Computer science research in Tonga
Auckland University of Technology and Tonga National University have launched a Computer and Information Science Research Centre housed at TNU’s School of Information and Communication Technology, in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga.
A ceremony jointly officiated by TNU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Giulio Masasso Paunga, and AUT’s Dean of the Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies, Professor Suzanne Wilkinson, marked the opening of the centre on 6 February 2026.
Professor Wilkinson said the centre’s establishment marked the beginning of an enduring relationship between the universities, and it would contribute to education, training and research in the Pacific.
“We hope to see the research centre become a national centre of excellence for computer science in Tonga,” she said.
Dr Paunga said Computer and Information Science Research Centre represented a milestone for TNU and was “a beacon of cooperation between our institutions and among our Pacific communities.
“This research centre will be a hub for research excellence in ICT, and serve as a platform for staff development, enabling our faculty to grow through membership, training, and joint projects with AUT colleagues,” he said.
"It will also serve as a pathway for student opportunities - opening doors for advanced study, research exchanges and future careers in technology"
The centre will allow joint research to be carried out in intelligent systems, cybersecurity, digital engineering, smart infrastructure and future networks.