Opportunity beckons for University of the South Pacific

The head of the world’s most pan-regional university has invited international academics and students to climb on board as his institution charts its way out of the political crisis that threatened its solvency.

New Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka has handed over F$10 million (£3.8 million) as the first tranche of the funding fortune withheld from the University of the South Pacific (USP) by the ousted government of long-time leader Frank Bainimarama.

USP vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia was given a red-carpet reception to the country in mid-February, in his first visit since being deported two years earlier. Staff and students flocked to a welcome ceremony at the university’s Suva campus, which was also attended by Mr Rabuka and deputy prime minister Biman Prasad, a former USP dean and staff association president.

Professor Ahluwalia said it was up to the USP council whether his headquarters should be shifted back to Fiji. He said the subject was sure to arise at the next council meeting in May.

Fiji is home to the university’s biggest campus, about 55 per cent of its students and 75 per cent of its staff. It has served as the vice-chancellor’s base for all but two of the university’s 55 years of existence.

But Professor Ahluwalia said his current contract had him based in Samoa, and his main focus was on the long-neglected “regions” outside Fiji. “It’s a big university with 14 campuses across 12 countries. There’s a lot of deferred maintenance. We need to look at how we can enhance the student experience [so that they] have the best environment to study in.”

Students outside Fiji will also be encouraged to study from home where possible. Professor Ahluwalia said remote delivery, long a hallmark of USP’s operations, had been bolstered during the coronavirus pandemic.

And with member states Tuvalu and Nauru now experiencing their second waves of Covid – something most countries weathered long ago – there was a medical and financial rationale for maintaining online options. “[It] takes pressure off the governments a bit – it’s not as expensive as sending people overseas.”

The instalment of a government sympathetic to his leadership means Professor Ahluwalia can now visit Fiji at will. He has already returned for a second time to attend the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific.

Unless there are more down payments, Fiji will owe USP F$107 million by mid-2023. Professor Prasad, who is also finance minister, has reportedly instructed his department to “work out a payment plan”.

Professor Ahluwalia said the government was “committed to paying. They’ve already shown goodwill by paying the first F$10 million. We’re not expecting any issues with this, [but] I’ll be relieved when I see all the money, because I still have a big job to do.”

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com