A meeting will soon be arranged to address the ongoing crisis at the University of the South Pacific (USP), where staff are demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro announced that the timing of the meeting will depend on the availability of the University Council. “We have contacted the USP Council secretariat to request a special council meeting,” Radrodro stated. “We are currently discussing potential dates and hope to finalize one soon. This will allow council members to be notified about the date and, if possible, the venue.”
In a secret ballot conducted by the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations on August 14, over 90 percent of respondents supported Professor Ahluwalia’s dismissal. With more than 550 members registered, unions have raised concerns about shortcomings in governance under his leadership, particularly regarding staff welfare.
At the recent 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting held in Tonga, Professor Ahluwalia assured regional leaders of the university’s key role in driving the social and economic development of the Blue Pacific through fostering a skilled society. He also provided insights into the substantial global changes occurring in the Higher Education sector, noting shifts in student demographics and challenges related to labor mobility. “USP is addressing these challenges through themes of consolidation, transformation, innovation, and sustainability,” he remarked at the forum.