A meeting is expected to be scheduled soon to address the escalating situation at the University of the South Pacific (USP), where staff members are calling for the dismissal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro stated that the timing of the meeting would depend on the availability of the University Council. “We have reached out to the secretariat of the USP Council and requested a special council meeting,” Radrodro explained. “We are in discussions about scheduling the meeting and aim to finalize a date shortly. This will allow us to inform council members of the date and possibly the venue. Our goal is to select a date that accommodates all members so they can participate in the discussion.”
A secret ballot held by the union on August 14 revealed that over 90% of members supported Professor Ahluwalia’s removal. The Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations facilitated the ballot, which saw participation from more than 550 members. Concerns raised by the union focus on what they describe as a lack of good governance from Professor Ahluwalia regarding staff welfare.
In related news, during the recent 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Tonga, Professor Ahluwalia reassured leaders about the university’s significant role in driving social and economic transformation within the Blue Pacific. He also provided updates on significant global changes affecting the higher education sector, including shifts in student demographics and issues surrounding labor mobility. “USP is addressing these challenges through themes of consolidation, transformation, innovation, and sustainability,” Professor Ahluwalia stated at the forum.