A meeting will soon be scheduled to address the escalating situation at the University of the South Pacific (USP), where staff are calling for the removal 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 contacted the USP Council secretariat and requested a special council meeting,” he said. Radrodro added that discussions are underway to finalize the meeting date, which will be communicated to council members alongside the venue.
The union recently held a secret ballot on August 14, where over 90 percent of members expressed support for Professor Ahluwalia’s removal. The Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations supervised this ballot, which saw more than 550 members participating. The unions have raised concerns regarding a perceived lack of good governance related to staff welfare under Professor Ahluwalia’s leadership.
In related news, during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Tonga earlier this month, Professor Ahluwalia reassured leaders of USP’s pivotal role in the social and economic development of the Blue Pacific, emphasizing the importance of fostering a skilled society. He also discussed the significant global changes impacting the Higher Education sector, including evolving student demographics and labor mobility issues. “USP is addressing these challenges through themes of consolidation, transformation, innovation, and sustainability,” he stated at the forum.