USP Council asks for an independent review of HR concerns

The Council of The University of the South Pacific has resolved to address growing concern amongst staff, students and stakeholders regarding management at the region’s premier university.  A statement released

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USP Council summoned as dissent creeps into student body

Dissent has broken out between the USP Students’ Association and students supporting sacked academic Dr Tamara

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Absolute discharge for Bainimarama, fine without record of conviction for Qiliho

Suva, Fiji: When Suva Magistrate Seini Puamau took her seat in court this morning to deliver her sentence against former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, she warned

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USP welcomes new Chancellor

In a historic moment, Sir David Okete Vuvuiri Vunagi, Governor General of the Solomon Islands, was officially installed as the 30th Chancellor of The University of the South Pacific (USP). The installation ceremony took

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USP “students are hurting” says Pro Chancellor

As Pacific leaders meet in Suva to discuss deepening regionalism through the  2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, USP, the region’s university continues to suffer the impacts of continued funding

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USP Council raises concerns over finance risks

The University of the South Pacific’s Council has raised concerns about the financial and operating risks arising out of Fiji’s withheld grant, compounded by the COVID-19 economic impacts. In a statement

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“Our ocean is not a nuclear dumpster” – USP students call for a nuclear free Pacific

Hundreds of students at the University of the South Pacific in Suva rallied to remember nuclear survivors around the region on 1 March, the anniversary of the US Bravo nuclear test on Bikini Atoll. Marching through

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USP will have ‘No Jab, No School’ policy

The University of the South Pacific (USP) has adopted a ‘No Jab, No School’ policy across the region for 2022. Manager of Public Relations and Communications under the Office of the Vice Chancellor and President of

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Opinion: Framing a “new Pacific consciousness”

By Kaliopate Tavola Outgoing USP Chancellor, H.E. President of Nauru Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, recently penned an editorial, which, having fulfilled his one-year stint as Chancellor and on the way out, can be regarded as

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Struggling to study: USP’s regional students and lockdowns

Regional students studying at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus in Fiji have had another difficult semester. The COVID-19 outbreak which began in April this year and has claimed over 150 lives has

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USP’s regional students struggle to study

By Leila Parina Regional students studying at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus in Fiji have had another difficult semester. The COVID-19 outbreak which began in April this year and has claimed over

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USP Council Ethics committee to look at leadership allegations

The University of the South Pacific Council has agreed that allegations levelled against Pro-Chancellor Winston Thompson and the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Mahmood Khan, be referred to an Ethics Committee.

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Connected by the ocean and history

  The University of the South Pacific has a proud history of student activism. ATOM (Against Testing on Moruroa) formed in Fiji in 1970, and many of its founding members were USP students and academics. In 1975,

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How two unis are responding to COVID

When Islands Business met with leaders from the University of the South Pacific recently, they were just hours away from making the decision to cancel the year’s graduation ceremonies in Fiji. It was the start of the

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Opinion: The lowdown on Fiji

By Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola In drawing to conclude ‘What Is to Become of USP?’ (see Islands Business August 2020), I acquiesced to the prospect that the University may already be undergoing transition from a

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Opinion: What is to become of Pacific regionalism?

By Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola In the September/October 2019 issue of this magazine, I reflected on the ‘Death of Pacific Regionalism?’ (also known as Pacific Islands Forum). It was a leading question in my mind at

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USP Council disappointed over circumstances of Pal’s deportation

The University of the South Pacific Council has issued a statement expressing its disappointment over the fact it was not advised of the decision to deport USP Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, this week. “The

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What is to become of USP?

The dust may have settled in some aspects of the saga at the University of the South Pacific (USP) campus. Vice Chancellor and President Pal Ahluwalia and Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson may have worked out a harmonious

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The USP saga: What’s next? Why it matters.

When University of the South Pacific Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia walked back onto USP’s Suva campus on June 22, he was accompanied by songs of celebration from staff and students who lined

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USP students protests continue across region

Solidarity action for change continues today in a number of University of the South Pacific campuses around the region, as students throw their weight behind the call for “good governance” within the

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Fired USP manager wants his job back

Sacked University of the South Pacific senior manager Hasmukh Lal is not challenging claims of plagiarism that led to his termination, documents filed with the Fiji High Court reveal. His lawyers, Reddy & Nandan are

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Staff back Pal

A fresh protest at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Bay Campus in Suva was quickly stopped by Police Tuesday when protesters were told they had to apply for a permit. The protesters – angry at

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