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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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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University of the South Pacific VC Ahluwalia gets new contract

University of the South Pacific Vice Chancellor to be

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The Low-down on USP

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 ‘public good’ to a ‘club

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Can USP survive its latest troubles?

Will Fiji emerge victorious in the prolonged leadership dispute at the regional university it co-owns with eleven other Pacific island nations? This was the question many were asking after the February 16 meeting of the

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USP Council meets today

The University of the South Pacific Council is scheduled to meet again today to discuss the status of Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, who was deported almost two weeks ago by the Fiji government. The meeting

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Fiji bought time to deport USP boss and wife

Documents tabled at yesterday’s special meeting of the University of the South Pacific suggest that plans to amend the contract of the university’s vice chancellor and president, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, prompted

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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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USP boss enroute to Nauru, says deportation was a surreal experience

University Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia and his wife Sandra Price are overnighting in a hotel in Brisbane, Australia this evening, and will be travelling onto Nauru early tomorrow. Professor Ahluwalia says he

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D Day for USP 3

The executive body of the University of the South Pacific, the USP Council, meets tomorrow (Friday) to determine the fate of three of their senior Council members. To be convened virtually using the Zoom platform, the

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Pacific People 2020: Nauru’s young gun

Nauruan Lionel Aingimea is our leader of the year. The Nauruan leader’s unwavering determination, grit, and a burning desire to save the USP earned him respect and accolades this year. While University of the South

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USP saga drags on

Controversial pro chancellor of the University of the South Pacific Winston Thompson of Fiji has been instructed to convene another urgent meeting of the USP Council. This time, interim USP Council chair, and president

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Women’s empowerment, COVID amongst career fair themes

The University of the South Pacific (USP) recently invited 30 employers to engage in a two-day exposition at its annual Career and Internship Fair. The event was organized by USP’s Career and Entrepreneurship Center,

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Women’s empowerment, COVID amongst career fair themes

The University of the South Pacific (USP) recently invited 30 employers to engage in a two-day exposition at its annual Career and Internship Fair. The event was organized by USP’s Career and Entrepreneurship Center,

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Poetry anthology gives voice to human rights

“My voice does matter, someone will listen, we can make a change whether to write poems or not.  What you do matters.” That was the message of Tongan student,  Anna Jane Vea, at the launch of a book of

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“You sir are muddying the process once again,” Nauru President tells USP’s Thompson

Nauru’s President says moves by University of the South Pacific’s Pro-Chancellor to schedule an Executive Council meeting today “seems very much like an attempt at undermining [the USP] Council or usurping 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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Reading Fiji’s change of tack

“We call for the immediate suspension of the individuals who are holding current positions at USP and further investigation about the matter,” demands a petition being circulated on the internet a day or so after

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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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USP student across the region protest, police on Fiji campus

A “support good governance” protest organised by the University of the South Pacific Student Association today with the theme “wear blue” is now underway in a number of campuses around the region with 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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Secret report reveals widespread salary and allowance rorts at USP

Senior academics and staff at the University of the South Pacific in Suva are accused in a special audit report of manipulating allowances to pay themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars they were not entitled to, as

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