End of the Year Message to Staff and Students for the 2012 Academic Year from Professor Rajesh Chandra, Vice-Chancellor and President

 
Dear members of staff and students

At the beginning of this year I had indicated to you all  that 2012 is a significant year because it marks the end of the University’s Strategic Plan 2010-2012.  I had further said that this was an opportune time to reflect on that Plan’s successes and challenges, and to frankly ask ourselves if we have been proactive enough in supporting our member countries and addressing the needs of the region while at the same time improving the standards of the University.  

I had also said that it was crucial that this reflection is honest and well-considered, as the planning for the next Strategic Plan must be done properly if we expect it to guide us through to excellence by the University’s 50th anniversary in 2018.  

The message therefore was to successfully implement the current plan and to develop the new Strategic Plan. Due the combined leadership and efforts of the University community, we can all take pride and satisfaction in knowing that we have achieved both these milestones. Your contribution to the two major plans have been significant and supportive and above all you have all demonstrated a sense of commitment, enthusiasm,  and  ownership in ensuring the current plan is implemented and that the new plan is something that we all can be proud of ---come the University’s 50 Anniversary in 2018.  So thank you all for this. 

 We are very pleased that this year has turned out to be very successful. It is worthwhile pointing out some of the success of this year.

• New SP was approved by Council in Nov, which also strongly endorsed the theme of transforming USP from a good to an excellent university;
• Finalization of  University’s  triennial funding for 2013-2015;
• High level of confidence in USP by our development partners in general and in particular Australia and New Zealand for funding in future. Australia has extended its current Partnership Agreement until 2013 by almost doubling its assistance for 2013 to the University over 2012. In 2013 Australia will work with USP for a possible 5 year Partnership arrangement. Likewise New Zealand has confirmed its funding for   2013-2015 with a moderate increase in funding over 2010-2012 period.  Both these agreement have now been signed;
• Australia’s commitment of A$85m in new funding over four years  to strengthen tertiary education in the region, including through IT and infrastructure upgrading of regional tertiary institution, two thousand new places  in tertiary bridging programmes and two thousand and three hundred new places , with a priority in engineering, construction, maritime transport, education and health.  This followed an extensive consultation earlier this year by an AusAID Team.  USP being the leading tertiary education will play an important role in the implementations, when this is rolled from 2013;
• UGC Triennial funding (2013-2015)   and Annual Plan for 2013 for was approved by the Council;
• Enrolment continued to grow strongly in 2012;
• Finances are strong with better than budget performance;
• Quality has improved: new provisional accreditation for Bachelor of Science in NetCentric Computing and Bachelor of Software Engineering from Australian Computer Society;
• USP Law School won the Pan Pacific Moot competition;
• Student newspaper Wansolwara won two awards at this year’s Journalism Education Association of Australia’s annual Ossie Awards: one for the Best Print News Story of the Year and for the Best Publication against tough competition from Australian and New Zealand journalism schools;
• Our Annual Report also won the award for the best Annual Report for its category at the Fiji Stock Exchange Annual Report competition—for the second time;
• USP  student team won the Europa Shield for inter-university debate for the second time in three years;
• We had a successful medal awards ceremony which highlighted the high quality of our graduates and the emerging young and strong leaders USP is producing in various disciplines. We thank you our corporate partners for your support;
• We had a very successful open day this year and again I wish to thank our secondary schools and corporate sponsors for their continued support to this event;
• The development and enhancement of our regional campuses remain very high priorities for the University.   ADB soft loan was approved and signed which will see significant development in our campuses in Kiribati, Solomon Islands and in our flexible learning. The development of Kiribati campus has commenced with EOI for engineering work completed;
• Our economic updates and other community engagements in the region continue to receive strong support and interest;
• We had a successful upgrade of our Banner system;
• The 2013 USP Calendar and Handbook was ready and available online by mid-November and printing copies are now available and circulated;
• We had a successful conference on Pacific Tertiary Education and further progress with the Association of the Heads of Tertiary Institutions in the Pacific Islands
• Significant reforms continued this year with the STAR project with the introduction of a credit point system and 24 course degree structure in 2013
• USP has been asked to host the new Pacific Universities Network for Research, indicating the standing of USP in Pacific academia
• We also recognized and awarded our distinguished researchers, the outcomes of which have improved the University’s standing in research; and
• We have played our role as an effective CROP member. Participated in all important Forum   and CROP heads and related Meetings.
• USP Management and USPSA maintained excellent relations throughout the year and student leaders showed strong commitment to the development of the University and the notion of excellence.

The above are some of the major achievements. Moving forward we are confident that the Strategic Plan 2013-2018 provides an exciting and forward-looking path that will make the University an even higher quality institution and that will make the stakeholders realize how valuable the University is for their own development. 

The foundation for achieving the ambitious objectives of the SP is strong. Provided there is stability of leadership, we are able to recruit and retain high quality staff, and we continue to build our reputation, there is every confidence that the University will enter perhaps its most exciting phase of development culminating in an excellent, more relevant and valuable university rooted strongly in its Pacific heritage.

I feel that the majority of our staff members are enthused and excited by our new Vision, especially the theme of “Transforming USP from good to excellent”.  You as staff of the University have contributed to the success we have achieved, and I wish to record my appreciation to all of you.  I also acknowledge the work of SMT/HOS/Directors who have worked very hard. Our student leaders have been wonderful and responsible, and I wish to thank them very much as well. I also strongly believe that behind successful transformation and reform it is critical to inspire our staff to perform better. 

These are times of great change and intense activities across the University and the Pacific.  Working in partnership with its Member Countries, and strengthened by its multinational work force and diverse mix of students, USP can and will achieve great things for the good of the region.

I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a very productive New Year.