CoveragePost
September 26, 2020
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Staff of the regional University of the South Pacific have condemned the Fiji government’s “dictatorial” action in freezing a $28 million grant, accusing it of holding the governing University Council to ransom and jeopardising the future of students. “Fiji is reneging on its commitment to its people and the region,” say ... <a title="USP staff slam Fiji’s freezing of F$28m grant as holding university to ransom" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/09/26/usp-staff-slam-fijis-freezing-of-f28m-grant-as-holding-university-to-ransom/" aria-label="Read more about USP staff slam Fiji’s freezing of F$28m grant as holding university to ransom">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 25, 2020
By Sheldon Chanel in Suva Fiji’s Suva foreshore has been under “enormous” pressure from decades of destructive practices with little to no public awareness about the various afflictions, says prominent academic professor Vijay Naidu. The problems have been exacerbated by no sustained public awareness campaign, absence of environmental issues in Pacific news media coverage and ... <a title="Fiji academic calls for more action to reverse Suva foreshore pollution" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/09/25/fiji-academic-calls-for-more-action-to-reverse-suva-foreshore-pollution/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji academic calls for more action to reverse Suva foreshore pollution">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 4, 2020
By Lena Reece in Suva The University of the South Pacific Council has terminated the investigation into allegations of material misconduct against USP vice-chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia. A media release from the university stated the council had considered the decision by the special executive committee, viewed all the evidence against the vice-chancellor, and ... <a title="USP Council terminates investigation into academic chief" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/09/04/usp-council-terminates-investigation-into-academic-chief/" aria-label="Read more about USP Council terminates investigation into academic chief">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 26, 2020
The recent University of the South Pacific (USP) Council meeting to address governance issues resulting in the reinstatement of its suspended vice-chancellor may have opened a pathway for political will among leaders and politicians of forum member countries to push for better governance in regional institutions. It may have also put the spotlight on our ... <a title="USP saga lesson for Pacific future: No more looking the other way?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/26/usp-saga-lesson-for-pacific-future-no-more-looking-the-other-way/" aria-label="Read more about USP saga lesson for Pacific future: No more looking the other way?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 24, 2020
By Nasik Swami in Suva In the interest of transparency, the University of the South Pacific should make public the contents of the university’s “secret” BDO Report and also the allegations made against vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia, says a leading New Zealand-based Fiji academic. “Public interest demands that the BDO report needs to be released ... <a title="Make ‘secret’ BDO report and USP inquiries public, says Ratuva" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/24/make-secret-bdo-report-and-usp-inquiries-public-says-ratuva/" aria-label="Read more about Make ‘secret’ BDO report and USP inquiries public, says Ratuva">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2020
By Litia Cava in Suva University of the South Pacific staff say they are happy with the USP Council’s decision to reinstate Professor Pal Ahluwalia as vice-chancellor and president, according to staff union general secretary Ilima Finiasi. However, he said, they expected council to follow through with how the BDO New Zealand report alleging irregular ... <a title="USP staff happy with Ahluwalia’s return but seek BDO report action" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/22/usp-staff-happy-with-ahluwalias-return-but-seek-bdo-report-action/" aria-label="Read more about USP staff happy with Ahluwalia’s return but seek BDO report action">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 20, 2020
Pacific Media Watch The Fiji authorities must respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly for university staff and students and immediately cease intimidation tactics, say international human rights groups Amnesty International and Civicus. About 200 university staff and students held peaceful protests from 8 June 2020 to show support for the vice-chancellor ... <a title="Stop harassing USP protesters, global human rights groups tell Fiji" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/20/stop-harassing-usp-protesters-global-human-rights-groups-tell-fiji/" aria-label="Read more about Stop harassing USP protesters, global human rights groups tell Fiji">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 20, 2020
By Wansolwara staff The suspension of the University of the South Pacific’s vice-chancellor and president, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, has been lifted by the USP Council following a seven-hour virtual meeting today. The institution’s highest decision-making body convened a virtual special council meeting to determine whether USP executive committee’s recent decision to suspend vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia ... <a title="USP Council lifts suspension of academic chief – no due process" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/20/usp-council-lifts-suspension-of-academic-chief-no-due-process/" aria-label="Read more about USP Council lifts suspension of academic chief – no due process">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 19, 2020
Pacific Media Watch The University of the South Pacific’s vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia has been reinstated to office and his suspension has been lifted, reports FijiVillage news website. According to reliable sources, the USP Council agreed to the decision after a full day meeting starting at 9am and ending about 5pm, report news editor Vijay ... <a title="USP Council reinstates vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia pending inquiry" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/19/usp-council-reinstates-vice-chancellor-pal-ahluwalia-pending-inquiry/" aria-label="Read more about USP Council reinstates vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia pending inquiry">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 19, 2020
By Lena Reece in Suva The University of the South Pacific’s suspended vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia claims that his suspension was illegal. In a statement to the USP Council dated on Wednesday, Professor Ahluwalia said his suspension was done without due process and without any proper reason. Professor Ahluwalia said the council had the chance ... <a title="Suspended USP academic chief calls on council to clear his name" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/19/suspended-usp-academic-chief-calls-on-council-to-clear-his-name/" aria-label="Read more about Suspended USP academic chief calls on council to clear his name">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 18, 2020
By Lena Reece in Suva The University of the South Pacific special council meeting about the leadership crisis will proceed in Fiji as scheduled tomorrow. USP pro-chancellor Winston Thompson has confirmed the meeting will still go ahead, adding that the meeting papers that were leaked this week will still be considered for the meeting agenda. ... <a title="USP leadership crisis papers leak but special council meeting goes ahead" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/18/usp-leadership-crisis-papers-leak-but-special-council-meeting-goes-ahead/" aria-label="Read more about USP leadership crisis papers leak but special council meeting goes ahead">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 18, 2020
By Nasik Swami in Suva The Fiji police “thuggish-like” tactics against the University of the South Pacific staff members and students is disrupting education of students and the work of its staff, says National Federation Party president Pio Tikoduadua. Tikoduadua said the questioning of the USP chief librarian, Dr Elizabeth Reade-Fong by police on Tuesday ... <a title="‘Thuggish-like’ police tactics disrupting USP education, says opposition NFP" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/06/18/thuggish-like-police-tactics-disrupting-usp-education-says-opposition-nfp/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Thuggish-like’ police tactics disrupting USP education, says opposition NFP">Read more</a>
