University of South Pacific

Over 200 graduate from USP Samoa

Vice Chancellor President USP, Professor Pal Ahluwalia confirmed that a total of 270 students graduated from the university.

 "Of those graduated, 73 per cent of those are women with 42 students received two or three awards counted once under their highest award.”

"Of the 270 students, 51 per cent are from our Pacific TAFE programmes and 30% are awarded from our undergraduate programmes.” 

A total of 50 postgraduate certificates were also awarded by the USP according to the Vice Chancellor, of which 30 Master Degrees. 

Regional uni issues new contract to VC, votes to relocate office

The governing body of the regional university also voted to relocate the Vice Chancellor's office from the USP's main campus in Suva, Fiji, to the its Alafua Campus in Apia, Samoa.

Professor Ahluwalia and his wife were forced to leave Fiji in early February after the government claimed the couple had breached provisions in their work permits.

It was the latest in a series of efforts to sideline Professor Ahluwalia following his allegations of serious mismanagement and abuse of office at the USP.

Australia withholds funding from University of South Pacific

The ABC reported an independent investigation found exploitation of allowances and bonuses had cost the USP a significant amount of money over several years.

USP Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia told a Fijian Parliamentary committee last month that the Australian government had not provided its annual funding of $US9.5 million.

It had only provided $US2.4m at the start of the year, he said.

Graduation ceremony in Fiji cancelled due to measles outbreak

The awards were planned for this Thursday at the Laucala Campus's Japan-Pacific ICT Lecture Theatre.

The university said the cancellation was due to advice from the Ministry of Health against against mass public gatherings.

The University of Fiji earlier postponed its graduation ceremony in Suva next month because of the measles outbreak.

The ceremony will now be held in March 2020.

Meanwhile, the ministry has now confirmed 15 cases of measles.