CoveragePost
May 17, 2025
SPECIAL REPORT: By Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor, RNZ Pacific manager At this year’s May graduation ceremony, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University’s Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition for her contribution to education. Although she has now stepped down from the role, Luamanuvao served as the university’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Pasifika, for 14 years. ... <a title="A life of service: celebrating the career of Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/17/a-life-of-service-celebrating-the-career-of-luamanuvao-dame-winnie-laban/" aria-label="Read more about A life of service: celebrating the career of Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2024
By Kalinga Seneviratne The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Tuvalu Campus, located in the capital Funafuti, is perhaps the smallest university in the world, but it offers a distinctive service. The nation of Tuvalu comprises nine small atoll islands which have a combined population of just 11,400. The Tuvalu Campus itself is restricted to ... <a title="World’s ‘smallest university’, but Tuvalu campus has big local impact" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/01/29/worlds-smallest-university-but-tuvalu-campus-has-big-local-impact/" aria-label="Read more about World’s ‘smallest university’, but Tuvalu campus has big local impact">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 5, 2023
RNZ Pacific Paediatrician Dr Teuila Percival heads the list of Pacific recipients in the New Zealand King’s Birthday Honours List for 2023. Dr Percival is one of at least 15 Pasifika people in New Zealand who are on the list. She is to be a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for ... <a title="Fifteen Pasifika people on NZ King’s Birthday Honours List" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/05/fifteen-pasifika-people-on-nz-kings-birthday-honours-list/" aria-label="Read more about Fifteen Pasifika people on NZ King’s Birthday Honours List">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 30, 2023
COMMENT: By Michael Field of The Pacific Newsroom A bizarre swinging punch towards an academic from a senior management figure at the top of the University of the South Pacific (USP) is underscoring a deepening crisis in the regional organisation. While it was not vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia who threw the punch, its plain the ... <a title="Academic ‘tsunami’ at USP shakes regional Pacific institution to core" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/30/academic-tsunami-at-usp-shakes-regional-pacific-institution-to-core/" aria-label="Read more about Academic ‘tsunami’ at USP shakes regional Pacific institution to core">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 22, 2023
The Fiji Times “The University of the South Pacific (USP) has been and continues to be a bedrock for regionalism. A resource owned by the region; for the region and a precious institution that needs to be protected in line with the vision of our forebearers.” This was the message by USP vice-chancellor and president ... <a title="USP still the ‘bedrock’ for Pacific regionalism, says university chief" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/22/usp-still-the-bedrock-for-pacific-regionalism-says-university-chief/" aria-label="Read more about USP still the ‘bedrock’ for Pacific regionalism, says university chief">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 9, 2022
By Jan Kohout, RNZ Pacific journalist A new initiative has been launched in 15 Pacific Island countries to improve educational standards. The Pacific Regional Inclusive Education Review was launched last week with each country having their own national surveys with the assistance of community groups, NGOs and stakeholders. It has has been signed by Cook ... <a title="New review aims to ensure education is ‘a right’ across the Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/12/09/new-review-aims-to-ensure-education-is-a-right-across-the-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about New review aims to ensure education is ‘a right’ across the Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 21, 2022
The University of South Pacific’s vice-chancellor says Fiji’s failure to pay its grant contribution for the third year in a row is affecting the regional university’s operations and students, reports ABC’s Pacific Beat. The Fiji government has refused to pay its grant since 2019 and did not allocate funding for its USP grant in the ... <a title="USP forced to cut costs as Fiji still refuses to pay grant for third year" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/07/21/usp-forced-to-cut-costs-as-fiji-still-refuses-to-pay-grant-for-third-year/" aria-label="Read more about USP forced to cut costs as Fiji still refuses to pay grant for third year">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 2, 2022
By Wata Shaw in Suva The University of the South Pacific’s latest international ranking is a “testament to the excellence” that pervades the university, says USP vice-chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia. He said this in a statement confirming USP had been ranked 401-600 out of 1406 institutions, with an overall score of 70 out ... <a title="USP ranking ‘reaffirms standing in the region’, says vice-chancellor" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/05/02/usp-ranking-reaffirms-standing-in-the-region-says-vice-chancellor/" aria-label="Read more about USP ranking ‘reaffirms standing in the region’, says vice-chancellor">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 2, 2021
By Sri Krishnamurthi for Asia-Pacific ReportIncoming new vice-chancellor for Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Toelesulusulu Dr Damon Ieremia Salesa is keenly aware that he has broken through another glass ceiling. The son of a factory worker made New Zealand history last week, as the first Pacific person to be ... <a title="AUT’s new academic head seeks to build relationships around Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/02/auts-new-academic-head-seeks-to-build-relationships-around-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about AUT’s new academic head seeks to build relationships around Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 18, 2021
RNZ Pacific The new vice-chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology is calling on young Pasifika peoples pursuing their education to stay the course. Toeolesulusulu Dr Damon Salesa, who is currently a pro vice-chancellor at the University of Auckland takes up his new role at AUT in March. He is the first person of Pacific ... <a title="‘Transform lives’ with education, new vice-chancellor for AUT tells Pasifika" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/11/18/transform-lives-with-education-new-vice-chancellor-for-aut-tells-pasifika/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Transform lives’ with education, new vice-chancellor for AUT tells Pasifika">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 15, 2021
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk Pacific scholar and senior university sector leader Toeolesulusulu Dr Damon Salesa has been appointed as the next vice-chancellor of Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland University of Technology (AUT), AUT News reports. The appointment by the University Council at Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau AUT was announced today and ... <a title="Pacific scholar Dr Damon Salesa named AUT’s next vice-chancellor" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/11/15/pacific-scholar-dr-damon-salesa-named-auts-next-vice-chancellor/" aria-label="Read more about Pacific scholar Dr Damon Salesa named AUT’s next vice-chancellor">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 27, 2021
COMMENT: By Grubsheet’s Graham Davis A public relations disaster for Fiji just as Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum head to Glasgow for COP26 as one of Britain’s leading media outlets — The Independent — carries out a detailed investigation into events at the University of the South Pacific. Fiji’s reputation in Britain ... <a title="Bainimarama’s Fiji faces investigative PR crisis on eve of climate COP26" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/10/27/bainimaramas-fiji-faces-investigative-pr-crisis-on-eve-of-climate-cop26/" aria-label="Read more about Bainimarama’s Fiji faces investigative PR crisis on eve of climate COP26">Read more</a>
