As The University of the South Pacific (USP) graduation season continues across the region, the Emalus Campus ceremony in Vanuatu today served as a powerful showcase of Pacific strength and a defining milestone for our future leaders.
While delivering a stirring address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council and the Interim Management Group, the Right Honourable Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou Utoikamanu, challenged the graduates to lead with purpose.
Speaking to the graduating students, their families, and distinguished guests, he praised the deep resilience of the Vanuatu people and the nation’s top ranking on the Happy Planet Index.
He reminded the audience that true resilience was about preserving hope, generosity, and community in the face of adversity.
“Here in Vanuatu, resilience is not something we speak about in theory. It is something that is lived, in the rebuilding after cyclones, in the recovery after earthquakes, and in the strength of communities that continue forward together,” ‘Utoikamanu stated.
“This is also a country that has been ranked number one in the world on the Happy Planet Index, a measure not of wealth, but of how well a nation enables its people to live long, happy, and sustainable lives.”
A major highlight of the address was a powerful acknowledgement of Vanuatu’s leadership in bringing the issue of climate responsibility to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Pro-Chancellor proudly noted that this historic push for global climate justice originated right at the University.
“This did not begin in a courtroom. It began in a classroom on this campus, in the energy and conviction of young Pacific voices, and through a genuine and purposeful partnership between The University of the South Pacific and The Government of Vanuatu,” he said.
“In doing so, this nation has reminded the world that small states are not small in influence, and that moral clarity can help shape global law. From here, the Pacific is not only responding to the future. It is helping to define it.”
The Pro-Chancellor underscored that Emalus Campus represented a highly responsive model of education, one closely aligned with the realities of the Pacific and the needs of its communities. He challenged the graduates to view their education as both a privilege and a profound responsibility to those around them.
“Your education has prepared you not only to respond to challenges, but to rebuild, to reimagine, and to renew,” Utoikamanu urged the new alumni.
“Because resilience is not only about weathering the storm. It is about what we choose to build, and what we choose to plant afterwards.”
The address concluded with a moving call to action, charging the graduates to step into their roles as the future leaders of a rapidly changing world.
“As you leave this place, carry with you not only your knowledge, but the deeper lessons of this region: resilience, community, and the courage to act with purpose. Go forward with courage, help others find their way, and shape what will endure and what time will honour.”
Today, USP Emalus is celebrating a significant milestone for women in higher education, 197 female graduates stood out among the 310 students who completed their qualifications. Full speech here: https://www.usp.ac.fj/remarks-by-the-pro-chancellor-and-chair-of-council-april-2026-emalus-campus-graduation/
