospects are described, including a new major effort to mainstream higher ESD by creating a Pacific Network of Island Universities (the NIU Project), which will reach 13 nations, including Papua New Guinea.

Little analysis of sustainability in higher education has been done in this geographical area. The categorical approach of this paper will provide researchers with findings appropriate to several endeavors, including charting a way forward in sustainability in higher education in the South Pacific Island nations. South Pacific initiatives arising from the unique nature of island geography and tradition could illuminate for others what is called the “Pacific Way.” Comparative analysis to mainland nations in the Asia‐Pacific region may also prove useful to researchers and practitioners.

Management development programmes (MDPs) are crucial to developing Pacific island countries. Programme designers must understand the region which comprises thousands of islands spread many miles apart. These countries are influenced by their history of colonial occupation and protection by the British, Germans and Americans. Fiji is unique, being an independent republic and the largest, wealthiest and most influential South Pacific country. Native languages are many, but English is commonly used throughout for government and business – except in French Polynesia. The native population is mainly Polynesian and Melanesian, with a significant minority being Micronesian. Each society has distinct customs, languages and behaviours modified by its national affiliation and geographical location. Early MDPs were modelled on western practices. In the 1990s, MDPs conform to the objectives of aid‐granting agencies, their content is oriented towards practical application of management skills, and instruction is conducted observing cultural behaviours and norms

This chapter introduces gender-related issues in the context of the South Pacific and agricultural development and research for development initiatives. National governments and donor organisations commonly invest in improving rural livelihoods by addressing agriculture and food security issues, and increasingly prioritise and even mandate gender integration/mainstreaming objectives within such initiatives. Despite substantial investments, there are few accounts of how integrating gender and gender mainstreaming in agriculture has been approached in practice in the South Pacific. Additionally, there is scarce attention to the benefits that a gender perspective has secured for women and men.

We outline the ways in which agriculture continues to underpin South Pacific economies and livelihoods; discuss gender mainstreaming/integration in agricultural development activities and debates that define its theory and practice; and highlight how the concepts of custom and intersectionality are important considerations in this field. The final part of the chapter provides an overview of the book structure which includes two introductory and contextualising chapters, six case study chapters, and a synthesis chapter of the key learnings, commonalities and challenges identified across the six case studies.

The main lessons for tutors working in the developing world, gained from the teaching of management education over a dispersed area by the University of the South Pacific, are that students demand structured pre‐planned course materials, which must not ossify due to lethargic teaching staff or organisational rigidity; teaching staff must recognise the constraints facing Pacific Islanders, and the implications for academic standards; and if the role of management education is to be of value then materials used and topics covered must be relevant to the limited resources and organisation structures found in that area.

This comparative study explores the relevance and applicability of the characteristics of entrepreneurs espoused in the western entrepreneurship literature to indigenous entrepreneurs. Using five South Pacific island countries as a case in point, the literature reviewed shows that culture impacts on the characteristics of entrepreneurs from these countries and accounts for differences between the characteristics of the Pacific island entrepreneurs and the characteristics found in the Western entrepreneurship literature. In the light of the influence of culture, perhaps a new list of characteristics that indigenous entrepreneurs in the South Pacific island countries would require to succeed is warranted. An integrative model of cultural dimension and characteristics of Pacific island entrepreneurs is provided. Propositions are advanced for the study of culture as a moderating influence on entrepreneurial characteristics elsewhere, especially indigenous entrepreneurs from developing countries.

Since independence, Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have remained heavily dependent on industrialized countries for their economic survival. PICs suffer from many disadvantages: a rising sea level, the tyranny of distance, a poor resource base, etc. Unequal political, economic and human resource capacities prevent PICs dealing on equal terms with their bilateral and multilateral counterparts. These have contributed to some PICs becoming ‘failed states’. Australia and New Zealand are addressing these issues in cooperation with PIC leadership. However, everything is not bleak in the long‐run. Technology has started opening up avenues to harvest chemical, food and mineral resources from the sea. A group approach is required to take advantage of benefits of emerging opportunities, lest others will outmaneuver them: there is no short cut.

This paper aims to examine the contributions of hybrid organisations to wellbeing in small Pacific island countries.

The concept and different forms of hybrid organisations are examined, and then the operation and contributions to wellbeing of three Fijian hybrid organisations are considered.

Hybrid organisations in this region operate with a commitment to the common good and an ethic of care. Fijian hybrid organisations improve social and economic wellbeing for individuals, families and communities by providing employment, schools and training facilities, financial and support services, sustainable agriculture projects and facilitating networking. These services improve individual and community social and economic wellbeing, build resilience, add to personal and family security, offer opportunities for the future, advance leadership skills and sustain the environment. Commercial activities that support these organisations in their wellbeing endeavours include product sales, service fees, project levies and investment income.

Generalisability beyond the Pacific region is not assured, as this review only examines hybrid organisations in small Pacific island countries.

Hybrid organisations offer an alternative pathway to achieve a sustainable enterprise economy, an approach that is more culturally relevant for the Pacific region. Policies to nurture the development of these organisations, and research into the startup, operation, impact and effectiveness of different hybrid organisation models would help to improve wellbeing in this region. International charities and aid agencies could advance the wellbeing of people living in this region by supporting the development of hybrid organisations. External agencies seeking to support hybrid organisation development are advised to consider providing funding through a regional agency rather than engaging directly with national governments.

Developing a robust hybrid organisation sector will improve social and economic wellbeing for people living in small island nations.

As one of the first studies to examine wellbeing and hybrid organisations, this review adds to hybrid business theory by its consideration of small Pacific island countries. The authors add to existing understandings of how hybrid organisations contribute to social and economic wellbeing for individuals, families and communities. The review identifies each form hybrid organisational form adopts. Each has a central commitment to generating social and economic value but different revenue sources. The review adds valuable new knowledge to the limited scholarship of this region by identifying the philosophical foundations and contributions to wellbeing of these hybrid organisations. A future research agenda and policy development process is proposed to improve wellbeing and advance hybrid organisations in the region.