Page 43 - IB November 2024

Education Education

USP students during a march held at the Laucala Campus in October

was offered to the PhD students formerly under Dr Osborne- The AURC meetings were postponed because the few staff
Naikatini’s supervision, USP’s media team declined to left in the school were overworked and couldn’t make time to
comment. review proposals.
USP media insists that, “students were updated regularly of “None of the promises made to us have been fulfilled
their class schedules. Classes that were affected by the strike, because there was never an intention to,” they said.
involving lecturers or teaching assistants, either teaching for “How are we expected to complete our studies in such
the semester had already concluded or replacement staff an environment? The current management of USP is more
were assigned to continue the classes.” concerned about portraying an image of research excellence
The students involved in the movement, on the other rather than actually putting in the effort to achieve
hand, continue to insist otherwise, maintaining that classes excellence.
had been missed for several students and that no acceptable USP academics in tourism and hospitality, and analytical,
alternative had been provided to the postgraduate students of environmental and food chemistry, have recently been
Dr Osborne-Naikatini. recognised for their achievements through global awards and
“When Dr Tamara was terminated, the Senior management rankings.
team was quick to meet us,” another anonymous “The situation at USP is dire and we, the higher degree
postgraduate student shared. research (HDR) students, urge the council to really look into
“It almost looked like an attempt to do damage control the situation at USP before it is too late,” they continued.
because they promised us so many things just to keep us According to former and current USP staff union members,
quiet. Some of these promises included recruiting external the strike has not been lifted permanently.
specialists to guide students, and resolving financial and time “There remains the option to utilise the strike mandate at
constraints,” they told Islands Business. other opportunities, as needed,” Dr Osborne-Naikatini said.
“Fast forward to today, we are struggling because of a The union currently holds the strike suspended awaiting the
lack of supervisors with expertise in our respective areas of actions of the Council in adhering to its promises as per the
study. Furthermore, all research proposals were unnecessarily outcomes of the Special Council Meeting.
delayed by the Academic Unit Research Committee (AURC).

Islands Business, November 2024 43