The Association of Commonwealth Universities at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 returns on 21-26 October 2024 in Apia, Samoa. It will be the first CHOGM to be held in a Pacific Small Island Developing State. 

The theme of this year’s CHOGM is ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’. Leaders of Commonwealth countries meet every two years for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), hosted by different member countries on a rotating basis. 

Building on progress since CHOGM 2022, which the ACU also attended, leaders will deliberate on global economic, environmental and security challenges, and discuss how Commonwealth countries can work together to build resilience, boost trade, innovation, growth and empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people for a more peaceful and sustainable future.

As an accredited organisation, the ACU is sending a delegation to CHOGM where we will be championing higher education’s critical contribution to sustainable development, outlining policy priorities for higher education, and shaping the agenda on behalf of our members across the Commonwealth. 

The week of events at CHOGM will include high-level meetings of Commonwealth leaders followed by stakeholder forums, ministerial meetings, side events and other activities that the ACU will participate in. Full details on the ACU contributions at CHOGM and how to get involved with the side-events are below. 

Please note, attendance at all events is dependent on registration and accreditation for the CHOGM or relevant forums, which must be secured directly with the organisers.  

Do get in touch with us by emailing membership [at] acu.ac.uk if your university is planning to be at CHOGM.

ACU contributions to CHOGM 2024 

People centred research in action: indigenous perspectives on the impact of climate change on community health and wellbeing – Monday 21 October, 14.00-14.45 (WST), Commonwealth People's Forum 

Join the ACU’s Commonwealth Climate Resilience Network (CCRN) and Fiji National University (FNU) for a co-organised panel session exploring indigenous perspectives on the impact of climate change on community health and wellbeing. Climate change impacts community health needs and weakens healthcare systems across the Commonwealth. These effects are especially felt in smaller and more vulnerable states. To support a coordinated response to these impacts, Member States have called for robust evidence that details the links between climate and health. This session will present research from Fiji National University and The University of the West Indies, highlighting indigenous perspectives on community health and wellbeing. The session will explore how climate change affects food security, nutrition, and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and will underscore the importance of local flora and fauna as community health assets. Participants will also discuss strategies to enhance coordination between academia and civil society to improve community health outcomes.

Pacific and Commonwealth Universities info expo and networking side event – Tuesday 22 October, 09.00-10.30 (WST)

ACU Secretary General Professor Colin Riordan will deliver the opening address of this CHOGM 2024 side-event at the National University of Samoa (NUS). A panel discussion will then take place on 'How Pacific Universities can contribute to building our resilient Commonwealth aiga of learners?' 

Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICwS, University of London) CHOGM side event ‘Resilient futures: shaping environment and climate justice across the Commonwealth’ – Tuesday 22 October, 13.00-14.30 (WST)

Drawing upon the Institute’s longstanding work on environmental justice, this event will explore the challenges and opportunities that existing national, regional and international legal frameworks offer for environment and climate justice across the Commonwealth to foster a resilient environment and to combat climate change. Expect an inclusive dialogue on how the Commonwealth can confront the existential threats of climate change and environmental degradation through innovative legal strategies insisting on the interconnectedness of human and environmental health and discussing the most severe violations of the right to a healthy environment. 

Commonwealth Business Forum roundtable on lifelong learning – Wednesday 23 October (WST)  

Organised by CWEIC, the ACU Secretary General Professor Colin Riordan will speak at this Commonwealth Business Forum roundtable session. 

Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI) roundtable Strengthening urban resilience for all: implementation of Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation for our Common Wealth’ - Wednesday 23 October, 09.00-11.00 (WST) 

This high-level side-event, co-led by ACU and CSCI, will focus on advancing the Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation, adopted by Heads at CHOGM 2022, with an emphasis on effective implementation, and strategies to address the combined pressures of climate change, rapid urbanisation and economic development. The event in Samoa will bring together CSCI partners and the Commonwealth Secretariat, with other stakeholders, to chart a collective Commonwealth approach to enabling, supporting and accelerating sustainable urban development, including opportunities for exchange and learning from models and approaches from across the Commonwealth.  

Commonwealth Business Forum panel, Thursday 24 October, 09.00-10.30 (WST)

ACU Chair of Council, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, will speak at a plenary session on skills in the region. 

CHOGM official Foreign Ministers' roundtable, Saturday 26 October 

ACU Secretary General Professor Colin Riordan will address member states at the CHOGM Foreign Ministers roundtable on the priorities for higher education in the Commonwealth.