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Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Solomon Woman attains Doctoral Degree: the second for women in Solomon Islands

A Solomon Islands woman, Alice Aruhe’eta Pollard, who hails from Are’Are in the Malaita Province has successfully completed her doctor of philosophy degree from the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.

Dr. Kabini Sanga reported from New Zealand that Alice Pollard did her research on women leaders at three levels of Solomon Islands society including ‘Are’ Are community setting, South Sea Evangelical Church setting and the setting of the National Parliament.

“She explored the presence and absence of women leaders within these three levels of society,” Dr. Sanga said.

“The findings of her research are insightful, and will contribute towards understanding and strengthening leadership by women at all levels of Solomon Islands society.

“Moreover, Dr Pollard’s research on women leadership is a significant contribution to the academic literature on gender in the Pacific.

“Often the academic literature polarizes women against men, whereas Dr Pollard’s study shows a balanced and complementary leadership by women.”

Dr Sanga said Alice Pollard, herself an established leader, completed her studies under a New Zealand government scholarship.

She had previously obtained her Master and Bachelor degrees from Melbourne and earlier, a teaching diploma from the University of the South Pacific.

She did her secondary education at Su’u Secondary School on Malaita.

Dr Sanga said that her recent achievement was an inspiration to young Solomon Islanders, particularly girls.

Dr Alice Pollard is understood to be the second Solomon Islands woman to have earned a doctoral degree. Another woman, Dr. Joanna Daiwo, from Temotu province was the first female in Solomon Islands to be awarded a doctoral degree.

Dr. Sanga who is a lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington, said the University was proud to note that both women doctoral degree holders (Dr Alice Pollard and Dr Joanna Daiwo) had completed their achievements in New Zealand, under NZAID scholarships.

Source: Government Communications Unit

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