The University of the South Pacific (USP) concluded its two-day graduation ceremonies at the Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji, today, marking another important milestone as it marked the dedication, determination and achievements of graduates from across the Pacific region.
Held at the Vodafone Arena, the final ceremony saw graduates from the School of Accounting, Finance and Economics (SAFE), Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF), School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education (SPACE), and the School of Law and Social Sciences (SoLASS) proudly cross the stage to receive their qualifications.
This year, 2,026 students graduated from USP, both in person and in absentia, from across our region and beyond.
USP Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou Utoikamanu, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to carry forward the Pacific vision of education and leadership.
“To our graduates, today is a day of recognition for everything you have achieved through discipline, sacrifice, resilience and hope.”
“But it is also an invitation to think about legacy. You graduate into a world marked by climate uncertainty, geopolitical tension, technological disruption and profound social change. Yet these challenges do not diminish your future – they define the importance of your generation.
“In every age of uncertainty, there emerges a generation called not simply to succeed, but to build what lasts.
“This is your moment,” Utoikamanu said.
“He also reflected on the enduring strength of institutions, noting that great institutions endure because they are held in trust across generations, much like the noble houses and chiefly traditions of the Pacific, where stewardship is always intergenerational.
He added that, as Fiji observes the State Funeral of the late Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the nation is reminded that “the highest measure of leadership is not simply office held, but the dignity of service that time continues to honour”.
Among the many inspiring stories shared was that of Sanjeshni Devi Kumar, who graduated with a Bachelor of Laws after a two-decade journey marked by resilience, health battles and enduring love for her late mother.
“Although financial and personal challenges forced me to pause, and despite facing serious health challenges since 2024, I never wanted to give up on what truly mattered,” she said.
“This graduation is deeply special, not only as a personal achievement, but as a tribute to my mother in heaven.”
Another graduate, Viliame Naqesa Tawanakoro, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Journalism.
“This moment means everything to me and my village,” Tawanakoro said.
“It’s been a journey filled with late nights, setbacks and self-doubt, but today makes it all worth it.”
“Studying here taught me more than just what is in the books – it taught me about our Pacific people, our stories and the power of our Pacific identity. I want to use what I’ve learned to tell stories that matter, especially those that give a voice to the voiceless in our region.
“This degree isn’t just mine; it belongs to everyone who believed in me along the way.”
The final ceremony also featured a special tribute performance by Pasefika Voices, dedicated to the enduring cultural bonds between the Royal House of Tonga and the chiefly House of Bau, in remembrance of the late Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
USP’s April graduation ceremonies reaffirmed the University’s role as the Pacific’s premier institution of higher learning, producing graduates who will lead, innovate and inspire across the region.
The newest graduates now join a proud community of more than 60,000 USP alumni who continue to contribute meaningfully to their nations and to the wider Pacific.
The next USP graduation ceremonies will be held at the Emalus Campus in Vanuatu and the Samoa Campus, underscoring USP’s distinctive regional identity and reach.
