A meeting will be arranged soon 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 will depend on when the University Council is available.
“We have contacted the USP Council secretariat to request a special meeting,” Mr. Radrodro said. “We are currently discussing potential dates and hope to finalize one shortly. This will help ensure that all council members are informed of the time and possibly the location.”
The faculty union conducted a secret ballot on August 14, which revealed that over 90 percent of members supported Professor Ahluwalia’s dismissal. The Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations oversaw this ballot, which drew participation from more than 550 union members. The unions have raised concerns regarding Professor Ahluwalia’s governance and its impact on staff welfare.
At the recent 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Tonga, Mr. Ahluwalia addressed leaders, emphasizing the university’s crucial role in promoting social and economic transformation in the Blue Pacific by fostering a skilled society. He also updated them on significant global changes affecting the Higher Education sector, including evolving student demographics and labor mobility challenges. “USP is addressing these issues through themes of consolidation, transformation, innovation, and sustainability,” Mr. Ahluwalia stated.