Page 19 - Islands Business March 2024

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leadership, especially since his anticipated return—following
the revocation of his deportation order—was marked as the
onset of a “new era” for the University.”
Students, on the other hand, “trust his leadership and Former USP Pro-Chancellor, now Marshall Islands
President, Dr Hilda Heine.
express a desire to continue to support the VCP,” the report
said. “As long as [USP’s] governance is being controlled
by a few countries and it’s not a level playing field for
“Student leadership confirms the VCP has demonstrated all the countries, it’s very difficult to overcome some
effective management of student concerns. He actively listens of the political issues. Some of the politics influences
how the University is run, unfortunately.”
to their concerns and maintains open lines of communication.
Students appreciate his honesty and realistic approach,
particularly in acknowledging the University’s limitations in
resolving certain issues.”
Outgoing student president, Lepani Naqarase, who was one
of the two student representatives on the Council last year Business, it was the previous FijiFirst government who
told Islands Business, the student body supports Ahluwalia “wanted to impose what they thought was right even though
because he places student welfare first and is the only VC in the Council wanted something else.”
USP’s history who has truly served the region by working from “So as far as the coalition government is concerned, we
different member countries despite the challenges. Incoming don’t want to push the government’s agenda at the University.
student vice-president, Salote Duaibe said the student body’s “The Fiji government has five reps, we go there, we vote,
stance on Ahluwalia has not changed this year, despite the or we propose. But if the region decided otherwise (referring
decline in student numbers and other crucial statistics. to the vote on Ahluwalia’s contract extension), we have to
“We are trying to improve upon it and we are going forward accept that,” Prasad said.
with what we have,” Duaibe said.
The committee compiled their findings in October in time Council workings
for the November Council meeting where 13 members voted Acting AUSPS president, Dr Tamara Osborne, was the Senate
for and 10 against, extending Ahluwalia’s term till August representative on last year’s joint committee that canvassed
2026. internal views on whether Ahluwalia’s contract should have
been extended. She shared the Council’s workings when
Politics dealing with the committee’s report.
Former USP Pro-Chancellor and Chair, now Marshall Islands According to Osborne, the draft report was compiled in
President Dr Hilda Heine says during her term with USP, one of September last year. The final version was supposed to be
the “strong challenges we faced was the issue with the Vice ready one week before the Council met on November 27 and
Chancellor.” 28. She said the report was given to Council members on the
“He’s a strong figure that has a lot of supporters, as well last day of the meeting just before the Confidential session to
as a lot of opposing parties. So, it was very difficult trying to discuss Ahluwalia’s contract.
navigate through that and create a semblance of stability, She said some Council members asked to defer the matter
when you have so many different opinions about leadership,” to this year’s May Council, because they had not been given
said Heine. enough time. But based on the ordinance that contract
“It’s very difficult the way the University is governed, extensions must be given six months before the contract ends,
because the big countries in the region have control of the the approval to extend would have to be given by February,
University, regardless of what the smaller countries might since Ahluwalia’s contract was expiring in August 2024.
think about leadership or this or that. They’re outnumbered Osborne said the Council was then presented with a one-
by the big countries,” said Heine. page summary containing a recommendation from the JCCS to
“As long as the governance is being controlled by a few renew the contract. The recommendation was supported by
countries and it’s not a level playing field for all the countries, three members of the JCCS – the representatives of Australia,
it’s very difficult to overcome some of the political issues. New Zealand, and USP. Osborne’s was the only objection.
Some of the politics influences how the University is run, Without a unanimous decision of the committee, the
unfortunately. Council went to vote via secret ballot. The results went
“One of the things we tried to do was change the Ahluwalia’s way - 13 against 10. Two countries did not vote
composition of the Council, we tabled that and were going while one was invalid. Twenty-six of the 30-member Council
to come back to it, but it was obvious that the big countries were present that day.
don’t want to change the formula. This year’s Council meeting has been moved from May
“Like any other big institution, there is a lot of politicking to April 26-27 when Ahluwalia’s extended work contract is
that goes on inside the University. As Chancellor, I tried to expected to be finalised.
stay out of the politics but it’s not easy to remove yourself
from it.” - Marshall Islands reporting by Nic Maclellan
Fiji’s Finance Minister, Professor Biman Prasad told Islands

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