USP

Fiji university threat draws ire in New Zealand

This week the Fijian Government announced it wouldn't pay its multi-million grant to the university while the current vice chancellor Pal Ahluwalia remained at his post.

It has called for another investigation after an earlier one revealed significant abuses by the former Vice Chancellor, Rajesh Chandra, who is believed to have close links with the Fiji Government.

The Fiji Government earlier this year deported Professor Ahluwalia and his wife, after accusing them of immigration breaches.

USP has been hijacked, says incoming Chancellor

Mr Aingimea has also declared that he will immediately seek the support of Council colleagues to call a special Council meeting as a matter of urgency.

Calling yesterday’s decision to stand down Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia “a sad day in the history of this esteemed institution,” Mr Aingimea said, “the very individuals responsible for carrying out good governance have failed this great university.

USP to enforce report on mismanagement and abuse of office

BDO Auckland was engaged to investigate alleged corruption at the university.

According to the Islands Business, the USP Council said in a statement the BDO report had resulted in a "range of findings and recommendations that will need to be addressed to ensure the sound operation of the university".

However, the council did not say what the BDO's recommendations are.

The allegations were raised in a paper by the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, titled Issues, Concerns and Breaches of Past Management and Financial Decisions.

USP report on alleged mismanagement two months away

The terms of reference for the investigation have been drawn up and sent to University Council members for their approval.

In a statement, the university said once the terms are approved, the risk and audit committee will invite several independent investigators to register their interest.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption is conducting a separate investigation into the allegations, which were first reported by Islands Business last month.

USP signs MOU with International Research Institute

The MOU was signed between the UK Government’s Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and The University of the South Pacific (USP) at the University’s Emalus Campus in Port Vila, Vanuatu on 24 August 2016.

The agreement will explore a range of different partnership opportunities in the field of marine science.

USP to participate in International Robot Contest

The Robot Contest, which is known as “Game of ABU Robocon 2016” is an international showdown of ideas in order to create the awareness of efficient energy consumption and clean and renewable energy use.

Robocon team at USP comprises Senior Lecturer from the School of Engineering and Physics (SEP), Dr Utkal Mehta, Assistant Lecturer Mr Sumesh Narayan, Lab Technician Mr Sanjay Singh and five students studying in the Bachelor of Engineering programme - Ram Singh, Peni Jitoko, Sumeet Kumar, Shyamendra Prasad and Asneet Sagar.

USP welcomes new Pro-Chancellor

His appointment was made by the USP Council in October this year.

USP and ACU sign scholarships agreement

USP will be welcoming one Commonwealth Scholar to the University’s Laucala campus in Fiji in 2016, to study an MSc in Climate Change. Another scholarship will be offered to start in February 2017.

Commonwealth Scholarships in low and middle-income countries are majority funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) endowment fund. These

Solomons USP students sacked for failing

The Solomons High Commission in Suva has confirmed that the action saying 28 of the students are being terminated for failing all four courses for the semester and the rest are being suspended for failing 3 of 4 courses.

All implicated students bar a few who are being regraded will be flying back to Honiara this weekend.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Education says government scholarship grants come from public and donor funding and their recipients are expected to perform.