A total of 135 students received certificates, diplomas and degrees during The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Alafua Campus graduation ceremony in Samoa on 25 November.
Students who graduated were from 13 countries including non-regional countries of Australia, Belize, Jamaica, Nigeria and Papua New Guinea.
Nineteen per cent (19%) of graduates received Postgraduate qualifications and eleven (11) graduated with Master’s degree.
Fifty per cent (50%) of the graduates were females.
The event was attended by Honouorable Henry Puna, USP Chancellor and Prime Minister of Cook Islands and Mrs Akaiti Puna; Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa; and Ambassador Winston Thompson.
In his keynote address, Professor Rajesh Chandra, USP Vice-Chancellor and President welcomed all the guests and especially acknowledged the presence of the Chancellor Honourable Puna.
Professor Chandra highlighted that there has been a major increase this year in the total number of graduating students—from one hundred and eleven (111) last year to one hundred and thirty-five (135) this year.
“We are pleased with this increase and will want to maintain this increase in future years,” he said.
He further added that fifty-one (51) students graduated with Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees through the Science Teachers Accelerated Programme (STAP).
STAP began in 2014 and is one of the best joint initiatives of the Government of Samoa and USP, and shows what Governments and USP can achieve through collaboration.
Sixty (60) students were given scholarships by the Samoan government to complete their BSc programme to improve the quality of teaching and educational outcomes in Samoa.
Professor Chandra acknowledged the Prime Minister of Samoa Hon. Malielegaoi; Hon. Magele Mauiliu Magele, former Minister of Education of Samoa; and Associate Professor Bibhya Sharma, Coordinator of STAP for their role in this outstanding initiative and its success.
He said this cohort-based, innovative and blended-learning programme not only achieved a very high completion rate with fifty-one (51) out of sixty (60) graduating within two and half years, but the average grades were much better than in other modes of teaching—and better than that at the Laucala Campus.
STAP, Professor Chandra noted, is also a very cost-effective method of human resource development as it has saved about 2.2 million tala for the Government of Samoa by not having to send students to Laucala Campus.
These he said, includes savings from airfares, accommodation and living expenses and a further 3.6 million tala by not having to employ replacement teachers since the STAP teachers remain in their schools and teach during their programme, hence saving a total of 5.8 million tala.
Professor Chandra congratulated all the graduates for their fantastic achievements in one of the best and most influential chapters in their lives.
“Your journey at USP has been a journey of learning, inspiration, influences, and experiences that will powerfully shape your life.
Professor Chandra urged the graduates to believe in themselves, dream big, and work hard on their ambitions.
He also spoke of new programmes for 2017 including Master of Arts (Applied Linguistics) and Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship, among others, as a response to the needs and requirements of the region.
Professor Chandra also alluded to developments in the regional campuses, and spoke about the increasing collaboration with other institutions, including progress for the School of Agriculture and Food Technology (SAFT) and the IRETA Farm.
Professor Chandra also highlighted a number of improvements made to the Alafua Campus this year including fire safety equipment, maintenance to classrooms and additional funding for improvements to the overall building and infrastructure of the Alafua Campus, and full wireless upgrade by the end of first semester next year.
“We are planning to give mobile devices to all first year degree students to help them have better and faster access to study materials without waiting for computers at the labs.
We also hope to get connected to the new submarine fibre cable between Fiji and Samoa which is planned to be completed by September 2017,” Professor Chandra added.
“This should transform the student internet experience.”
Professor Chandra took this opportunity to extend an invitation to everyone to participate in USP’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, as the University will mark this milestone with significant events.