The Pacific Islands Education, Training and Research (PIETR) Panel
The Pacific Island Education, Training, and Research Panel (PIETR Panel) was established by the Third Meeting of the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-3) to serve in the capacity of an advisory committee to the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) on education, training, research and human capacity development in relation to meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and oceanography, and delivery of weather, climate, water, marine and ocean services in the Pacific region.
Purpose
The purpose of PIETR Panel is to prepare technical advice and recommendations for PMC consideration related to education, training, research and human capacity development requirements in meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and oceanography. The focus is in particular on those requirements that will enable the Pacific Island Countries to benefit from improvements in the development and delivery of weather, climate, water, tsunami, marine and oceans information and services including alerts and warnings in the Pacific region.
It is anticipated that to carry out the Terms of Reference (TOR) defined below the PIETR will need to work with other regional and international bodies to ensure the strengthening, coordination, continuity and integration of current and future programmes, projects and initiatives related to its mandate. Such bodies include, but are not limited to:
- WMO Regional Association V (South-West Pacific) Working Group on Hydrology’s Task Team on Training and Capacity Building in Hydrology (RA V/WG-H TT-TCB-H);
- WMO Regional Association V (South-West Pacific) Working Group on Weather Services’ Task Team on Training, Competency and Qualification (RA V/WG-WS TT-TRG);
- WMO Executive Council Panel of Experts on Capacity Development;
- WMO Executive Council Panel of Experts on Education and Training;
- University of Hawaii (UH) and University of the South Pacific (USP);
- UN agencies; and
- Other regional and international institutions
Role and Responsibilities
The overall goal is the development and implementation of an agreed capacity development strategy and work plan for the PIETR to guide implementation of Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy (PIMS) 2017-2026 focused on the capacity development needs needed to deliver the PIMS priorities.
One of the areas highlighted by the first Ministerial Meeting s the establishment of a Pacific Regional Training Centre.
Membership
The PIETR Panel core membership comprise of the following countries and institutions: Cook Islands Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, SPREP, UH, USP, BoM, WMO Secretariat as per decision of PMC-3, but at the same time it remains open-ended to allow for PMC members to volunteer their experts to participate in PIETR Panel activities and for the PIETR Panel to invite experts either from its PMC members or its partners or climate users to its meetings and discussions. The PIETR is expected to mainly carry out its work via correspondence and other opportunities.
Secretariat Support
The Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership at SPREP provides the secretariat support for the panel.
Contact Details
For more information, please contact Azarel Mariner ([email protected]).